Super Dad drove us to the trail head the next morning and we departed with happy hearts. Only a few more days and we would be in the legendary Kennedy Meadows. Kennedy Meadows is the last resupply stop before you hit the Sierras. This is where everyone gets their winter gear, resupplies and forms solid groups to go out into these "fierce mountains." The last few days walking in the desert were not merciful. The cold front had finally dissipated and we were left to experience the wrath of the sun in the Mojave sand. We had the chrome domes but it did nothing in the stagnate air except to keep our skin from cooking. The views of the rolling sand dunes and Joshua trees were beautiful but the heat and sandy terrain were too over bearing to truly enjoy. There was definitely silent rage developing when every step forward felt like we were taking one back. It was encouraging to know it was almost over.
  We finally got into Kennedy Meadows mid afternoon and dropped our packs off Toms before hitting up the General Store/PO. It's always surprising to see so many familiar faces in one place on this trip. We usually see a handful or two on the trail at a time. In cases like the Andersons or Toms we have seen up to 35+ at one time. When we got to the store we immediately took showers and gorged ourselves with a pint of Ben and Jerry's. Tom, Moose, Peru, Gourmet and Aqua Man showed up later from a fishing trip and greeted us with joyous hugs and news that they were going to stay one more day so we could finally hike together. YES! That night the boys cooked and we dined on pasta, salad and fish they had caught earlier. We sat around the fire, laughing as usual and soaking in the moment of being in Kennedy Meadows. When we finally went to bed, we had a surprise waiting in our cozy little trailer on ice. Tom had put a bottle of champagne and two real champagne glasses out for us. What a wonderful treat. Tom you are amazing! The next morning our friends were feeling the pressure of getting back on trail and decided to leave late that afternoon. This time we said goodbye with the possibility that we wouldn't be catching up again. We decided to zero that day and the next to drown our sorrows(only kidding). We always seem to nero in and out of town so a couple days off before we hit the Sierras were much needed. Tom's compound was the perfect place to retreat. His property is filled with cute little trailers, hammocks, and places to camp with fresh water and an outdoor kitchen. More familiar faces trickled in with more hugs to be given. We even saw a guy named Kirk we met at REI in Seattle. Wow is all that could be said when we saw him. When we first met, he looked tired and worn down and now he was effervescent. There was so much light pouring out of him he looked 10 years younger. The transformation was breath taking. The trail definitely does something very special to people. There is so much love and joy that is shared out here. If anyone has a problem or needs something, without thought, people try to help to relieve the burden. We all seem to be infected with this attitude of what’s mine is yours. There hasn't been a day that someone hasn't shared something with someone else, whether it be a snack, gear or a piece of mole skin. This group of strangers has felt more like real community then anything we have ever experienced.
  The night before we set out towards the great Sierras, we started seeking out people that wanted to leave early in the morning. We convinced Cruiser, a friend we had met after Warner Springs, that he should definitely be heading out with us regardless if he had to wait 6 days for his friend in a Lone Pine. Wink. Miss you Cruiser. Along with Cruiser, Ragin Cajun, One-Ton, House Party, and John Wayne all said they were in for a 6:00 am departure. 7:30 rolled around and we finally made it back on the trail. We were only planning on 15 miles that day and going fishing at Toms favorite hot spot. When we arrived at camp, we were surprised to see Cheetah, Lala, Estero and Malarky still there when they had left the afternoon before. Unfortunately Cheetah had fallen ill and the group stayed behind. Fortunately for us our group of 6 was now a group of 10. The more the merrier! Love it. The boys and Lala tried fishing with a pole at first and with no luck moved on to a much more fitting tool, the spear. It was John Wayne’s first time fishing and by the nights end he was on a fisherman's high. That night we had a hikers pot luck of instant mash potatoes, Knorrs rice sides and 6 fresh baked fish. 
