*these posts are coming straight from trail, I apologize in advance for typos!*

Location: High Sierra
Start: Vermilion Valley Resort – 879.9
End: Tentsite – 889.7
Miles: 9.8
Ascent: 4165 | Descent: 2649
Sleep: Tent

What a great day! We woke up around 6:30am at VVR to pack up the tent before breakfast. The resort served breakfast from 7-9:30am and we wanted to be some of the first in line. When we got inside to order there was already a line, but it gave us a chance to peruse the resupply options. We had looked at our food last night and determined that we had enough to get us into Mammoth in 2 days so we didn’t need to buy anything from VVR. We ended up purchasing a couple of Rice Crispy Treats and some Oreos for extra snacks just in case.

When we finally got to the counter to order I got the limber jack platter and Truffles got a breakfast burrito. We both ordered unlimited coffee as well. We knew our bill would be pricey since everything at VVR was expensive, but our total after tip and tax was $150. Considering all we ate for dinner and breakfast plus free camping and bathrooms/water, I think we did pretty good. We definitely saved by not taking the $20 ferry across the lake, and I was pleased by everything at VVR.

We sat outside in the porch to wait and sip on coffee. I am so grateful I got a new battery bank at KMS because my new battery charged from dead to 100% in the time we ate breakfast. When our names were finally called to get our food I was shocked by the amount that came with my order. The lumberjack platter consisted of 2 humongous pancakes that cook up an entire plate, a large side of hashbrowns, a hearty helping of scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon, ham, and 2 pieces of toast. Even with my hiker hunger there was no way I could eat all that food! Truffles’ breakfast burrito was good but he still had room to try and help me finish all my food.

We sat with Cheesehead and Andrew and talked about our Sierra experiences and what our plans for the next sections are. When we were finished we slowly began to pack up and tried to get excited to hike out. We ended up leaving VVR around 9:30am and headed to the blue blaze to connect us back to the PCT. Yesterday we came down the Bear Ridge Trail and to get to VVR, but today we took another trail around the lake to get us back on trail.

The side trail was about 7 miles long and took us through pine forests and over rocks overlooking the lake. We had a little bit of climbing that wouldn’t have been bad expect for the fact that I was stuffed from breakfast. We were both moving slow and I thought I was going to throw up about half of the time. When I finally made it to the PCT junction I sat down to wait for Truffles and that helped to settle my stomach.

Once we were on the PCT again we had a 6 mile climb to the top of Silver Pass. According to a FarOut comment, Silver Pass is the last pass of the High Sierra! The climb was steep in sections but overall wasn’t too bad. It just felt like it took a long time and like we were moving slowly since it was afternoon when we started the ascent. In reality we were moving just fine and ended up getting up and over before 5pm. Some of the steep sections of the trail took us directly through streams and even a waterfall, so our feet were soaked and we were huffing and puffing the whole way.

We stopped to filter water by a meadow and thankfully after this point the steepness of the trail slackened off. We were able to continue climbing without gasping for breath. We crossed over rocky plateaus and finally got a good view of the pass and the mountains beyond. There was minimal snow so it made for easy hiking. We made it to the top of the pass around 4:30pm and had a final climb to the “high point” before beginning the descent.

We weren’t sure what to expect coming down the mountain, but the snow was very manageable and we were able to travel over the boot prints rather than post holing. We even got several opportunities to glissade! We were through the snow in less than a mile and weee able to cruise downhill. We had our sites set on a campsite 3ish miles from the pass, so we moseyed our way down trail.

As soon as we arrived at the Tentsite we were immediately swarmed by mosquitoes. We got the tent up as fast as we could and jumped inside. We decided to cook inside the tent in the safety of the bug net rather than being eaten alive outside. Thankfully we were careful and neither of us spilled anything inside the tent. I’ve cooked in my vestibule when it’s been raining before, but this was the first time actually sitting fully in the tent. After dinner we laid out our sleeping stuff and got ready for bed. Because of the blue blaze we hiked 16.4 total miles today.

We were able to get signal yesterday to call Hangman and get an update from him. After he and Pinky went back into Bishop on day 62, they were able to get him an xray to confirm that he does indeed have a stress fracture. We all have family coming to visit later this week, so they decided to just bop around in the meantime and then fly home with family. When we talked to him yesterday they had rented a car and we made plans for them to pick us up tomorrow from the Horseshoe Lake trailhead and take us into Mammoth for a few days before driving all of us to South Lake Tahoe to meet our family. I’m so looking forward to a few days off trial and to see family and rest!

