Kennedy Meadows

It has been a while since I updated this blog. This last section of trail has been very challenging with very little phone service and no internet at all. I am at Kennedy Meadows and the doorstep to the High Sierra. They say this is not only the most beautiful section of trail on the PCT, but Backpacker Magazine calls the John Muir Trail "The most beautiful trail in the world" Everyone here is super excited for this amazing section.

 I am staying at trail angel Tom Figeroa's place which can accommodate almost 50 hikers at a time. We are finally out of the desert. Three nights ago we were in the Mojave with 65 mph winds. My tent blew over four times and I ended up using it as a bivy just trying to get through the night. It snowed on me too. I was miserable. Yes, it can snow in the Mojave desert. Go figure. The following days have been magical reuniting with other hikers, and lots of trail magic mostly involving trail angels bringing soft drinks and beer to trail heads for the thru hikers. I feel very blessed to be around such wonderful people here. I am feeling good even considering that yesterday I did my first 30 mile day on the trail. I dreamed of being here for years, and here I am just stoked for the Sierra. I'll post some more later on.

Respect the trail, yourself, and all your relations. Love, Gourmet

Train At His Finest

Here's my friend Train who is hiking in a wedding dress everyday on PCT. Yeah.... for real.

Windmills in the Mojave

We are in Tahachapi for the day and checking out The Avengers movie. Sippin a corona at the greek place first. Then back to the trail, 8 miles, then trail angels picking us up tomorrow. Sweeeeeet!

Mojave!

Soooooo hot. Its 10am.

500 Miles and counting

Jayne Here- Marc has already clocked 500 miles so far on the trail- GO MARC!!!
Your shoes, new socks & bear canister should be waiting at Kennedy Meadows General Store!

Anyone else want to send Marc cards or goodies (gluten free please) send the next batch to Kennedy Marc Fendel c/o Meadows General Store- 96440 Beach Meadows Rd  Inyokern, CA 93527

Morning Sunrise 5-17

This is what my morning looked like here in the desert. What a lovely day. Doing ten more miles this evening. Hiking in the cool parts of the day. Love, Gourmet & The Chrome Dome Crew

Mojave

Here's a photo of the desert. Did a 25 mile day today. Feeling good. My shoes are toast. Hoping they can hold til Kennedy Meadows. Love, Gourmet

Casa De Luna

Hey folks- I just made it to Casa De Luna yet another famous trail angel stop on the PCT. The Anderson's are wonderful folks. There is a two day minimum here at the Anderson's house. This is a party atmosphere here and just fantastic. We are spending the day here while the sun is super hot. We walked about eight miles this morning before the heat. I am feeling good. We are switching to walking at night and early morning. Kennedy Meadows and the Sierra is just about twelve days away. I am so stoked!

Meeting Billy Goat

Magic happens on the PCT... Gourmet meets the most famous trail walker in America, Billy Goat.

Walking In The Dark

We are just about to head out this morning. Its 4am and its already getting warm. One of our sayings is 10 before 10, which means ten miles before 10am. Then we break until 5pm and walk another 5-8 miles or so. That's what walking through the desert is all about- walking the cool hours. Saufleys was amazing. I cooked for thirty people yesterday. What a great time. Thank you cousin Bernie and sister Reyna for your support. Now check those photos below.

Love, MC Gourmet & The Chrome Dome Crew

Some Favorite Photos

This is Reyna (Gourmet's sister) - I got a chance to meet up with Gourmet/Marc in a little town called Agua Dulce, about 40 miles north of Los Angeles. He was staying at "Hiker Heaven," the home of the Saufley's, a couple who lodge hikers on the PCT. They graciously open their ranch to many, many hikers, providing them a place to sleep, shower, launder clothes, a kitchen to cook, packages (which outside people can mail things to the hikers) music, tranquility, and a wonderful sense of camaraderie.

My brother and I had a lovely afternoon together. Here are some highlight photos from the batch of over 650 photos he has taken thus far.

Trail Angels In Agua Dulce, CA

When it comes to trail angels, there are none like the Saufleys. They are the fountainheads of trail angeling. They can host 50 hikers at a time. Donna even does laundry for all the hikers. Amazing. There are big open tents with cots, fire pit, kitchen, hikers boxes, you can send your packages here, and there are lots of dogs and two lovely horses. I got to visit with my sister Reyna yesterday and today my cousin Bernie is coming out here from LA later on today. I feel quite blessed to be on the trail with a good group of folks. I am feeling good and getting ready to hike the desert portion here in the next two weeks. Kennedy Meadows is just around the corner. Stoked!

