Robert Francisco

Destination: Tributary south fork Kern River

Starting Location: Ridge between Spanish Needle & Lamont Peak

Today’s Miles: 27.20

Trip Miles: 700.70

Ridge between Spanish Needle & Lamont Peak (673.2, 6800) to Tributary south fork Kern River (700.4, 5916) ascent (3806) descent (4760)

Incredible . . . we have reached the “Range of Light” and as we exceeded 8,000 feet today we saw the snow covered mountains & continued north as being called. I am so excited to be here. I just walked 700 miles and am now camped on the south fork of the Kern River. Sugar Daddy is with me and our friend Popsicle is here also. The moon is nearly full, I am full of food & water, & life is darn good.

Kennedy Meadows has been a draw for the last 6 weeks because it means the end of the desert & southern California & the beginning of the mountains & central California.

The Kern is out of its banks and clouded. The runoff has clearly started & I scoped the river to determine if it was crossable here as practice. It is but it would require shrinking male body parts. The crossings will likely be tough . . . but Sugar Daddy & I have discussed it and we are going on. We have both agreed we can always turn back if undoable for our skill level, but we need to determine that rather than let those who never try dissuade us.

Wearing new shoes (Montrail, Hardrock) for the Sierra. I wore them the last two days with pretty good results. My feet hurt like hell, but 48 miles in two days will do that. They definitely have more support but you pay for that in extra heat retention. I also think the shoes simply wear differently and thus my feet are going to hurt in different places.

Destination: Tributary south fork Kern River

Starting Location: Ridge between Spanish Needle & Lamont Peak

Today’s Miles: 27.20

Trip Miles: 700.70

Ridge between Spanish Needle & Lamont Peak (673.2, 6800) to Tributary south fork Kern River (700.4, 5916) ascent (3806) descent (4760)

Incredible . . . we have reached the “Range of Light” and as we exceeded 8,000 feet today we saw the snow covered mountains & continued north as being called. I am so excited to be here. I just walked 700 miles and am now camped on the south fork of the Kern River. Sugar Daddy is with me and our friend Popsicle is here also. The moon is nearly full, I am full of food & water, & life is darn good.

Kennedy Meadows has been a draw for the last 6 weeks because it means the end of the desert & southern California & the beginning of the mountains & central California.

The Kern is out of its banks and clouded. The runoff has clearly started & I scoped the river to determine if it was crossable here as practice. It is but it would require shrinking male body parts. The crossings will likely be tough . . . but Sugar Daddy & I have discussed it and we are going on. We have both agreed we can always turn back if undoable for our skill level, but we need to determine that rather than let those who never try dissuade us.

Wearing new shoes (Montrail, Hardrock) for the Sierra. I wore them the last two days with pretty good results. My feet hurt like hell, but 48 miles in two days will do that. They definitely have more support but you pay for that in extra heat retention. I also think the shoes simply wear differently and thus my feet are going to hurt in different places.