Location: High Sierra
Start: Tentsite – 889.7
End: Mammoth Pass (Mammoth Lakes) – 904.4
Miles: 14.7
Ascent: 2501 | Descent: 2777
Sleep: Tent

Town day! Truffles and I were up and on trail around 6:30am eager to hike hard to be picked up and head into Mammoth Lakes. The trail in the morning was cruisey and we hiked along side the river and through meadows before our big climb for the day. Numerous switchbacks had us climbing up and up. We saw a family of deer as we climbed, and before long the trail flattened out and we were at the top.

We passed by Lake Virginia where the trail abruptly ended and we had to slog through the water to reach the trail on the other side. I don’t think my feet will ever be fully dry in the Sierra, but at least the rest of my body isn’t soaked like on the AT.

We hiked along the ridge line for a while before a long descent down to Purple Lake. Truffles had to dig a cat hole and we made plans to meet in a couple miles at Duck Lake. I hiked alone for a while until I passed another solo woman and we struck up a conversation. Her name was Scales and she was from Australia. We hiked together for the next several hours and I was so engrossed in conversation with her that I completely missed Duck Lake.

Scales and I hiked hard for several miles, only stopping when we were both out of water and we crossed a creek. I stopped to filter water and Truffles caught up. He was pretty aggravated that I missed our rendezvous spot at Duck Lake, so he filtered water and quickly left me in the dust. We were both heading to the same trailhead, so I let him go and knew I’d see him after while.

After filter water at the creek it was only 2 more miles in the PCT before we’d head down Mammoth Pass/Horseshoe Lake Trail down to the trailhead. They were easy miles and before I knew it I was at the junction. I was so in the zone I didn’t even see the 900 mile marker… bummer! Going down to Horseshoe Lake Trail was mostly smooth with a few ups and downs. I had expected it to be all downhill so the ups took me by surprise and I felt like I was moving slowly. I kept meeting hikers coming the opposite way, all of whom said they’d been in Mammoth and told me to have a great time in town.

As I neared McLeod Lake I began to see more and more day hikers. The trail quickly got crowded and I felt like I was playing Frogger the way I was having to doge people. It was all downhill so I was able to move fast, plus I was motivated by the potential for town food. I flew down the trail and tried to politely ask everyone in my way to let me pass.

Finally I made it down to Horseshoe Lake and was greeted in the parking lot by Truffles, Pinky, Hangman, and Pimento in a rental car. The 3 of them had been in Bishop and rented a car to come pick us up. Pinky and Hangman had hiked out of Bishop with us on day 62, but Hangman’s foot pain became unbearable and they decided to go back down into Bishop so that he could get a xray. It was confirmed that he had a stress fracture, so they hung out in Bishop for a while waiting for Pimento to hike into town since he was behind us. Once they were all together they rented a car so that we could all explore for a while. We have family meeting all of us in South Lake Tahoe in a few days, so this way we can drive to see family and all still get to be together even if we aren’t hiking together.

The 5 of us (plus our packs and bear cans) all piled into the Nissan Altima, it was a tight squeeze to say the least. They caught us up on what they’d been doing for the past few days and told them about our time in the Sierra. Pinky drove us into the town of Mammoth Lakes where we made a beeline for Distant Brewing for drinks and food. We had beer and caught up over pizza before trying to make a rough plan for our few days before going to Tahoe to see family. We decided that we’d drive out to Yosemite to spend a couple of days and we all applied for the Half Dome permits.

We left the brewery and made a quick pit stop at an RV park so that Truffles and I could take showers since we just came off the trail. We still had to put on our stinky hiking clothes, but I felt a little cleaner and more presentable. We made a trip to the grocery outlet to get food for the next few days and were on our way.

We all decided to just camp on National Forest land rather than paying for a campsite or hotel room, so we drove out of town a few miles and found a sweet little campsite thanks to Pimento’s favorite “freecampsites.net” website. We set up our tents by the car and built a small fire to roast hotdogs. It felt just like being on trail besides the fact that we kept going to the car to get stuff. It reminded me a lot of Truffles, Pimento, and I’s big road trip after the AZT in 2023 when we basically did the same thing for a month. It felt good to have our group back together.

We had enough signal to check our emails and learn that we got Half Dome permits for Monday! That means we’d head to Yosemite tomorrow to explore and then get to do the iconic hike the following day. The day after that we’ll drive to South Lake Tahoe to meet up with our families. What a fun week we have planned and a great break from the trail.