Btw- Happy Belated Mothers Day!

Detours, Poodle Dog Bush, & Roadwalking

This section of Southern California has been quite challenging to say the least. First we have a detour for a native toad. That cost us a 8 mile road walk, and then nearly a thirty mile walk on gleason canyon road because of poodle dog bush. Poodle dog bush is everywhere. Apparently it is much worse that poison oak or poison ivy. It could send you home. The plant looks like a palm tree that can get as tall as five feet or so. It has a punjant sweet scent. The locals here say they have never seen it before. It has taken over a huge ammount of land where all the fires burned two years ago. Apparently it gets choked out by other plants as the ecosystem returns to normal. There's been a lot of burns here in SoCal in the last years. Walking through the burned areas is sad mostly, but there's still some beauty within the destruction.

Next section....The desert for two weeks and then the much anticipated Sierra!

Ahead of Schedule!

Marc is just booking it- he texted from the trail Saturday.  He was at mile 415, said he had already walked 22 miles and was still going... going crazy I say- he also took part of the day "off" to hike a mountain!!! I am sure he will fill in the details. Also, he said he was jonesing for music so Kevin is making him up an ipodfull of tunes. His next stop (2 days ahead of schedule) is The Saufley's place and that should be a nice break. These folks are true blue trail angels. I just packed up the third box of food to be mailed and put some nice goodies in there. If anyone wants to send stuff, either drop it by the house, or just comment here or on the facebook page. My friend Jo is making gluten free cookies for next time.

Peace to your mother(s)!
Jayne

Silverwood Lake Mile 329

Jumped in the lake! What a change from walking on the hot road. Feelin good.

Love, Gourmet

The White Wizard!!!!

I met perhaps the most famous hiker in the world. Billy Goat! Don't believe me? YouTube him. I got some photos of the two of us. What an honor. I think he has over 200,000 miles on the PCT alone. Incredible.

Mile 300!!!!!!!!!!!!

Musings On The Trail

I am walking toward Wrightwood, CA for the next six days. Today I am finalizing my food for the week and I have a few errands to run like the post office and the store. I just heard that the final number of thru hikers for this season is over 900! That's a lot of folks. The big Kickoff Weekend for the PCT is now over and the big herd is on their way. I am going to try to stay in front of all those folks. We have a fun crew right now. Lots of people from Washington State. People just keep popping in and out of your life on the trail. It is really something. The Big Bear Hostel was very kind to us and I have been cooking lots of good food for my hiker friends. My new saying is "If I have a kitchen, it's on!" I made eggs for seven people this morning. Darn good. It might be a bit before I am at a computer again. Sit tight. For the next two weeks we are heading West!
(not north)

Love, Gourmet

Oakdale Rules

My first day on the PCT I met a real California outlaw. This man was trail tough. Lizards move out of his way when he walks down the trail. Moms pick up their children when they see him. He uses his green ice axe to pick his teeth. He's an outlaw, but not the classic running from the law type. He plays by his own code of conduct and creates another for the PCT. I will share some of Oakdale's Rules for the PCT periodically in this blog.

Rule #1: ONE TING. (thing) Do one nice thing for the trail everyday. If you see some garbage then pick it up. If there's a toe stubber rock in the middle of the trail, move it. If you can do some trail maintenance even better!

Lastly.... If you see a grizzled white bearded man wearing a red hooded long sleeve wool shirt with a red umbrella and green ice axe, then you can bet that's our favorite outlaw. But, don't get your hopes up cause he can walk much faster than you!

Big Bear

We got to Big Bear a bit earlier than I thought. We hiked 24 miles today. What a long day. I feel good. Staying at the Big Bear Hostel. Mile 266 on the PCT. I am taking two zero days and gearing up for big miles starting on Friday morning. Amazing walking the last three days. We were at 9,000 ft by San Jacinto Peak post holing through the snow then in one day down to the desert floor where it was hot hot hot. Then right back up to 7,000+ ft into big trees and views of the desert and surrounding peaks. We mostly stayed right around 7,000-8,000ft and bam right into Big Bear, CA which is typically about 20degrees cooler than LA. This is LAs destination for skiing. (If you like that kind of thing. Hahahha) I keep meeting great folks. We have a good crew with various thru hikers popping in and out of my life. Some very unique characters. Very best to all. -Gourmet

Making Miles

We are about out of here this morning. I got lucky and got to stay in a motel room last night in Idyllwild. I got to sleep in a real bed! I didn't get too used to it, cause tonight I am back to sleeping in the dirt. Hahhahah. Back to Devils Slide Trail for the third time. Yeeeeeee.....