Day 44: started hiking at 5:15am. It was cold but luckily I warmed up pretty quickly. What a day! Wow! So beautiful. Campin at mile 730 tonight. This has been the most beautiful day so far. The views were endlessly impressive and we actually took lots of breaks which I really enjoyed. I’m not really mentally able to walk 6 hours straight anymore so stopping every couple is nice. First we stopped for coffee then our next stop was on some nice rocks looking out into the continuous mountain ranges. Today we made new friends! Marmots! They’re so freaking cute. Today was not too bad snow wise. We did hit some and got to practice self arresting on a slope we found. I should have practiced more, but too late now. You’re supposed to have the whippet in the hand closest to the downhill then when you slide quickly flip onto your belly slamming the ax down into the snow in front of your shoulder while lifting your feet off the ground. Thank goodness my trail fam knows what they’re doing on this. That turn around is kind of hard with a heavy pack on. We also got to butt glissade some today. I felt like a little kid playing in the snow with my friends. ❤️ so much laughter. We ended the day early with a great fire and dinner. And hot cocoa, my new favorite thing. It’s only 7am and I’m in bed because the Sierras means early mornings to try and get as far as possible before the snow gets too soft. The snow isn’t bad when it’s more frozen but once it gets soft you get nowhere fast.

Day 43 I hate saying goodbye to people. Especially in this section I’m so nervous and all I want in the world is for everyone to stay safe. but here we go ready to take on the unknown Sierra’s. Up until this point everything we’ve heard about it has been fear-based. Since the beginning we knew it was a record snowfall year and that the Sierra’s would be very difficult; a majority of people we talk to are skipping the section or planning to come back later when the snow is no longer there. It makes me a bit nervous. I don’t know what to expect or what I’m capable of, but I know I’m always going to give something a shot and then if I can’t do it I’ll try something else. so we left in the afternoon ready to take it on and see how it would go for us. Fear mongering has been intense. “Don’t go into the Sierras you will die!” “Nobody’s made it through yet” Yet there my trail fam and I were, leaving KM and trekking forward. Our packs we’d HEAVY! Mine was 39lbs and I think Meg and Stats were about the same, Hefty’s was like 50! We’re leaving a day later than planned due to a snow storm we saw on the forecast. We didn’t want to be out in it see we waited it out. We hiked 10.5 miles today. And they were hard! When we took off Hefty stayed behind for a bit to deal with troubles from home, me Stats and Meg walked a couple miles to a campground and waited for him there. This is one moment I really realized how much of a family we were. There was no way we were going to keep walking without Hefty. Such a small gesture in a sense, but so big in many others. I ❤️ that we wait for each other. So nice to be with people where I know we have each other’s backs. We found a campsite near some nice flowing water and settled in for the night. The anxiety was building up…tomorrow we hit snow.

Day 40-42: just a few mile walk to KM! Such a big milestone. Me, Hefty, and Meg all went in together. We walked to road up to the store and were surprised by the warm welcoming of all the cheers and claps from the other hikers on the deck. We ended up staying a couple of days. There’s free camping behind the store that we all piled into. Stats came a little later everyone was there at some point. Tapeworm, Freckles, Tim,Dash, Em, Lou, Emi, Russ, Strider, Hummingbird, Meatbolt, and gosh so many more amazing people. It was so fun to hang with them. We went to Grumpys each morning and ate the biggest pancakes ever!!! (The pic is from the web not my meal) and they have the best hash browns ever! Spent an evening there too with the dj dancing and singing good country music. The most memorable though was one night in camp. So an ongoing joke with the hikers is about people with their thermarest mattresses that make so much noise! You can hear when they’re blowing them up, all night you hear them rustle around on the mattress, and in the morning you know when they’re getting up because you can hear them open the air. Well In camp H-bird, Meatbolt, and Snorkel came in all giggly. Then Tapeworm heard Stats moving around on his mattress and started laughing. Idk how to describe his amazing laugh but one by one we all started laughing with him. We’d get annoyed then find ourselves laughing along. We couldn’t stop. There was about 10 of us cracking up for no reason and it went on about 30 min. Literally my favorite moment of the entire trail.