Location: High Sierra
Start: Mammoth Pass (Mammoth Lakes) – 904.4
End: Mammoth Lakes – 904.4
Miles: 0.0
Sleep: Tent

The perfect start to a vacation from trail! We woke up in the national forest close to town and broke camp. It was pretty much the same deal as when we break camp on trail, but this time we had to figure out how to fit all of our crap back into the trunk of the car. We ended up with everything in the trunk except for a bag of groceries, 2 bear cans, and a case of beer. That stuff was spread between mine, Pimento, and Truffle’s laps in the backseat.

We made a quick pit stop at some pit toilets before getting in the highway and heading towards Yosemite. It was about an hour and a half drive to the eastern entrance of the park. When we arrived there were signs saying June 15th (today) was the first day they started doing reservations for entry, but we didn’t have reservations. We weren’t sure what to expect when we pulled up to the ranger station the entrance. We told her we didn’t have reservations but we had half dome permits for the following day. She said that would work and waved us on through. At the fee station I decided to go ahead and buy an America the Beautiful pass so that Truffles and I can hopefully go explore more national parks in the fall and next spring. That got us into the park!

All of the stuff that we wanted to do, though, was on the west side of the park in Yosemite Valley. That meant we had to drive nearly 2 hours through the park to get there. The drive was pretty and it went by quickly. We stopped where the PCT crossed the road near Tuloumne Meadows because we saw our friend Bubbles crossing the road. We pulled over and talked to him for a while, we hadn’t seen him since Tehachapi. It was good to catch up and then send him on his way, hopefully we’ll run into him somewhere up the trail.

We continued our drive and finally made it down into Yosemite Valley. Our first stop was at Bridal Veil Falls. Hangman is in a boot because of his stress fracture so he can’t walk far. This short paved trail was perfect to get us close to the waterfall and easy enough for him. It was overwhelming how many people there were and annoying to deal with the crowds. It was jarring to the system after only seeing a handful of people each day. We admired the falls for a bit before getting back into the car and heading to the visitor center.

If the water fall was crowded, I don’t even know how to describe the visitor center. It was overflowing with people and hard to even think because of all the noise and commotion. I think we all felt overwhelmed and unsure of what to do with ourselves. We decided to get food from the grill and were lucky enough to snag a table in the shade. We ate quickly and took turns checking out the store and the visitor center. Pimento talked to a volunteer about what we need to do for half dome tomorrow, and we made a rough plan for the next couple of days.

We left the visitor center and drove an hour south west to Mariposa Grove. We wanted to check out the giant sequoias and decided to camp just outside the park boundary on this side. We parked at the outpost and go in line for the shuttle to the grove. Again it was super crowded and they fit 70 people on to a bus. I was grateful to get off the cramped bus and be back in the fresh air, even if there were people still bumping into me on the trail.

We took a short hike up to see the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree. The giant sequoias live up to their name and are massive! The Grizzly Giant is even as tall as the Statue of Liberty according to one sign that we read. We walked back down to catch the bus and hoped back in the car to drive out of the park.

Again Pimento found a sweet campsite for us right outside of the park on National Forest land. We set up camp and it was so buggy that we had to eat in our tents. I watched countless mosquitos swarm our tent while cooking and was thankful to be *partially* inside. We’ve got a big day tomorrow and are going to get up early to head into the park. I’m nervous about half dome just because I’m scared of heights and hope i don’t freak out. I know this is a once in a lifetime hike so I really want to do it!

Just like the cyclists who use them, Troxus e-bikes are a diverse bunch. With more than ten models to choose from, the San Diego–based company offers a full range of e-bikes that have every rider—and every trip—covered. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, an everyday commuter, or the do-it-all type, Troxus has the right bike for you. Troxus also backs up the performance of its e-bikes with a five-year, 5,000-mile warranty, adding an unmatched level of security.

Trax Series

These urban-oriented e-bikes are perfect for cruising to work or exploring your city on the weekends. The Trax models are hyper efficient, with battery capacities and ranges that make them excellent eco-friendly alternatives to car travel. They’re also relatively light, so you can carry them to and from your house or on and off public transportation with ease.

If you’re looking for a classic commuter bike, it’s hard to beat the Trax Sport. It features a 500W+ peak power output motor and a minimalist aluminum build that packs in a ton of features, from an integrated color LCD display to Bluetooth. Switchable sensor modes allow you to effortlessly toggle between torque sensor mode (great for smooth handling and conserving battery) and cadence sensor mode (for when your legs could use a boost). And an optional range-extending 250Wh piggyback battery means you can jet to a weekend getaway without having to recharge.

