Destination: 3.5 miles beyond Golden Oaks Springs
Starting Location: Tehachapi
Today’s Miles: 20.30
Trip Miles: 587.20
Highway 58 (566.6, 3830) to 3.5 miles beyond Golden Oaks Springs (586.9, 4738) ascent (4505) descent (3698)
I just consumed an enormous amount of calories and had to stop eating to ensure I did not eat a days of food in one sitting. I started with a tub of artichoke & jalapeno dip (630 kcal) on a bagel (310 kcal) then I had a huge bowl of cereal with lots of powdered milk and wonderful brown sugar. Next came chili cheese fritos, followed by gold fish crackers, a handful of whoppers and a large Hershey bar. I want more! Per the mirror in the motel it looks like I am down 10 lbs and still have a nice belly to help sustain me through the calorie deficient (not possible to carry enough food given weight & expenditure requirements) Sierra Nevada.
Now – can you believe we are getting close to the Sierra? How much snow – how deep are the rivers, all exciting, all scary, all thru-hiking the PCT.
Cadence saw us off this morning & I was so glad Dave drove up from L.A. so she did not have to be alone as we departed, and had support in navigating the U.S. (Cadence is Canadian) medical system. Cadence gave me the most thoughtful card as we departed with tears in our hearts if not our eyes. We enter the real mountains in 10 days and I hope she is there to join us.
Physically I am doing well today. My stomach is behaving, my knee is great, and my foot is cooperating. I took a pretty good fall today on a section of trail that was highly eroded due to unauthorized off road vehicle use. Got a nice cherry on my hip, and an abrasion on my shin, but nothing serious.
We are camped out in a shallow ravine below the whirl of the giant wind machines up slope. I like the windmills & do not think they distract from the trail. Hearing them in the distance reminds me of the great natural processes going on all around us if we only stop to look & listen.
We saw Billygoat & Cloudwater this morning as well as Prodeal. Also ran into Popsicle and was glad to hear his tick bite did not develop into any problems.
I will be asleep before dark and I am very happy about that. Good night Lucky Liz, I love & miss you.
Destination: 3.5 miles beyond Golden Oaks Springs
Starting Location: Tehachapi
Today’s Miles: 20.30
Trip Miles: 587.20
Highway 58 (566.6, 3830) to 3.5 miles beyond Golden Oaks Springs (586.9, 4738) ascent (4505) descent (3698)
I just consumed an enormous amount of calories and had to stop eating to ensure I did not eat a days of food in one sitting. I started with a tub of artichoke & jalapeno dip (630 kcal) on a bagel (310 kcal) then I had a huge bowl of cereal with lots of powdered milk and wonderful brown sugar. Next came chili cheese fritos, followed by gold fish crackers, a handful of whoppers and a large Hershey bar. I want more! Per the mirror in the motel it looks like I am down 10 lbs and still have a nice belly to help sustain me through the calorie deficient (not possible to carry enough food given weight & expenditure requirements) Sierra Nevada.
Now – can you believe we are getting close to the Sierra? How much snow – how deep are the rivers, all exciting, all scary, all thru-hiking the PCT.
Cadence saw us off this morning & I was so glad Dave drove up from L.A. so she did not have to be alone as we departed, and had support in navigating the U.S. (Cadence is Canadian) medical system. Cadence gave me the most thoughtful card as we departed with tears in our hearts if not our eyes. We enter the real mountains in 10 days and I hope she is there to join us.
Physically I am doing well today. My stomach is behaving, my knee is great, and my foot is cooperating. I took a pretty good fall today on a section of trail that was highly eroded due to unauthorized off road vehicle use. Got a nice cherry on my hip, and an abrasion on my shin, but nothing serious.
We are camped out in a shallow ravine below the whirl of the giant wind machines up slope. I like the windmills & do not think they distract from the trail. Hearing them in the distance reminds me of the great natural processes going on all around us if we only stop to look & listen.
We saw Billygoat & Cloudwater this morning as well as Prodeal. Also ran into Popsicle and was glad to hear his tick bite did not develop into any problems.
I will be asleep before dark and I am very happy about that. Good night Lucky Liz, I love & miss you.
Robert Francisco 
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