Day 39: I enjoyed camping alone last night. It was so nice to mediate and relax. I woke up this morning and immediately started hiking without eating breakfast. But stopped around 9am to enjoy some coffee and poptarts. Took another break at 9am then a couple hour siesta at lunch. So weird for me to break so much but today I really wanted it. I waited near a creek in the shade for Meg and Hefty. I tried to eat and read my book but I kept getting attacked by fire ants. I moved from place to place unable to avoid them and just finally gave up. Meg came and wanted to hang out to and she was getting bit by the damn ants as well. They’re horrible things. WHY? It’s hard when all you want is to relax in shade for a bit but can’t relax. There’s many times on the trail you wonder what you ever did to make it hate you. Soon Hefty came and the 4 of us headed on to our campsite at a creek just a few miles out from Kennedy Meadows. As we walked we got to see and walk right next to the heavy flowing South Fork of the Kern River. The photo does it no justice it was raging. I thought we may have to cross it and there was no way….luckily we didn’t have to we just walk along it. But it makes me nervous for the Sierras how do you know when it’s too strong to cross? Well we kept hiking trying to find a flat space and finally found one right next to the creek. It was actually a surprisingly beautiful campsite. I learned today I love hiking alone but ❤️ camping with friends. Tomorrow…Kennedy Meadows..700 miles…..the end of the desert… 

Day 38: Erica was kind enough to offer a morning ride to me and Megan to Wal Mart where we could catch a bus to the Walker Pass CG, the same wal mart as the day before when I bought a lot of discounted glaze donuts 😍😍😍❤️. Unfortunately after she left us she realized she mixed up the timing of the bus, so we hopped back in her car for her to take us to the next small townish area where we could hitch. We stood near a gas station and finally a woman offered us a ride. Her name is Bobby and she actually works at Grumpys restaurant in Kennedy Meadows, our next stop! Saw Emi, Russ, and Snorkel when we got to the trail. Poor Emi has an infected toe so they were heading into town. I knew today would be rough, lots of uphill and it’s hot. I chose not to go to my Gmas funeral, I knew she wouldn’t want me to quit my journey so I planned to give a ceremony for her on the mountain. On the uphill I cried a few times just realizing the truth of what had happened. She lived life purely and was always so happy just to be around family and friends. She was so filled with love. On the uphill I looked up at one point and I saw and felt her there with me. The yellow flowers and tall grass were flowing beautifully from the wind. And I felt her again in the wind, helping me and pushing me uphill. I ran into Hefty after a bit, then took off again just wanting to be alone. While at a creek for lunch and water I picked and put together a bunch of wildflowers and thought of my Grandma. And in that moment peace came over me. I was planning to meet Hefty and Meg at a campsite but after waiting for a bit and not seeing them I hiked to another campsite at the top of the peak. Better views. And it was beautiful but oh so windy. Luckily this time I was able to find a spot behind some thick bush and trees that perfectly protected me all night. I didn’t want to camp alone tonight but Now i see it’s just what I need.

Day 37: only 8 miles before a quick stop in Ridgecrest. Only Megan and I are heading there to get some packages. The guys are heading forward towards Kennedy Meadows. The 8 miles went blazing fast. They were all downhill and since my shin splints are gone that means I kind of just run. In just over 2 hours I was at Walker Pass. There was some Trail magic there. Someone had left water, some snacks, bread and peanut butter and jelly. And there were a handful of other hikers. A hiker has actually asked a girl he met on tinder to come meet him there and they ended up locking her keys in the car the night before. There’s no service here and they couldn’t get the vehicle open so… it was entertaining and I’m sure their last date! I was a little nervous about meeting Meg here as we haven’t seen each other in over a day so idk where she’s at. But just as soon as Scott, the amazing guy who came up to see if anyone needed rides, got to the pass she showed up. We hopped right in with a large group of hikers. Smushed in a small mini van. First stop was the post office then to the trail angels Erica’s house where we will stay the night. My plan was to get all my Sierra’s gear here because at Kennedy Meadows they charge an extra $6 for every package. So I was planning to get 3. We got to the PO and nope no packages for me here. I didn’t General Delivery my Amazon package so they sent it back. The other, turns out there was an issue with the order of my Whippet so it didn’t get sent. And the other, was there! But as they were searching I turned my phone on and got multiple messages from my family. My Grandma has passed. I immediately started crying in the PO and explained to the lady it wasn’t about the packages. Then I awkwardly reloaded myself into the hiker van and continued crying in front of everyone. Finally we reach Erica’s where I could get to myself and call my family. It was hard and I didn’t know what to do. Tickets were about $1200 and I’d have to leave the trail, right before the Sierras which I couldn’t go through alone. But I want to be with my family. Time to think about it….at least I’m here at Erica’s where I get to be with lots of dogs and baby goats.

