May 29-30, 2006 Phone didn't work yesterday. Today it worked just long enough to get my journal out. Walked 24 miles yesterday in order to reach water. 18 miles today between water. Tomorrow will be 30 miles unless someone is kind enough to have a cache. Was in the mid 80's today. Elevation today is about 6,000ft. Heard this loud noise and looked down into the valley below and was surprised to see an air force jet flying below me. Camped with five other hikers last night. Should reach Kennedy Meadows on Sunday. That is the start of the snow and high elevations. I heard that two hikers have started across. Hope they call back with information about conditions. John should have new pictures for web site.
May 31, 2006 Reached Hwy 178 and was able to get a signal. Battery is low and not sure when I will be able to charge it. I met my first bear. I was walking down hill and a black bear was walking up hill. We both stopped and looked at each other. I was afraid to move and I think he might have been too. Finally he rambled off the trail and I went on.
June 1, 2006 Was a long walk between water. When I reached the cache there was only a little water. I didn't want to take it all and leave none for the next hiker. I took only enough to get me to a spring that was about 2 miles off the trail. I thought I had enough but when I reached the next cache I had only a swallow left. In about 15min I drank 2.5 liters. Camped with two others hikers. My hiking shirt is torn. Will need to use duct tape until I can get another one. Duct tape is used for many things. Repairing sleeping bags, sleeping mats, tents, cloths, and most of all for blisters on your feet.
June 2, 2006 I saw a brown bear on the trail this morning. His coat was shaggy and he was very lean. He didn't stop but just moved off the trail. Learned there was a gas station about 18 miles off the trail . Red ( a girl), Gary and I decided we wanted something cold to drink and maybe a hot dog or meat of some kind enough to hitch to the station. Took only a few min to get a ride. After drinking hot water for days, it really was worth the hitch. Then there was the hitch back. It was late by the time we reached the trail. Our stomachs were full and our thirst was quenched. We were in no mood to do much walking so camped early.
June 3, 2006 Walked 21 miles today. Stepped on a rock and twisted my foot. Found myself on the ground, flat. Dirt all over my clothes This is my 5th day without a bath or clean clothes. My only bath has been with baby wipes. 2.5 days until Kennedy Meadows: a bath and clean clothes. Camped with Gary and Red.
June 4, 2006 80's in the daytime 30's at night. Elevation 6,000 to 8,000. Most of today was through burned area. Fire was in 2000. Saw 2 rattlesnakes on the trail today. One must have been cold and lying in the sun to warm. I had to use my hiking stick to prod him off the trail. I can see the desert on one side and the snow caped mountains on the other side. 21 miles again today. Only 8 to Kennedy Meadows. Red, Gary and I camped by a little stream tonight.
June 5, 2006 Reached Kennedy Meadows about 10:30. First thing was gator aid and two cokes. The showers are wooden stalls outside. There is a washing machine. Clean clothes , a bath, and then to the country store for hamburgers. A short rest and a bit of news from the other hikers. There are about 20 in camp. Time to find a space and set up my tent. No bed here. All those soft down days in town at a motel are gone for sometime. The hiker from Belgium is in camp. He plans to continue in the morning. My food and equipment has not arrived yet. Should be here tomorrow. Will stay over a couple of days and see if Bams, Janitor and Crispy arrives.
June 6, 2006 This place is like a survival camp after a world war. There is no electric power. Everyone is solar, gas or generator powered. The little store runs the generator during the day and turns it off at night. I was told that they have a movie ,in the summer on Saturday night. Everyone that lives around here comes. The sit outside on old car seats or logs. We were told that there was a restaurant down the road about a mile. Some of us decided to go for breakfast. No light when we arrived. Knocked on the door and it was opened by a man wearing boxer shorts and a T-Shirt. He got the generator going and the lights come on. The restaurant appeared to be his living room with four booths and a grill. Several dogs were running around with him trying to get them out. After the dogs were removed he proceeded to cook our breakfast in his boxers and T-shirt. He was a very heavy man. My guess would be over 300 lbs. Breakfast was outstanding. Had steak and eggs. Bams come in after 7:00. Janetor and Krispie should be in tomorrow morning. (Notice the change of spelling in Janetor and Krispie). My supplies didn't arrive today. The suggested date to leave here is June 15 so I still have time.
