Kennedy Meadows (August 26, 2021)

If you saw or read "Wild," about Cheryl Strayed's trek of the Pacific Crest Trail, you probably know about Kennedy Meadows.  The PCT starts in Campo, at the U.S./Mexico border, and runs north 2,650 miles through the Sierra Nevada mountains to the U.S./Canada border. Most hikers need the entire snow-free season of 5 months to cover the distance. At 703 miles from the southern terminus, the Kennedy Meadows General Store is one of the few places along the trail for provisions. But only load up on what you can carry!  Total elevation gain/loss for a northbound thru-hiker is 489,418 feet of climbing and 488,411 feet descending.

We logged in as day hikers.  Had to put those feet on the PCT in honor of our several years ago dream of traversing the John Muir Trail with Amon.  The 211-mile-long JMT runs from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney, following the PCT for 170 miles. This is for you, Amon.  May you fulfill our dream.

No wheels allowed, horses either (prohibition not pictured). Looks like hikers are in!

Kennedy Meadows is the demarcation between the Southern California desert and the high Sierra Nevada passes.  Couple of planks resting on that bottom bar and I could get my wheels right over.

The trail was rocky and dusty.

The South Fork of the Kern River was mostly mud dotted with shallow pools like this one. Not surprising in late August given California's long drought and the fact that the river is fed by snow melt from the mountains.

Muddy river bottom

We finished the day at our HomeAway in nearby Lone Pine.