Legs and Borders

"We got sucked into a black hole of Kennedy Meadows, but where else you can talk to so much hiker trash" Karaoke. Long day, but it seemed easier than yesterday. First of all there was not as much altitude gain, and my body got used to being high up since yesterday. The backpack got slightly lighter and I ended up repacking it, bear canister as the heaviest item landed at the bottom of it to distribute the load better and it worked just fine. I started walking at 6am, it was all downhill for the first 7 miles, after half an hour of hiking I suddenly heard noise to the left of the trail, I looked down and I saw a big black bear running straight at me! I don't know if I was more in shock or in awe to see it, but I stopped and tried to get my camera out. Then when the bear was about 10 metres from me it finally spotted me (it must have been running away from something else, and apparently they don't have great sight) it immediately did a 360 turn and run away where it cam...

"My father came from Equador and my mother is Mexican-Irish so I'm like Heinz 57" True Love First day in high Sierra Nevada mountains, I honestly didn't know what to expect as I didn't research it all that well, only knew what kind of permits and gear are required. I couldn't sleep that well at night as people were taking the rare among hikers opportunity to socialize, the conversations lasted until late. I started walking around 7am alongside seven other people, most of which were heading towards mile 716 with a great sandy campsite by the river. On the way there I met a German couple called Ice and Axe (they started their PCT with ice axes for some reason), I already knew them from yesterday, they are on the time schedule like myself so they are walking at a good pace. We agreed to stay together at the campsite few miles ahead, but they changed their mind later on and decided to push further. Perhaps I can catch them tomorrow. I had a lunch break at the alre...

"I don't support lightweight hikers, when the push comes to shout they are the first ones that need to be rescued" (Austrian) Salty. Today can be classified as a nero day, I hiked nine remaining miles to Kennedy Meadows and decided to stay here to sort out few things before heading into high Sierra Nevada mountains tomorrow.. and drink some beers as well. Kennedy Meadows marks a place where the desert section of the PCT officialy ends and where the 'real' mountains begin. First of all it is required by law to pick up a bear canister here, it's a container in which you have to store all your food (away from your tent at night) for the next 350 miles to make sure bears won't steal it from you. Rangers do checks on backpacks and if you fail to obey that rule, your hike through Sierras is over. Next two things you are suppose to pick up here are micro-spikes and ice axe. They are both recommended but conditional, considering it's a low snow year at the Sie...