Knocked out another 20 miles today. I think I’m really starting to get “hiker legs” where they’re feeling really strong. I’ve got my routine pretty down for a 20 mile day:
Get started on a breakfast of a cookie and eat a tortilla I’ve saved in a pocket after about an hour of hiking. Anywhere from 6-9 miles in, I’ll take a break for first lunch for about an hour. That’s either a peanut butter and Nutella tortilla or ramen, sometimes with tuna or chicken added. Then I get another 6-9 miles in before second lunch, also about an hour, where I eat the other meal I didn’t earlier. I try to do the ramen meal at a rest spot with water so I don’t have to carry extra. If I need a pick me up, one of these lunches will also have a supplement of candy – usually something ultra processed and colorful. Then I power through the last few miles until I make it to my campsite for the night! I’ll heat up water for dinner, set up camp while that hydrates, then eat and head immediately horizontal.
I’ve started hiking faster as my legs have gotten under me, so I’ve been allowing myself to sleep in all the way to 7am most days. I usually wake up earlier than that and then doze, anywhere from 5:30 onward, but 7 is the time when the sun is hot enough that I can’t stay comfortable anymore. Evening sleep time starts anywhere from 8:30-10.
I’m excited to have just 50 miles to go until Kennedy meadows and the official start of the Sierra. Though to be fair I’m more excited to see my parents and maddy as I take a zero day. I’ve been doing the math and from the day my mom dropped me off in Agua Dulce to my finish at Kennedy meadows I’ll have done almost 250 miles in 13 days – not bad when you consider I’m trying to get to Kennedy meadows around lunchtime.
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