Lionheart - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2013

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new tips

Burn No Calories

Flying like the wind
New trekking pole tips and tent
Long hugs with trail friends


I awoke to prolific bird song among the quaking aspen at the Onion Valley trail head campground. I was all packed up and ready for pickup by 6:40am and headed towards to the parking area. I sat next to the bathrooms. I guess us hikers just can't help ourselves. I worked on fixing a few journals. The damn auto correct on my phone drives me insane and it will be a miracle if I make it to Canada without throwing my phone over a cliff.

About 5 minutes before Uncle Rubicon pulled up, Aloha drove up and quickly delivered a chair for me to sit in and gatorade to drink. He was delivering his wife Toots Magoots and hiking partner Tears For Beers back to the trail head. I was so happy to see angel Aloha and to finally meet his wife Toots. I don't know how he does it, but he always has the same awesome Hawaiian shirt on every time I see him.

How many of you have ridden a bicycle from the Onion Valley trail head down to Independence?? It's about a 5,000 foot drop to the Eastern Sierra Valley floor and I'm one of 'em. That's right! Uncle Rubicon brought his bicycle for me to ride down the mondo hill. I had to make sure I didn't burn out the V-brakes and snap the tire rim but other than that.....awesome! I was flying at least over 30 mphs down and down and down. 15 miles and I didn't have to pedal once. Not a bad start to a hikers day off! Next stop was a park in Independence for some pretzels and beer. It was only just after 9am but when you're on trail, it's never too early for a beer.

It was a productive afternoon as I was able to replace the tips on my trekking poles and also get a new 1 person tent. The 2 person tent I've been carrying is a 2009 relic and is failing in multiple ways. My new acquisition is the big agnes fly creek tent and lots of hikers have this tent on trail. It's heavier, weighing in at just over 2 lbs. but it should see me through all the way to Canada.

Pizza and beer dinner. Smile. Mammoth Brewing Nut Brown. Got a text message from Outburst and Hot Tub, two of the BMW crew. Turns out they and some other hikers were in Bishop too. Uncle Rubicon and I went over to where they were dining and I was so happy to see them. Outburst, Hot Tub, 30 Pack, Sweet Tooth, and ?. It warmed my heart greatly to visit with them and to know that I had caught up with them. Such good friends....

Entry 88 of 208
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