June 7, 2006 Went back to the restaurant for breakfast, had cereal. Janetor and Krispie come in early. They had camped just a few miles out. Was getting worried about my package. It finally arrived about 3:30. UPS only makes deliveries 3 times a week. It is about 40 miles from the nearest town. Was not able to fit all my 10 days of food into my bear container. (The bear container is required to enter the park) I may need to go into town for food about 8 days out. It is about a 20 mile hike each way.
June 8, 2006 Met the man who found my ice ax. His trail name in Rolling Thunder and he is from New Zealand. A grope of four left about 10:00. Bams, Janetor, Krispie and I will be leaving about 12:00. We plan to hike only 6 miles today. That should allow us to make the next camp site tomorrow. A cold front is moving in today. I sure hope it keeps the snow packed. We have information from one hiker that has reached the other side. It is my understanding the snow is deep. It will probably be between 8 and 14 days before I can update my journal. Keep checking I might get a signal somewhere.
June 9, 2006 We left late in the day and hiked only 3.5 miles to a campground located just before the Sierras. I think there might have been a fee to camp there but no one came to collect. Ladybug had ask to hike with us. She didn't show at the camp by dark. We decided to go back and look for her. We left our packs and hiked about a mile and found her all set up for the night. She will join us tomorrow.
June 10, 2006 Hiked 13 miles to the first river. This is one of the few rivers that have a bridge. We had planned to hike longer but the location was so beautiful we decided to spend the night. It was a valley with the river running through. Krispie caught 2 trout with a real that he fastened on to the end of his hiking pole. He cooked them for his dinner. There are 7 of us camping here. Janetor, Krispie, Bams, Ladybug, Pauley, and Abandon. No snow yet.
June 11, 2006 Patches of snow in the early part of the day. More snow when we reached Death Canyon. All of the passes are heavy snow. Walking is difficult. Sun cups (holes in the snow caused by melting) make it difficult to walk. Camped at 11,000 ft at Chicken Spring Lake. Lake is still frozen over. Had my first encounter with mosquitoes. A good spray with deet helped.
June 12, 2006 Crossed Siberia Pass. Coming down from the pass, reached the first big stream. We went up stream and found a log rather than wading where the trail crossed. At the second stream ,I decided to remove my boots and keep them dry. The water was almost butt deep and the temp was freezing. When I tried to put my socks on, my feet had no feeling. When feelings came back my feet hurt for a long time. Third stream of the day. Found some rocks that looked as if I could jump from rock to rock. Decided to leave my boots on. Big Mistake. Almost across, slipped and got a soaking. Had to hike wet the rest of the day. Camped at Crab Tree Meadow. 12,000 ft.
June 13, 2006 Cloudy until 9:00. I planned to try and hike Mt Whitney today. Pauley and Abandon left about 30 min before me. I hiked up as far as I could find the trail. Eventually there was only snow. I saw Pauley and Abandon about 700 ft up and ask if they had found the trail. They said they were still looking. I decided to call it a day and head back to camp. It was about 3:30 when I got back. Pauley and Abandon didn't make it back until dark. They had finally found the trail and hiked to the top. The others had taken a down day.
June 14, 2006 Today we hiked over Forester Pass which is over 13,000 ft. It was the most dangerous hiking I have ever done. Walking along the edge on a sheet of ice with a 1,000 ft drop off sure made you pay attention to where you were putting your foot. I tried not to look over the edge too often. It was 6:00 when we reached the summit. We still had another 4 hours to get down and to a camp site. We made it to the tree line and started looking for a place under the trees where the snow had melted to put up our tents. We were wet and cold. We made a small fire to dry our cloths and boots. It was 10:30 by the time I cooked my dinner. I got in my sleeping bag in my tent. I set up my stove outside the door where I could reach it and cooked. It was a long day.
