Finally found the camera cable and loaded the most interesting pics on to flickr. Here is the flickr link where you can access the photos with a description attached to it. Here are the crazy stupid things which I wont do again
https://www.flickr.com/photos/25552148@N02/14574422347/The actual distances and camping spots are pretty much the same I planned and explained to my family as I am going solo and their only connection with me are the spot messages they received. As I expected/ forewarned the family, the two messages I sent from the Kern canyon were lost in spite of spot telling me they were all sent!
Logistics: One cousin from SJ dropped me off at Visalia Motel 6 on July 13 and another cousin from SJ picked me from WP on July 21 and took me back to SJ. Much love and gratitude to them!
July 14: Started from Visalia on the 6a Sequoia shuttle, picked up permit at the Lodgepole RS and after two shuttles started from Crescent Meadows HST trailhead. As Salty warned there is no water at the trailhead and so filled bottle and hydration pack at the Ranger station it self.
Here comes the stupidity: Without any acclimatization, with a full pack of 8days food and 2 liters of water (new trial and does not know where the next stream is), I started struggling even after the second mile! I do understand that in any hike the first day first mile will be hard and then your body adjusts and its Okay. But on the first day I was woozy, it was hot and anxiously looking for the afternoon storms which the Ranger warned us! By the time I came to Meherten Ck, I am really struggling and wanted to sit by the trail and sleep! Then with that heavy pack I had to scramble on rocks (no trail up to CG) and when I was about to give up, saw the bearbox and just plopped my backpack. I almost passed out after setting up the tent. Then mercifully the shafts of rain came and I cooled down!
Other campers joined as the evening advanced. Compared to this first day, my whole JMT last year looked very easy!
July 15: After good dinner, and good sleep, I felt 100 times better than yesterday. Got up early had coffee and bkfst and started on my way by 6a. By around 10a met the family at the Buck ck (9 miles) with whom I started yesterday. Then to Bearpaw meadow. I looked at the map at the RS and the water spigot is 0.1 mile below at the CG! So trekked back to the CG and filtered the spigot water (it said either filter or boil water). Started towards Hamilton lakes. The trail went down on lazy switchbacks and crossed the deep gorge over Kaweah / lonepine stream (not sure which) and quickly started climbing over switchbacks towards a ridge. Then went down to Hamilton Lakes. It was only 3p so decided to go to Precipice lake (2000 ft up and 2 miles away). The trail is blasted thru granite and it was amazing to see the Hamilton Lake again and again at the end of each switchback and finally could see the Precipice lake up in the air! Exhausted but happy reached Precipice and the view of the lake with the desert varnish striations giving it a strange look, is worth all the effort! As there was a huge cloud sitting on the Kaweah's I could not get a nice pic like Akichow or Laura but was very glad to be there! Two more guys were camping on the rocks.
July 16: No sign on the gap that says the name and height
Met Dave (the fellow I met on the Visalia shuttle) at the patrol cabin jn (did not see the cabin) and continued up on switchbacks towards sky parlor meadow. Ran out of water on the way but quickly found a stream and filled bottle and hydration pack. By early evening reached the Moraine lake with its sandy beaches and warm waters.
July 17: Short day - as its only 8 miles to Kern Hot springs. Saw some rattles on the trail but they are just sluggish (probably had some nice heavy lunch), waited for them to get off the trail and continued. Met no one till I reached the bridge down in the canyon. Crossed bridge and it was like walking along the bright angel creek in Grand Canyon, hot and sandy! Pitched tent near a big family of father, sons and uncles! Had a long refreshing time in the tub and when the wind picked up felt cold and returned.
July 18: Again another relaxing day, wanted to go up to Junction meadow. When I reached junction meadow it was only 12 noon. So after lunch decided to move on. The trail raises slowly above the Kern valley and this part is familiar as we did this a few years back when came down from Colby pass and went up to MW and then WP. Reached JMT by around 5p and camped on the south side of the Wallace ck with two more campers.
July 19: Met two PCT hikers who were looking for food so gave my extra day provisions to them (me happy lighter by 2 lbs). Reached Crabtree RS around noon and went to look at Rob's new digs and they look really nice. Rob put out a whole bucket full of spring water which I took advantage of and Rob was not there. Camped at Guitar lake at the slanted rock where I have my own sheltered private kitchen with serving counter!
July 20: Heavy gale and rain almost uprooted my tent (supported only by stones). So got up around midnight, stuffed the wet tent in a garbage bag, packed and started with my headlight. The skies were clear with unblinking stars all over. Reached trail jn around 4a, packed day bag with hydration pack munchies and started on the MW trail. By around 5:30a (could see dawn yellow lines) reached second Keeler window. Then the mountain closed up with heavy lightning and splitting thunder, hit my hail, snow and heavy winds. Never saw such display and decided to turn back. Met two girls running from the mountain, they stopped, smiled and told me they slept in the hut overnight and awakened with thunder and going down. I met them at the Timberline lake yesterday. So started back and reached TJ and was surprised to see some on calling me "amble on"! That was my JMT trail name given to me last year by Ken, a music teacher from Seattle! This is Steve and his 82 yr old mother (just coming up the switch backs from west side). I met them at the Golden stair case (before Mather pass) last year on the JMT.
Then the second storm hit us at 8a. Every one started scrambling up to the Trail crest. It was snowing heavily thru the 99 switchbacks and then it was raining. The granite was slippery and I came down to WP in record time only to find that I came down one day early and my cousin was not there. I met Keith, Kyle, Terry and lots of other hikers some of whom went back after waiting at the trail camp. The weather cleared up dramatically.
Overall its a fantastic experience, especially the last day and I would not trade for anything else! Sometimes it looked harder than JMT! But so what its my challenge and I wont give up!