The Trax Sport’s slightly burlier cousin, the Trax SUV, is also primed for city life. Like the Sport, it boasts switchable sensor technology, and the SUV adds a smooth-riding dual-suspension frame that will brush off the rougher side of urban riding. Internal cable routing makes for a handsome aesthetic.

Adventure Series

Troxus designed this ultracapable e-bike category for far-flung missions. The Adventure Series models will take you from paved roads to rugged terrain and back in style and comfort.

The Explorer Plus is built to handle on and off-road action with aplomb. It has a 960-watt motor and a range of up to 90 miles—perfect for head-clearing getaways—and can ratchet up the speed to 28 miles per hour. It features 26”x4” fat tires built for adventures as big as they are, letting you go wherever the road or trail leads. And a newer, brighter front LED headlight system ensures you can keep riding safely when the adventure goes past dark.

The T-Rex Plus is also an excellent choice for your next adventure companion. Its whopping 1000W peak power motor makes this model a monster on the trail. With a 110mm aluminium dual suspension frame paired with the SR® Suntour air shock, the T-Rex Plus offers a smooth ride on even the most rugged terrain. And with 26”x4.8” tires, you have bigger wheels for even bigger adventures.

Lynx Series

The Lynx Series is the versatile workhorse of the bunch. These bikes’ 20-inch wheels—ideal for quick acceleration and low, easy-to-use standover heights—perhaps belie the line’s do-it-all capability.

The Lynx 2-Up and Lynx T-Scram, for example, are built for a driver and a passenger and have a 360-pound (2-UP) and 400-pound (T-Scram). Their welded carrying racks make these bikes purpose-built for grabbing groceries, taking the kids to school, and generally smoothing the corners of any hectic errand runs. That doesn’t mean the Lynx models miss out on the fun: The bikes also feature the joy of switchable sensor tech, have a 720-watt battery, and can crank the speed up to 28 miles per hour, making them reliable adventure companions in their own right.

Customers Come First

Troxus also sets itself apart with a five-year, 5,000-mile warranty. And if your bike needs a repair, Troxus offers the Total Care+ program that collaborates with its network of more than 200 authorized retailers to swiftly repair accident-related damage, replace worn components, or address battery concerns.

Finally, all Troxus models from 2025 onward are UL-compliant, ensuring their batteries, chargers, and drivetrains adhere to strict safety standards. Just one more reason Troxus e-bikes are making a name for themselves in a crowded field.

Learn More

Engineered for durability, crafted for capability, and designed for fun. Troxus e-bikes incorporate innovative features like switchable torque and cadence sensors that allow you to tune your ride as you ride, as well as an industry-leading five-year/5,000-mile “fender to fender” warranty. For further information, please visit Troxus.

“‘Cause it seems I get so hung up on the history of what’s gone wrong

And the hope of a new day is sometimes hard to see

But I’m finally catching on to it, yeah, the past is just a conduit

And the light, there at the end is where I’ll be

‘Cause I’m on the up and up, I’m on the up and up

And I haven’t given up, given up on what I know I’m capable of

Yeah, I’m on the up and up and yeah, there’s nothing left to prove”

– “Up and Up” (2007) – Relient K

• Hiked Today: 17.9 miles

  • Appalachian Trail (1,807.4 – 1,825.3) 

• Total Hiked: 3,758.1 miles
• Total Paddled: 99.5 miles

Weather: 55 – 78 °F, sunny, mostly clear, and wonderful!

Elevation: 1,409 – 4,358 feet

Beaver Brook Shelter to Snow Catcher Lodge

Gnarly. Absurd. Diabolical.

I’m not even sure I know what that last one means, but these were the descriptive words that came to mind as I struggled up South Kinsman Mountain. It was not easy pulling myself up using roots as hand holds, stepping in the tiniest crack or divot to climb up 3-5 feet tall rock cliffs, and scrambling up boulder after boulder going up and up and up. On top of that, it was overgrown in places. The positive of this was that as I brushed the pine needles, it smelled like Christmas. Maybe that’s what caused my mind’s eye to picture Jim Carrey’s portrayal of The Grinch, when he says, “This is Nuts!”

Lots happened even before this “wonderful” experience though, so let’s start back at the beginning…

I was hiking before 6:00 am knowing today would be another big day. I’d stopped last night on the way down from Moosilauke, but the steepest part was ahead and below me. This was the part folks had warned me about. I was super happy everything was dry because if not yeesh, I would not have liked to try getting down on some such steep slanty boulder slopes.

Soon, the trail started to parallel a stream cascading down with waterfall after waterfall. It was a very pleasant scene and I took lots of pictures…

Amazing, right? Well, just remember it wasn’t a walk in the park (I mean, I suppose technically it was if you consider White Mountain National Forest a park). Once down, I found a lovely and well timed parking lot with privy and trash bin. It’s always nice when that works out.