June 15, 2006 Slept until 9:00. More streams to cross. Took my shoes off and froze my feet. Better than having cold feet all day from wet boots. Another pass today over 11,000 ft. Decided to go into Independence with Janetor and Krispie to pick up food drop. We had to hike 9.7 miles off the trail to Onion Pass parking lot. Met a day hiker that gave us a ride into town. It was 24 miles to Independence from the parking lot. Town was full of hiker and no room at the motel. We decided to catch the bus into Bishop. It is a larger town and has more motels. I lost my sunglasses and need to replace them. The sun is really hard on the eyes when reflecting off the snow. I am looking forward to a hot meal, shower, clean clothes, and a BED.
June 15, 2006 A little extra information. This is the first time I have been able to call in since June 8. I have lost about 30 lbs. I am nearing or passed 800 miles. Almost 1/3 of the way. My feet now have calluses instead of blisters. I am hungry all the time. It is difficult to walk and breath at these altitudes especially with a 30 lb pack on my back. I can't think of any place I would rather be.
June 16, 2006 Slept late. Spent the day replacing equipment and supplies. Decided to take another day off just to rest. The snow ahead is deep. Some of the roads to supply points has not been opened yet. It will take most of the day to return to the trail. A bus to Independence, hitch a ride to the parking lot and a 9.7 mile hike back to the trail. An update on Ladybug: She was hiking with a satellite phone. Good to have but very heavy. Earlier in her hike she was picked up by helicopter from atop a rock surrounded by rattlesnakes. She decided to get off the trail at Lone Pine. I am not sure what her plans are, We were walking down the street when a pickup pulled over to ask about the snow conditions between Kennedy Meadows and here. It was the wife of the man who fell from above the river and died. She is back on the trail with the group at Kennedy Meadows. They plan a memorial service at Kennedy Meadows on Sunday.
June 17, 2006 Not a very interesting day to write about. Went to the movie last night and saw Xman. Did a lot of sleeping and went bowling this afternoon. There is no bus on Sunday. We will leave early tomorrow and hitch a ride. It has been in the high 80's here. Time to head back to the snow. I don't know when I will be able to update my journal again.
June 18-19, 2006 With no bus on Sunday and the long distance back to the trail we decided to stay over. Found someone with a small pickup that would give us a ride on Monday. It took two trips to get us and our gear to the parking lot at Onion Valley Camp Ground. By the time everyone arrived it was 5:30. It was a steep hike of 9.7 mile back to the trail. We decided to spend the night in the campground and make the climb tomorrow. Bams, Janetor, Krispie, and I are still together.
June 20, 2006 The hike up Kersage Pass, with full food pack, to the trail was a long and tiring hike. We decided to call it a day. We camped beside Bull Frog lake. It was still frozen when we went into Independence but now most of the ice had melted. We decided to try fishing. Me with a hook and line, no pole, Krispie with his real on his hiking pole. The fish must have really been starved because we caught about 14. Cooked some of them on a stick over the fire. Someone found a piece of foil and some olive oil. Used that in the coals to cook a few more. Beautiful location. A valley with a lake surrounded by high mountains. Good company, food and a fire.
June 21, 2006 Hiked over Glenny Pass. Two miles of soft deep snow. Very steep sides with long drop to valley below. The most difficult so far. Slow going. Not able to do many miles.
Camped by swinging bridge across river with white water. At least there is a bridge. Snow is patchy here. Nothing green showing yet. I never knew we had this kind of mountains in the US. They are high with jagged edges and unbelievable spectacular. There are no words to describe them. You would have to see them to understand. Met Crazy Horse from Virginia. He hiked the AT last year. He has dread lock below his waist.
