September 24

Distance: 17.4 miles | Ascent: 4630′ | Descent: 2260′

Mile marker: 1645.9

Lunch: J – potato chips, ice cream, Alex’s leftovers (A), A – Indian curry (B) and French fries (A+)

Dinner: J&A – Mountain House beef stroganof (A, A+)

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We split up!

Yesterday, we had a great idea. To get to our resupply box at Kennedy Meadows North (today), we would have to get up early in the dark and hustle through 9 miles of trail to catch a 10am shuttle to the ranch where our box waited. The bus cost money, money that could alternatively buy snacks. But, it was unnecessary for both of us to go to the ranch.

Idea: we send one of us out early in the morning with a light pack to get the shuttle to the ranch, pick up the resuppply box, enjoy ranch snacks, then return to trail on the afternoon shuttle. The other person would sleep in, pack up camp in the morning, and take a slower pace to the trailhead while carrying extra gear weight – they would not go to the ranch but rather wait at the trailhead for the box-getter to return.

Alex needed sleep. Jason needed food. And, the boxes are addressed to Jason, not Alex. Decision made.

Jason woke up bright and early at 5:15 and was out of camp before 6. Alex slept in past 8:00, finally catching up after many nights of poor sleep, before packing up camp and carrying a heavier load to the trailhead. It was a fair trade, all things considered.

It was totally safe! We don’t always have to hike 20 feet from each other. We can track each other on our satellite phones (we each have one). We messaged to check in with each other often. We had a plan of where to meet and when. It was safe! Don’t worry, moms!

Jason trucked it up the hill to make it to the trailhead. He got there after sunrise. With his speed, he had some time to rest, make a call with the service at 10,000 feet, and take some pictures.

There were four others waiting for the shuttle at the trailhead. Two were northbound who had flipped the Sierras and the other two were southbound that we have been trailing for weeks.

The road to the ranch was a bit terrifying. Maybe it’s just the lack of cars we’ve ridden in the last two months, but it was an armrest-clinging ride down. The driver was nice and told us about the history of the wagon trails over Sonora Pass.

There were a lot of hikers at the ranch! Jason caught up with Daniel and Lilletta, a pair we first met at Crater Lake and have run into a few times since. We apparently camped at the same site just two nights ago. We had arrived in the dark and they were already in their tent. Then they left in the morning before we emerged from ours. They’re doing big miles: 30+ mile days to buy time to spend in towns. We aren’t interested in pushing that hard for town time.

Jason got the box and sorted out his share. Then he scampered around the camp and snacked on the overpriced indulgences: soda, potato chips, ice cream. It was great!

Other hikers were surprised at our plan to split up and return to trail. We always sign trail registers as “Alex & Jason,” so when Jason introduced himself to other hikers at the ranch, they asked where Alex was. Some thought our plan was clever and wished they thought of doing the same thing. Although, it only really works if one person doesn’t need to charge electronics in town (Alex uses a solar panel).

Alex’s morning was less exciting. She slept until the sun hit the tent and made it uncomfortably warm. She enjoyed a camp stove coffee before packing up camp and hiking to the trailhead, stopping to take lots of pictures at the newly dramatic scenery. All went smoothly.

We reunited in the afternoon at the trailhead, Alex having arrived just shortly before Jason’s afternoon shuttle. She stuffed her bear can with resupply goodies and we hit the trail!

The views were phenomenal!

A lone little tree was trying to grow out of a rock high above the treeline. Go little tree!

As we approached our campsite, some deer were wandering above the trail in the fading sunlight. What on earth were those rascals doing up on this rocky and mostly barren terrain?