Rest, Resupply and a strict diet of “backpacker breakfasts” and double bacon avocado cheeseburgers

I spent two zero days at Kennedy Meadows camped out in front of Grumpy Bear’s Retreat. I was uninitiated in the ways of breakfast time at Grumpy’s. There were already 10 hikers waiting in line at 8:30 am when Grumpy’s opened their doors to start serving breakfast. I was given enough advice to know that I should order the backpacker breakfast. It included two eggs, bacon/sausage, hash browns and all you can eat plate-sized pancakes. You can be sure that I took full advantage of those all you can eat pancakes!

Later in the day, I ordered a double bacon avocado cheeseburger and a beer and scarfed it down. I’m finally starting to feel the “hiker hunger” where you just feel hungry all the time.

I used the time at Grumpy’s to recharge my electronics and my battery pack and catch up with some blogs. They had a free washing machine and I washed all of my clothes. I also washed myself in the backpacker shower they had which had a great view of the mountainside…while it cycled between freezing cold and scalding hot. But any type of shower these days is a welcome treat. I generally smell absolutely rank 24/7. You just have to embrace it…but if you see me out there hitch hiking, I wouldn’t pick me up!

While there weren’t near as many hikers there as a normal year (often 75-100 at any given time), there were a fair amount. Some I had already met on the trail, and there were around another 20 who I had not previously met. There was lots of socializing and beer drinking through the first night.

On zero day number two, I went fishing on the South Fork of the Kern River. A guy named Airborne who worked at Grumpy’s dropped me off at the river after dropping off six hikers at the trailhead early in the morning. The trout were hungry and I was successful. I caught a bunch of rainbow trout, and a couple of browns. Following the fishing, I hiked the trail south to a pickup point so that I technically had that section of four miles complete and could skip it the following day when I resumed the hike.

In the afternoon, I got my gear ready for the big jump into the Sierras. I now have a two pound bear canister to put my food in since it is mandated in the national parks. I have also added an ice axe and microspikes for contending with snow fields. I swapped out my old shoes for a new pair and have a few warmer layers of clothing as well. I also swapped out the sun umbrella for my Tenkara fishing rod and tackle. With a seven and a half day supply of food (which doesn’t all even fit in my bear canister) the pack weight is up to around 35-36 pounds. The good thing now in this section is that water is much more plentiful and I won’t have to carry as much on me at any given time.

Trail Facts:

• Additional PCT Thru-Hikers I’ve met – Jellybean, Hotrod, Couscous, Nettles, Black Market (from Romania), Gray J, Yardsale, Bartender, Money, RJ, Tuna Farts and Mrs. Farts, the twins Downhill and Tent Legs, Kitchen Sink