June 22, 2006 Crossed Pinchot Pass 12,130 ft. Heavy snow but was able slide down the ice on the other side for about 500 ft. There was over 4 miles of deep snow. The south fork of the King River had large rapids. Very fast and very deep. We decided to go up river and see if we could find a better crossing. We hiked about 2.5 miles before finding what seemed a better place. The water still touched the bottom of my back pack when crossing. It is run off from melting snow and freezing cold. Bought a pair of sandals in town to wear crossing the rivers. They keeps the boots dry and the feet from being cut on rocks.
June 23, 2006 Crossed Mather Pass 12,100 ft. Heavy snow cover. Very steep and narrow. The snow was melting. Made the rocks slippery. Slow going. Had to make sure one foot was holding before moving the other foot . Reached Deer Meadow before stopping for the night.
June 24, 2006 Today was Muir Pass. We have been following the Muir Trail combined with the PCT for several days. The approach, ascent and descent to Muir pass was one large snowfield. Spent the night on top of Muir Pass. There is a stone hut. Not sure if we were suppose to use it but was too tempting to pass up. Only about 14 miles today. We have left Janetor and Krispie behind. Bams, Crazyhorse and I plan to pick up supplies at Vermillion Valley Resort and they don't. They will be hiking slower and we will all meet after Vermillion.
June 25, 2006 After leaving the hut we had about 5 miles of snow to reach Evolution Creek. Had to hike upstream to find a crossing. Water still up to my back pack. Found some wild onions growing along the creek. Picked them and made onion soup with them and my noodles for dinner. Rained for about half and hour. Enough to get everyone wet. Mosquitoes have been bad for the past two days. Deet helps but they are a real pest. Saw 3 deer today. They come within 10 ft of us. Didn't seem to have any fear of people. Have seen no bear since entering the Sierras. Hiked 20 miles before finding a place to camp. Not a very good one but too tired to go further.
June 26, 2006 Hiked another 20 miles to the boat ramp to Vermillion Valley Resort. Last boat went at 4:45 and it was 9:00 before we reached the ramp. Was less snow today and much easier walking. There was a small animal, I think they are called pika, licking the handle of my hiking pole for the salt. I am sure he found plenty with all the sweating I have done the past weeks. More rain and mosquitoes. I am almost out of food. One breakfast bar and a package of noodles. Looking forward to the boat at 9:45 tomorrow morning. Was able to use cell phone to touch base with parents.
June 27, 2006 Arrived by boat to Vermillion Valley Resort. Vermillion Resort is considered one of the most beautiful wilderness resorts in the high Sierras. Located on an Alpine lake about the size of Lake Jackson. They have a restaurant, grocery store, rustic motel and tent cabins. The first place I headed was to the restaurant for a breakfast of eggs, steak, biscuits and gravy. For lunch I had my first ever fish tacos. Was really good or I was very hungry. Picked up my food shipment and new pants and shirt. The clothes I started with was in really bad shape. Will spend the night here and move on tomorrow. They have allowed us to use a four cot tent cabin for the night. Rain again this evening. They say it rains almost every afternoon. Lightening is a problem when you are high and in the open with no cover.
June 28, 2006 After the thunderstorm passed the guest built a fire and we all sat around the fire having a few cool ones and swapping stories until late. The cook from the restaurant had a few too many and was sick. He recovered enough to cook breakfast. I think we all woke at the same time this morning. A huge clap of thunder vibrated across the valley followed by a down pour. This lasted most of the morning. We decided to take the afternoon boat rather than start hiking in the rain. My food bill for the short stay was about $130. A not so good hamburger was $10. Crazy Horse decided to stay a little longer. Bams and I along with 14 others crossed on the 4:30 boat. We will only hike to the first river crossing. We were told the water level would go down over night. There is a 29 mile hike to the road into Mammoth. I think most of us will go into town. A dry room (not a tent) for a day or two would be good. We should be meeting with Janetor and Krispie in Mammoth.
