What a difference a few weeks can make...

via google images

Last we heard, Teddy was finishing up the Mojave Desert, hiking through 104+ degree weather, averaging 20-25 miles a day.  He checked in with me today from a town called Independence, which is 791 miles into the trip.  He sounded strong and invigorated while telling me about his latest accomplishments.

After leaving Kennedy Meadows, Teddy was with 7 thruhikers, all heading on the 63 mile journey towards Mt. Whitney.  You can only imagine the dynamics of 7 different people, with their own plans, hiking at their own paces, with their own expectations of this experience.  In the words of "Not Ryan", one of the hikers still with Teddy, "group travel is complicated."

* Hooray *  We finally heard from Teddy today. I was not surprised, as the kids and I just got back from our own little adventure up by Lake George, so we must have been summoning Scarecrow's spirit.  The whole time we were away, we were channeling Scarecrow's energies - from swimming in Trout Lake , to row boating, kayaking and tubing, to sitting around a campfire, to zip lining and swinging in the trees (all thanks to the Kropp family) - everything we did was what Teddy loves.  Finally we get to swap REAL adventure stories with each other...

 He has said his daily mileage has cut down to 15 miles per day, as the snow and elevations have curtailed the high mileage.  One may think, okay, no big deal, I am walking a bit slower, but that affected Teddy's food supply as well.  He resorted to his yogi-ing skills once again, and generous day hikers provided him with various snacks and food to compensate for the shortage.

And then there were 3.  Scarecrow, along with "Not Ryan", and a girl named "Bacon", emerged ahead of the rest and continued on together.  They made it to Crabtree Meadows Ranger Station, at mile 766, and set up camp for the night.  The next day would be their trek to the summit of Mt. Whitney.

I am pleased that Scarecrow caught up with these thruhikers and was able to experience this ascension of Mt. Whitney with them - "Bacon" is on the left behind him and "Not Ryan" is on the right.  I was relieved that Teddy had this company - not only for safety reasons, but to be able to share in the pure intoxication of this achievement.  Way to go thruhikers.  

The warning message in the trail books read: Whitney Trailcrest: Hazardous sections of snow. Depending on the snow conditions, ice axes & crampons may be required to cross safely.

And there you have it... Teddy is sitting at the summit of Mt. Whitney, grizzly beard and all - I am so proud of you Teddy for taking this 16 uncounted mile side trip to climb that mountain.  I am sure every step was worth it when you look out at that exquisiteness around you.




After descending Mt. Whitney, Scarecrow and his two thruhiker companions camped at Crabtree Meadows Ranger Station for another night.  They would begin the next leg of their journey in the morning.

This brings us to Monday, July 25th.  Scarecrow, Not Ryan, and Bacon headed out on the PCT still in Sequoia National Park.  Sequoia is where the John Muir Trail begins, running along the PCT.  At the northern edge of the park, the Trail crosses Forester Pass (13,180 feet), which is the highest pass on not only the John Muir Trail, but the Pacific Crest Trail as well.  I found an updated weather alert for this area:  

Forester pass:  Snow continues for a very long time. North side 100% snow for 2 miles. South side steep snow.

*WOW*  what a complete contrast to what he was hiking in a few weeks ago... first the blistering hot desert and now steep snow.  When asked which he prefers, Teddy said definitely the cold.

At left, Teddy is at the top of Forester Pass, walking stick, grizzly beard, and ice axe in hand.  The elevation will be the highest he will be along the PCT, so hopefully he will pick up his mileage again once he is hiking in more comfortable elevation levels.  

By the 27th of July, Teddy is descending from Forester Pass, hiking another 15 miles before he has to take a side trail into town for resupply.  The side trail included a 4 mile hike up to Kearsarge Pass, over and down another 5 miles before reaching Independence.  He, and his fellow thruhikers, got to eat, do laundry at a local gas station for $5 (that sounds creepy, but whatever gets him through I guess), resupply food for the next 8 to 9 days, and rejuvenate before taking the 5 mile trek back over Kearsarge Pass, and walk another 4 miles just to get back onto the PCT.  Their next destination is Mammoth Lake, which is at the 908 mile mark on the trail.  Anyone following on a map can see that it looks like just about half way through California.  And that's not even the half way mark of the PCT...

on his way down from Forester Pass

With just shy of a third of the trail completed and behind him, he said he is treasuring this experience, and consuming everything he had hoped to... he sounds strong, energized, and confident... yet strongly feels the absence of his family and friends.  I have included below Teddy's next mail drop address for anyone who expressed an interest in mailing Teddy a note of good wishes and encouragement.  He told me the last ones that were sent had a huge, positive impact on his mental state of hiking.  He will be arriving there in a week or two.  

Teddy "Scarecrow" Warren

General Delivery

South Lake Tahoe, California  96151

What a difference a few notes can make...

~The Thruhiker's Wife

An ice axe? Really?

So, we are 62 days away from Ted's send off... He is actively planning out his journey, supplies, and when he will stop off and replenish his gourmet meals (dry packed tuna and ramen noodles - YUMMY) He has described how he will trek though the Mojave Desert and through many National parks, and climb several mountain ranges, including the highest mountain in the lower 48 states - Mt. Whitney.

He then throws into the coversation that he will need an ice axe.  An ice axe. I just got done imagining the torture of walking through the desert, and he throws in an ice axe.  So I visited my new best friend named Wikipedia and decided to dive in and really investigate just what the hell is going on here.

A cool fact that I am excited to share: Ted will hike to the top of a 14,505 foot mountain.  If it even remotely sounds exhausting, just wait til you see this video I found via google video.




A not so cool fact I am not excited to share: this is what came up when I asked if an ice axe was necessary on the PCT:

"Be prepared. Take your time. Plan for less miles and more calories in the snow.
Beware of sun exposure, hypo/hyperthermia, dehydration, snow blindness, and sunburn."

The more I research this journey my husband is about to embark on, the fun and excitement levels of "this sounds great, amazing and enjoyable" are creeping downward, and the exhausting and challenging thoughts of "he is out of his mind and crazy for wanting to take on this trek" are creeping upward.  But through it all, my pride and admiration is growing at an exponential rate for my husband.  I don't believe there are too many people that I know, or will ever meet in my lifetime that will consider this something fun to do.

But Teddy does.  Teddy thinks that this is fun, exciting, great, amazing, and everything in between.  I am truly happy for him.  Really.  And I am truly happy for me too.

After all, it isn't me that needs an ice axe.