   After burying her half her gear, Cheetah and our consolidate bunch set off into the sunrise towards the wonder filled Sierras. Our original plan was to carry 4 days of food into Bishop, but because Cheetah needed to get a hold of a friend that she was meeting up with, we all decided to go into Lone Pine together. It took a couple of easy mile days due to our sick friend, which ended up being the perfect pace for us to enjoy the first glimpses of the granite peaks, endless green meadows and GLORIOUS crystal clear water EVERYWHERE! The first group that got into camp ran into Lone Pine to get beer and pizza of course, while the rest of meander in towards the late afternoon. We had been having foot trouble again with the achilles tendon so it made our excuse for heading into Lone Pine easier. The next morning we woke up to a frozen shoe and water filter. Oops. I guess it was time we changed our climate mindset. Cheetah had suggested to wet the shoe and stretch it out with a rock. Unfortunately we were not accustomed to freezing temperatures and didn't think ahead. We thawed out the foot apparel next to our first morning fire and realized that the achilles was hurting far to bad. We started breaking the news as our fellow hikers stirred from their tents, that we would not be hiking out with them. One-Ton and Cajun were the first, followed by Lala and Estero and the rest to say F**k it, and zeroed with us. That was how our team name was born. 
   The next several days to Bishop were unreal. It seamed like everyday the views were getting more and more beautiful. The first day out of Lone Pine we had lunch at our first big body of water in the Sierras, named Chicken Lake. The lake was surrounded by white peaks and sparse pines, almost creating a crater around the inland the pool. The water was clear blue and deceitfully inviting. That night we ended up topping our record, camping with 14 amazing people including, One-Ton, Cajun, Malarky, Lala, Estero, John Wayne, Karate Kid, The Other Gourmet, Yoga, Super Girl, Cheetah, Denim, Doc and Blue Jay. The next day we set ourselves up to hike Mt. Whitney and camped at guitar lake. The plan was to get up at 2:30 am to catch the sunrise at 5. We made the sunrise by minutes only and froze our elated faces watching the orange ball of fire rise over the mountains in the far distance. The 360 panoramic view from Mt. Whitney was incredible. It was like being on the ocean and seeing nothing but water except it was peak after peak in all directions with scattered lakes reflecting the bright blue sky. The hike back down was like a whole new trail. With the sun shining, you could see every contour and color of these majestic mountains. That night we set ourselves up perfectly for another infamous spot on the PCT, Forester Pass. It was definitely all it was cracked up to be except for the level of difficulty. It the words of John Wayne it was eeeeeeasy.  Fortunately for the PCT class of 2012 we had a low snow year and it was a piece of cake. We probably hiked no more then 40 feet across a patch of snow. That day we conquered Forester Pass, Bull Frog, and Kearsarge Pass in one day. We ended up booking it down Kearsarge once we heard there was trail magic. And sure enough at the orange tent awaited chips and salsa, nuts, candy and soda galore. Thank you! We ended up hitching a ride down to Independence and caught more trail magic from Sleeping Bear, who cooked us over medium eggs and bagels the next morning. Life doesn't get any better. We caught a bus into Bishop and spent a couple days resupplying and piddling around town. The plan was to hike up Kearsarge that night and camp at the bottom but some how Team F**k It was persuaded to stay at the Onion Valley campsite to enjoy the potable water and bathroom facilities. Malarky, the master of the most zeros spent in town, was the only one who headed up the mountain that night. We caught up to him later in Toulumne of course after he took 6 zeros in Mammoth. Silly rabbit. 
   The next few weeks throughout the Sierras were insane. It felt like we were on another planet exploring a new exotic world. Mather and Muir Pass were probably two of our favorites. We camped at the base of Mather Pass, a couple hundred feet up from Palisade lakes and the next mornings hike out was nothing short of magical. The sun was creeping into the cool valley, slowly illuminating the mountain crowns in gold. Everything was alive; the subtle gusts of wind, birds chirping, and streams all seamed to be harmonizing as one beautiful orchestra. To speak would have been abrasive to the ear. All you could do was stare with an empty mind and tear filled eyes. The sight of paradise in its purest and true form was overwhelming. The Mountains dwarfed the lakes that flowed into one another by river and falls, the trees hugged the banks and green meadows were plentiful. Large white boulders cascaded down the Mountains like smooth waterfalls stained a charcoal color from all the years of snow melt. One can only imagine what this place must feel like in full vibration when all the snow begins to melt from the top down. The only reason to hike on was because the mosquitoes had begun stir. Although normally a nuisance that morning they glowed in the morning sun like guardians of the Sierras, making sure we didn't over stay our welcome.