June 29, 2006 Hard hiking yesterday. Camped alone and had the best nights sleep in a long time. I camped past Duck Lake and most of the other hikers stopped at the lake. Less mosquitoes away from so much water. Went to bed early and woke about 6:00. Crossed Silver pass today. Heavy snow. Several river crossings. I am getting tired of taking off my boots and putting them back on. I have decided to just cross with my boots. My feet get wet but they don't hurt from the cold. When I get into camp I take the wet boots off and put dry socks and sandals on. Bams decided to take a side trail to Rainbow falls and the hot springs. I stayed on the trail. Met a hiker called Forbidden Donut and another called Restless Wind.
June 30, 2006 Started hiking at 6:15. Want to get into town early. Most of the day was level or downhill. Reached Reeds Meadow at 10:30. Bus was at the store so sprinted last part so that I wouldn't miss the bus. Found out later there was no hurry as they run every 20 min. Got off the bus in Mammoth Lake and caught another bus into Mammoth and a trolley to the Motel 6. It is good that the Motel 6 has a washer and dryer but I sure wish the would put shampoo in the rooms. Always have to find a drug store and buy a travel size before getting a shower. No hikers staying at this motel. I know some are in town but not sure were. I have reached the Ansel Adams Wilderness area. Yosemite National Park will be next.
July 1, 2006 Red and Garry are at the motel. A hiker by the name of Bill had to be hospitalized for a day. I am not sure what his problem was but he is leaving the trail. There is 5 or 6 others in town. Heard that Krispie and Janetor was somewhere in the area. Someone said they have a friend that lives here. The others tell me Bams didn't come into town. I am doing laundry and eating and resting. Found a Spa close to the motel and decided to get a massage. Muscles in legs and buttocks are really sore from hiking through the passes. My leg muscles really need a day to rest. Will go back to the trail tomorrow. It may be a few days before I can make contact again.
July 2, 2006 I talked with the receptionist, at the Spa ,while waiting for my massage. He was the husband of the person who did the massage. They gave me a $20 discount after learning that I had been a Spa manager for several years. He also insisted that he would give me a ride back to the park today. He took me to the entrance to the park and I took the bus back to Reds Meadow and the trail. Met up with Red and Gary today. Hiked over Island Pass but not nearly as much snow nor as steep. Crazy Horse was in camp tonight along with 6 other hikers. While cooking dinner a deer came into my camp. I have never been able to get a picture of a deer. They always get away before I can find my camera. I had only been asleep a short time when I heard these heavy footsteps. I thought it must be a really big animal of some. A few minuets later I saw a headlight and realized it was a late hiker.
July 3, 2006 Hiked over Donahaugh Pass today. I am now in Yosemite Park. You know that a camp ground and hotel is near by the number of day hikers. There were between 20 and 30 hikers today. You can tell the day hikers from the through hikers. They look so clean. I was pulled over by a Park Ranger today. He checked my park pass and my bear container for my food. I know Crazy Horse had no bear container. Hope he made it through ok. Called journal in from Tuolumme Meadows using a land phone. Decided not to go into the Resort of Yosemite but keep hiking. Found a note on the board at the little store from Bams, Janitor and Krispie. They had gone into the resort for the 4th. Met a hiker by the name of Weather Carrot ( He has hiked the AT and the PCT and made films of both) He said the resort was a mad house. I plan to hike another 5 miles tonight. I had a good rest in Mammoth and feel no need to stop. The rest of the day. Hiked 6.5 miles after Tuolumme Meadows. I was stopped by a Ranger again and ask about my park pass and bear bag for food. It was about 9:00 when I got to the campground. It was dark but seemed full of campers. I stumbled around and finally found a place that looked good. Set up my tent ate a cold meal and went to bed. Sometime early in the morning I heard someone say "Do you think he is too close". When I finally woke up I found the sites were numbered and I had camped between two sites.
July 4, 2006 Long day yesterday so I slept in today. Started hiking about 9:00. Lots of up and down through deep canyons with granite walls. Reached the top of a pass and found 3 hikers I had not met before. Solar and Rocked Man from Colorado. Pouch from England. We hiked more or less together the rest of the day. Camped with them.
