Resupply and Zero Days

We're hiking the JMT to raise money for Feeding America; we're just over halfway to our $2104 goal.  Please help if you can -- every cent goes directing to Feeding America, and your donation is tax-deductible.

We've booked our reservations at Red's Meadow Resort, Vermilion Valley Resort, and Muir Trail Ranch.  We'll spend two evenings and a zero day in each of these locations.  I'm not sure we'll need that many rest days, but I'm sure we'll enjoy that many rest days.  Part of the fun of thru-hiking is hanging out with other hikers, and I can't think of anything more enjoyable than three backpack-less days of R&R with PCT and JMT folks.  Plus, all three resorts look wonderful and I'm sure the girls and I will love staying at each.

As for resupply -- we'll send a bucket to Muir Trail Ranch...and I've booked an on-trail resupply with Dee Berner of Sequoia Kings Pack Trains.  This is a pricey option, but Dee has a solid reputation and years of experience.  If I was doing this solo, then I could manage hiking from Muir Trail Ranch to Whitney without needing a resupply at all...but with two kids, I definitely need a resupply option.  I can't carry ten days worth of food for myself and the girls during the southern half of the JMT.  We COULD leave the trail and hike down to Onion Valley to resupply, but that's a detour of 18 miles roundtrip, and we'd lose at least a day...hence my decision to book a resupply date/arrangement with Dee.  I enjoyed speaking with her on the phone and I'm grateful for her service -- this is well worth the price, for now my kids and I will not have to labor under the weight of too-full backpacks during the last half of our trip.

We continue to hike weekly for training.  No photos for today's post, though -- our last hike was five miles of hills close to our home.  We had to do this instead of going up a mountain since the temperatures were below zero (F) and the wind speeds were dangerously high.  Hope to hike something substantial this Friday.  Once June rolls around, we'll hike mountains at least twice a week with full JMT packs until we leave for California.