Finally, the Sierras, water and a small amount of mosquitoes
I had the toughest sections from Hikertown to Mojave and Mojave to Walker Pass.
At the Mojave wind farms I had about 50-70 mph wind with peaks at 90 mph, that was really crazy.
I did the Aqueduct at daytime because of the high wind, got sunburned and did the annoying road walk.
The section to walker pass was even more hard. I didn’t know that Meadow Ed, Oakie and Yogi would do trail magic there.
So I packed water for 33 miles. Wow that was heavy.
That section was real desert with high temperatures and really low water.
I was lucky as there has been a fire after the Andersons, luckily I could hike through that once nice forest…
Now all the hikers are hitching around that area, because of the fire and the closure, lucky me!
After Walker Pass I entered the Sierras, still dry.
But in the final valley before Kennedy Meadows I got a big thunderstorm.
That thunderstorm had big hail and a lightning bold was so close that I could feel the electricity and my arms hurt.
Welcome to the Sierras…
Right now, I’m in Bishop and have done some part of the Sierra Nevada.
It is so awesome around here.
I wish I could upload some photos… They are f*ing amazing.
I have done the two highest points on my route, Mount Whitney and Forester Pass.
Both where nice climbs, although I got a real headache on Whitney… altitude…
Forester Pass was really easy, shortly after doing the switchbacks up I could already see the final snow traverse.
Then I was up there.
But the real Sierras passes are coming up in the next section (Mather Pass, Muir Pass).
The temperatures are quite cool and get near freezing (or even below) during the night.
As water isn’t a problem anymore there are already some mosquitoes.
But not many. I try to get some Permithrin and Deet in Bishop to scare the mosquitoes off.
I’m now really a hiking machine 
That’s a really good feeling. Ups and Downs in the Sierras have been nice so far.
I hiked with Beer and Ranch, a German couple from Berlin since Kennedy Meadows.
But sadly Ranch could not do Whitney and we split apart.
But hiking alone again will increase my mileage, I thing I can do 20′s in the Sierras ( I did 20′s with Whitney and Forester).
This lets me carry less food.
Because the bear canister is very limited in its space…
Alright, time to eat more and more, my body fat is gone and I tend to freeze at temperatures I normally don’t freeze.
Chilling at the Saufleys, mile 450
I’m currently taking my zero and nero at the Saufleys in the Hiker Heaven.
An awesome place to hang around but now I have to leave in the evening.
My body is recovering but I’m going to take some more days of at the Andersons in the Casa de Luna.
I feel great again and I’m completely relaxed.
I have my own bed, which is so much more comfortable than my foam mattress.
They also have bikes to ride into town.
And in the evening you sit by the fire drinking a cool beer.
The last days I had a lot of Poodle Dog Bush.
Thats a poisonous plant that irritates the skin.
And it got me on my right leg, although I wore a long pants.
I walked through the burned parts of the Station Fire… was creepy.
During the next days it goes into the Mojave desert.
That is going to be cruel.
But UB is planning a glowstick walk on the Mojave Aqueduct.
And there is the party at the Andersons
Wrightwood, ~368 miles
Hi All,
I’m now in Wrightwood at 368 miles.
After rain and snow in bigbear including freezing at night the temperature is back to normal right now.
And that is about 107 degrees.
The ascent to Wrightwood was horrible, about 2000 meters climbing and 23 miles on that day.
I tend to increase my mileage to above 20 miles per day.
This has a big affect on my body.
The knees, ankles, muscles, the back, everything hurts awefully.
Thanks to the new socks from bigbear (adidas running socks) I got my first to blisters.
I just hope that I can find good socks in Agua Dulce, where I also take a ZeroDay.
To make the miles I also walk in the heat of the day.
My body can handle that quite well, and I’m happy with that.
But the locals say it’s getting cooler soon.
In Wrightwood I met a lot of other hikers again, awesome!
We were eating out yesterday and drank some beer and licor in the Racoon Saloon, with roughly 20 hikers…
I’m so happy to be clean again and I’m looking forward to the hiker heaven, casa de lune and especially to mile 770.
Got my trail name
I’m in big bear, and I got my trail name yesterday:
Buritto Grande
Yes it is burrito grande.
I was the first one that finished it in that restaurant.
Back from the ADZPCTKO
Got back from the KickOff.
Manny a really great trail angel picked me and three elderly hikers up at Warner Springs.
We had a great day before the ADZPCTKO including 3 dogs, pizza, shower etc.
Wonderful.
The Kickoff itself was not as crowded as I thought.
It was a great experience meeting all the other hikers and talking to them.
Many have done sections or tried to thru hike it before and try it again.
Every evening there was a nice party beginning with the movies (short film festival and PCT class of 2012, the DVD is out!) continued with beer in the green environment around the lake.
Luckiliy Erin and Brett, 2 fellow hikers that arrived at Warner Springs with me, picked me up and now I’m back.
I had really itchy feet on the second day and wanted to get back to the trail.
Oh and before I forget it: The Postholer maps suck. Halfmiles are the way to go.
105 miles Warner Springs
I’ve done the first 100 miles
I’m currently at Warner Springs Community Resource Center waiting for a ride to the KickOff.
The resource center is quite great as it provides food shower and laundry, everything a hiker needs.
The first days have been wonderful.
No blisters so far, shoes fit perfectly, however I have a problem finding the right socks (Smartwool light hiker short), I hope I find them at the kickoff.
The temperatures started with 20C going up to 35C and last night it even rained and the temperature is as low as 9C.
This was the first night I needed to pitch my tarp.
Hiking in the desert is quite easy.
You have long switchbacks that allow easy ascent, always nice weather and the 2 feet wide PCT.
You start early in the morning at 6:00 before sunrise and walk until 11 or 12.
Then you try to find a place with good shade ( which is not easy with the sun shining at a 90 degree angle) and simply do nothing.
Then at about 16 you continue walking till it’s almost dark, usually about 19:30.
Then you just cowboy camp and everything is fine.
Many hikers already do night hiking, which is not my kind of cup, and I don’t think it’s that hot.
The downside is that this is a very dry year.
A local at Scissors Crossing said he had never seen it that dry since 40 years.
Therefore you sometimes carry 6l of water.
I walked with Andre and Reimar for the first days.
When Andre and I took a Zero Day in Julien Reimar headed on.
Here in Warner we found his shoes, they were to small.
I now head back to the KickOff and Andre continues north.
So the three Germans are now separated.
Sadly I can’t get the card reader to run, so no pictures yet 
