At mile 1310.9. Hiked 24.1 miles today. The day went well because breakfast was heavy. I microwaved Santa Fe Rice Beans and Steak from resupply for breakfast. I also cooked pancakes with grape syrup. I had half a pot of coffee. Next thing  I know, Brenda, owner of Hiker Haven is bringing me cantaloupe, strawberries, and muffins. For once I wasn’t hungry a couple of hours after hitting the trail. I started out at 6:15 am because Brenda runs the shuttle at 6 am.  A good part of the day...

At mile 1286.8. Hiked 16.5 miles today. I ran up on a grouse with it’s brood of baby chicks. The mother hen ran around in loops on the trail in front of me all the while fluttering loudly and angrily. The hen performed its job of distraction because at first I didn’t notice the chicks. The wayward chicks that had not already disappeared in the undergrowth competed with me for  mother hen’s attention. One second the hen was charging toward me, the next it was running angrily toward her...

At mile 1270.3. Hiked 20.5 PCT miles today. Hiked alternate route adding another mile or two. My campsite with human company, again. Good! Usually my only camping companions are bear and deer.  Today I hiked the Bucks Lake  alternate route so I could visit Haskins store. But first, I need to tell you about what I figured out. I’ve been meeting thru-hikers of the “intense” variety who are doing 30 plus mile days and who entered the Sierras in May (early) only to be caught in a blizzard and have to...

At mile 1249.8. Hiked 25.3 miles today. I am finally seeing other people. Yesterday I saw Golden who moved on ahead of me. Today I saw a number of thru-hikers who flipped the Sierras. I’ve also been seeing a few section hikers. Nearly all have been SOBO.  There were 2 types of hikers I have been seeing today. There are the smart hikers who avoided an early hike through the Sierras and there are the intense hikers that plunged into the Sierras, early  but left the Sierras early for one...