PCT Day 42: Kennedy Meadows

Daily Miles: 4.5, Total Miles: 702.8

Short distance this morning so had a rare two cups of coffee with my oatmeal. An easy hike into Kennedy Meadows and I was in time for a proper breakfast at the general store cafe.

The owners let hikers camp nearby so we can spend more at the store and cafe and it worked today – breakfast, Gatorade, soda, cheeseburger for lunch, a few beers in the afternoon, ice cream (OK, it was hot), and a sit-down special chicken and potato salad dinner complete with cake and more ice cream.

I picked up my re-supply box, bear vault (required in the Sierras for food storage), bounce box and ice axe. I’m contemplating sending the ice axe back home. The passes certainly have snow and ice but still a low snowpack year. Normally hikers are advised to not start from Kennedy Meadows until about June 15.

All in all, a relaxing day and good to see some hikers I haven’t seen for awhile and meet some new ones.