Pacific Crest Trail - Day 64

Start: Mile 669.9 (nice) backcountry campsite
End: Mile 682.3 - Chimney Creek campground

We got approximately zero sleep after spending the night on a mouse highway. We ditched our critter-proof Ursacks in Tehachapi knowing we’re going to be carrying bear-proof canisters from Kennedy Meadows on and sorely regretted it this night.

We went up and down a pretty big climb before a pretty big climb. On little sleep, miles were hard to come by.

We came across this amazing sign for trail magic at the base of the final climb ~20 miles before Kennedy Meadows and were more than ready to relax.

Those huge external frame packs are hilarious almost 50 years later!

Paul (in the red hat) hiked the PCT in 1977 and hosts Memorial Day trail magic at Chimney Creek campground every year with his friends Gary, Larry, and Jerry in honor of their friend Greg. It was awesome listening to their stories of adventure and misadventure on the PCT, mountaineering, and river rafting in the West.

We anticipated stopping in for a beer and heading out for evening miles, but wound up pitching the tent and eating burritos while hanging out with ~20 other hikers who we found also all had a long challenging day. It was a perfect send off to the desert section of the PCT.

21(ish) miles to burgers and a couple days off before the Sierra in Kennedy Meadows tomorrow.