Day 36: I’m tired so I just took photos of my actual written journal from the day. Literally the beach sand was so brutal. My shoes continuously sunk in with every step followed my flinging sand all over myself. My toes were hurting from clinching so bad to keep the shoes on. Also, after the cache which was near a road, left for us hikers due to a long waterless stretch, was a big uphill. And it was my first view of snowy Sierra mountains. But never have I had to ration anything so hard. I was only able to drink 1/3 liter of water every 3 miles and it was insanely hot. I tried sitting and hanging in the shade after lunch for it to cool down, but I was still so thirsty I couldn’t stay. I would have drank all of my water. So I knew I had to walk. That was the only way to get to the water. It was one of the hardest moments of the trail. I have literally never been so thirsty in my life. 

Day 35: miles 588-618. 600 miles? What? Omg less than 100 until the Desert ends and the Sierras begin. How has time gone so fast? I made it a point today to not complain at all, and it was amazing. So simple, but so crucial. Somehow I didn’t see anyone from my group today but got a double dose of trail magic! I met Kate and Dan as they were looking for their friend and helped them with some directions. Then when I was at the water, that was about .3m off trail I saw them again. They found their friend and offered me to come hang out and have beer and ice cream! It was heavenly! Coffee ice cream covered in chocolate with nuts 🤤. After hanging for a bit I headed on for the day trying to complete my miles although I felt wrecked. Due to my blisters I decided to start hiking in my $.99 flip flops I brought for camp shoes. They lasted me 16 of 30 miles, my 2nd 30!, and felt way better than these stupid tight shoes. I also walked 2 miles barefoot. On the walk I found more beer. Win! Grabbed one to go and have with dinner. First real time getting some solid trail magic. The hike sure went good after that ice cream and beer, all felt well in the world. And now tomorrow I only have to do 25 miles! Today I also meditated while walking, time flew by and I loved it, and now I get to camp alone. One of my favorite and appreciated things. More really fun facts from my day. My allergies were booming today and within the first 1.5 hours of hiking I shot 36 snot rockets….I am not ashamed. And yes I counted. It was crazy. Thank goodness for my essential oils to help me out!!! And so now 1 month into the trail and I’m getting my first allergies, blisters, and a little not so fun chaffing…..oh boy. The desert isn’t done with me yet.

Day 34: before leaving Tehachapi I decided that I would change the insoles to my shoes because I was starting to feel every single rock I stepped on. I found some in the hiker box at the hotel and just put them in my shoes and they seem to fit just fine. but when I had the shoes on they felt a little tight, but I went with it. we called the trail angel to take us back to the trail and he took us there and we started walking and for some reason today just felt miserable. my pack felt so heavy everything hurt. my feet started to hurt pretty immediately and I got worried I was going to start getting my first blisters of the trail. over 500 miles in?!? then I kept walking and we had an incline, it was miserable in the moment. just walking and struggling and I finally had to stop to try to take care of my feet to prevent blisters so I lubricated them a little bit and put duct tape over them and kept walking. So strange to have taken a well needed rest and it does not feel like it at all today! I feel too tired to even write. I feel sad today, I miss my friends, my family, my gym, and watching the Warriors. It will pass some times are just harder than others.

Day 32-33. 2, 0 days in a row! So needed and nice. It was amazing to get to resupply and run all the errands one day then just relax the next. I spend the day switching between the hot tub and the cold pool, drinking cheap ass wine from Kmart, out of improper stemware hahahah, inside joke! Then me and the fam enjoyed Guardians Of the Galaxy 2 at the theatre. With lots of popcorn and candy for me!!! Then we headed to meet so many more beautiful people for Thai food for Emi’s birthday celebration. Tehachapi was good, great even, but also sad. The goodbyes were already starting. Had to say goodbye to Snorkel and to Simba who were both heading home for a bit for some family occasions they had to attend. It was hard, and so sad knowing I wouldn’t get the chance to see them more on the trail. They made such a big impact on the first part of my journey.