Crossing NH Route 112 and Kinsman Notch, the trail went up steeply. It would be the start of some up and down rollercoaster stuff culminating in a rugged climb up to Mt. Wolf. This was tougher than anticipated. I think after Moosilauke, I had the impression it might be somewhat gentle before starting up Kinsman. Bahaha, never underestimate the AT!

As shown above, I had second breaky at the top “lookout” point. While hanging there, some guys came up the short side trail too. After chit chatting, someone from the back out of sight says, “Is that Stevie Wonder?” It was Ghost Dog and he recognized my voice haha. We’d met, hiked a little together, and hung out in town back near Shenandoah National Park and the town of Front Royal, VA.

The group of hikers he was with had recently grouped up for the Whites, a smart idea. They moved on north, but eventually I caught up and hiked with/sort of followed behind them for most of the day.  Some of the others were Water Slide, Obi-Wan, and Freebird. It was nice to be around others and these guys set quite the pace. 

Starting up South Kinsman, things started out alright. But eventually, it turned into the wild adventure I described up above. 

Not until we were very near the top did views out start to show up. I had fallen behind the others at this point, but could hear them every now and then and it was as if they were straight up above me on a cliff haha. 

There was a last burst of steepness after this, but finally we reached a bare rock opening with stellar views. Getting a chance to catch our breath, Ghost Dogs said something like, “Well, that was fun.” One of the others expressed agreement. And they were serious. I couldn’t help myself and laughing, said, “You guys are crazy… I’m having a great time, but that was straight gnarly.” That sort of sums it up. The way I see it, the route up here could barely be called a trail. Someone at some point said, I’m going to the top of this sucker. They picked a line and now we all follow it haha. Anyways, we did it and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. 

The summit was still ahead and so after catching our breath, we continued onward.

I hoped for a spot to sit for lunch there, but it turned out that the actual top was more tree covered. The group stayed nearby and had their break in the shade of the trees, but I kept going to North Kinsman to have my lunch out on a ledge there…

Another outstanding summit with weather that couldn’t have been better. I have felt very honored or privileged  or lucky or something of that sort to have gotten these experiences atop Kinsman and Moosilauke the past two days. It really is an incredible setting for a human to be when the weather is agreeable.

The way down felt long and slow going. I think it was something like 5 miles from the top to where the trail crosses Interstate 93. 

I was quite unsure how things would go this evening. I planned to go into town to resupply and hoped for a nero or zero tomorrow. Where I would stay and how I’d get there was a bit of a mystery for most of the day though. Eventually, I nailed it down to stay at Snow Chasers Lodge, which appeared to be a ski club headquarters/bunkhouse/I wasn’t sure. And to get there, I hoped to hitchhike from the Flume Gorge Visitor Center, but wasn’t sure how that’d go.

After crossing underneath the interstate, a side trail led to the visitor center. I was stoked to find it paved after all the treacherous rocky terrain over the last few days.

After a mile, I was there and bopped out to the road. I wasn’t super hopeful, if honest, but in less than 15 minutes I was in a car heading down the mountain! My savior today was Gary and he dropped me off right at the front curb to Price Chopper grocery store in Lincoln, New Hampshire! Thanks good sir!

Wow, I could hardly believe my schemes all came together. Kind of bonkers, this thru-hiking world. I jumped right into resupplying and the store was wildly busy with tourists. This town seems to be a destination for vacationers. 

Afterwards, I walked about a half mile and found Snow Chasers Lodge. Collin, the manager of the place, showed me around and right away I was in town mode. It was such an inviting and comfortable place. I got my little pizzas in the toaster oven, then started up the washing machine with all my dirty belongings, and eventually got showered up. Boom. So refreshing. While going about my tasks, I spotted another hiker being shown around. It was Late Start! 

Late Start and I met back at Woods Hole Hostel. He also has a blog on The Trek and in recent days we’ve been checking in with each other since we knew we were close. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised to see him thinking he was about a day back. After a quick reunion, he actually headed out to dinner with a friend. I was so freaking tired that I crashed early. I have loved my introduction to the Whites, but as expected, they’ve been kicking my behind too!

Thanks for joining on the journey! It means a lot that you took the time to read up on these adventures. If you want to help kids get access to the outdoors, a cause that means a lot to me, please help me in supporting Outdoors Empowerment Network! The “Tip Author” button is a direct link to my fundraising page. Y’all are truly amazing. Thank you!