July 5, 2006 The 3 hikers left about 3 hrs before I did. I saw no other hikers all day. Several streams to cross. Only one gave me any problems. I crossed on a log that was about 1ft under water. Very slippery. Was only worried about getting my pack wet if I fell off. Very steep canyons all day. Only able to do about 17 miles. Stopped at 7:00 by a lake and camped alone.
July 6, 2006 Started hiking about 7:00. About an hour into my hike met up with Pouch, Solar and Rocket Man. Some rivers today but not too deep or swift. The mountains have now changed from granite to Volcanic. They are black with the white snow. Very dramatic. Looks like a scene from Mars. Met 2 more new hikers. Big Cat and Shaggy from Virginia. Big Cats parents are suppose to pick him up tomorrow. Hope I can get a ride into Bridgeport for supplies. They are suppose to meet at Hwy 180 at 1:00. We all camped together.
July 7, 2006 Pouch, Solar, and Rocket Man were going on. I gave them what extra food I had. They had another 4 day before they could buy supplies. I will resupply in town. Lots of snow and a wind of about 50mph. A good hiking day. Cool and crisp. Arrived at the meeting place with Big Cats parents. Waited about an hour and still no parents. Decided I should try and hitch a ride. Took a while but finally got a ride with a couple from LA. They dropped me at Hwy 395 with about 17 miles still to go. Waited about half and hour with no one stopping. Finally a Highway Patrol car pulled over. I thought he was going to check me out but to my surprise he gave me a ride into town. He said he had been seeing hikers along this road for over 17 years. He said it was Friday night and everyone would be in a hurry to get home and it would be hard to get a ride. He dropped me downtown. Small town, very expensive to buy supplies and get a room. Stayed at a hotel, motel that was first built in 1877 with some additions in the 1970s. Hotel restaurant had excellent food. Bought a silver chain for my medallion. I forgot to tell you how I got the medallion. When I was in Lake Hughes some of us decided to have a beer and went to the bar. A man about 55 with bald head and very buff came up to me and ask if I was hiking the PCT. Said yes. He ask what my name was and I told him Thor. He said he had been waiting 20 years to meet a Thor and would I wait here until he returned. I agreed wondering what he wanted. While waiting a bat flew into the bar. The bartender was chasing him with a stick and everyone was ducking. I picked up the bar rag and when he made his next round caught him and deposited him outside. My guy returned and gave me a silver medallion of Thor with a hammer and sword. There was a booklet telling what each thing represented. It was on a string and I decided to wear it. String broke and that is the reason for the chain.
July 8, 2006 Had to stop to buy toilet paper on the way out of town. I usually just take the rest of the roll in my motel room but these guys are wise to us hikers. They have it in a locked dispenser. Walked to the edge of town (only about a half mile) to hitch a ride. Took me over an hour and a half. Two guys about 20 picked me up and gave me a ride to Hwy 108. They kept trying to give me food and ask if I needed money. Must have looked pretty bad. I was picked up by a Marine for the second half. They have a mountain training camp on Hwy 108. The Marine that gave me a ride is in charge of the mules. They have 40. I thought the Marines had a little more modern transportation. Hiked only 10 miles today. Camped with Atomic. Had not seen him since May 21 at the Saufleys.
July 9, 2006 Atomic was still asleep when I left. Crossed a road that had a roadside park just off the trail. Cooked my meal and rested awhile. The mountains are not as high but the switch backs are a lot steeper and it is more tiring. Snow is patchy now. Still volcanic rocks. Plenty of small streams but no rivers. Rained and hailed just after lunch. Atomic had been following my boot tracks all day but was never able to catch up with me. He found three other hiker and told them that I must really be hauling because he had pushed hard all day and had not been able to catch me. One of the guys laughed and stuck his boot up and said no you have been following me. We have the same boots. He had passed me while I was having lunch off the trail at the roadside park. Hiked 27 miles today.
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