PCT 2023 Day 53

Hiking with the Codgers on the Pacific Crest Trail 2023
Day 53: miles 684.3-703.4 Kennedy Meadows

[@ferretzfan]

Congratulations on 702 miles!

[@robertbarnes4]

Congrats on finishing up the desert section of the trail. It’s been hot watching you both.

[@patrickgardner396]

Giving you the big applause you didn't get walking up to the General Store (since you were the first ones there!) 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 You deserve it, well done!!!

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

👏👏👏 As no one is there at Kennedy Meadows to applaud you, I thought I would. 👏👏👏 Congratulations!!! So many have flip-flopped, and so many have given up. You Old Codgers (plus new additions) are a credit to your generation. Tenacity, grit, and determination won out in the end. I'm just sorry Denim Dan wasn't there to enjoy it with you. I'm hoping that after your month off, he has done the missed miles and is there to greet you at the start after your holiday. Take care, all of you, and if you talk to Denim Dan, tell him that we miss him and wish him a speedy recovery.

[@ZIIZ2112]

Congrats guys. You crushed it.

[@danieljones7560]

The mountain you identified as Whitney is actually Mount Olancha. Whitney is further north. FYI

[@robertt9270]

Have a great vacation from paradise! What shall we do now gang? CDT early birds?

[@pattycameron9730]

Congrats on your hike so far. I really enjoyed watching (from Edmonton, Alberta 🇨🇦)! Looking forward to the next chapter (and reminiscing as I have hiked the JMT)‼️

[@pattyfarghaly1821]

Congratulations well done. Have a nice time off. We will miss you. Can't wait till you come back.

[@oacy16]

What an amazing hike you've done! Congrats🎉🎉🎉!!!

[@Tevpct]

Why did the Codger cross the road? To improve the economy. Great job!!! Lots of us clapping for you.

[@deanbothwell6992]

I keep waiting for the camera to whirl around behind you and there’s someone actually playing guitar. Dude made it the whole way with that guitar.

[@jamesbonner5989]

Congratulations on finishing the desert section, great job. Hike on !

[@wendyphillips5002]

Like I mentioned i had driven to Kennedy Meadows about early June in 2022 on a Saturday. It looked like a huge party of about 35 to 40 PCT backpackers eating hamburgers, french fries, and other grill stuff. They were at the 8 or more outdoor tables with lots and lots of 6 packs of beer. There must have been over 6 or 8 beer with IPA 6 packs on the tables. It looked like a big celebration getting ready for the upcoming trail and cottonwood passes over 10,000 feet about 40 miles to the north. The real snow and high sierra is coming up beyond Kennedy Meadows.

[@jeffreyrule8143]

If you are planning to flip back down to the San Jacinto area once your back from your trips and need a ride to the trail head, feel free to hit me up. It would only cost you a beer. I live in the San Diego area. Enjoy your time off from the trail.

[@michellegerard9789]

Great job guys ❤

[@pcrice-lr2dn]

Congratulations 🎈🎈🎈 I bet that was the Best Burger you ever ate 🤣 So proud 👏👏

[@gailforster5260]

Congratulations! An amazing journey so far and looking forward to the rest . Hope you all have a wonderful , well deserved time with your families❤ Stay safe ❤️🇨🇦

[@Erin60147]

Congratulations you guys are amazing!🎉🎉

[@rkatrails]

Congratulations on completing sections A thru G! I guess here is where you pause for four weeks while you take care of family commitments. Hope you enjoy your time back home, but look forward to your return. Until then, happy trails!

[@kurtdanielson993]

Very impressed with you guys. I want to hike this so bad, but probably not physically able. Will be interesting on how the Sierra plays out. Thanks for the videos.

[@kurtdanielson993]

Congratulations on getting through the desert. For a heavy snow year, fist of May seems a little early. I remember heavy snow from years ago (from videos) where hikers were going into the Sierras in June and the snow was deep and creek water was high. This will be interesting.

[@kellyjohnson3617]

You are getting your first sights of the sierras. I don’t see Whitney there but there is still quite a bit of snow on those still very high mountains. Those are probably 10-12,000 footers. Tho those might be the Inyo mountains. But I think most of what you were seeing were the sierras. The reason I know it’s not Whitney is that the sierras are so tall that the curvature of the earth wouldn’t allow for you to see Whitney which is quite a bit further north. Those tall 12,000 footers would block your view of her. No fear, you will get a great view of Whitney soon enough 😉. Enjoy your zero in Kennedy meadows south.

[@richardinjapan4578]

Job well done, Codgers! Job well done! Please enjoy your time off trail. You have a worldwide network of supporters awaiting your return. Until then, wherever the trail of life leads, please ... Be safe; keep at it! As for all of us, now that Elvis has left the building, I guess we'll just have to binge on your AT videos until you come back. ***** ***** P.S. -- Usually there's a large group of hikers at the General Store who clap and cheer for newly arrived hikers who are just finishing the Desert Section. Of course that didn't happen for you since you're leading the pack, so when you return to Kennedy Meadows, be sure to walk up to the General Store with your packs on your backs and get your applause. You certainly deserve it!!

[@steveknutzen2830]

As you say, see you a bit later.

[@mickeydyke392]

Congratulations! Enjoy your time away with family and friends and I will look forward to your return to the trail.

[@pete8516]

Got to know you were tired when the filming was short and no recap at the end….

[@shanesmith1854]

🍔🍻🏕🌲 it just gets no better then that!

[@mountaincat8]

The fact that you made it to Kennedy Meadows is a MAJOR accomplishment!! Congratulations a hundred times over. Usually there is a crowd of people clapping for you as you approach the store but since you are one of the first PCT hikers to arrive this season, there wasn't anyone there. Now you get to decide what to do next on your PCT journey.

[@sallytilton1433]

Did Campo to Kennedy meadows back in 2017 and this video brings back so many memories as I'm seeing all those little details again. "Oh yeah, that creek! That turn! That sign!" It's been wonderful to watch all these and fill in my blurry memories.

[@brad_marston]

You're seeing Olancha Peak, not Mt. Whitney.

[@kimstatz4332]

Nice!!!! 👏👏👏 Reaching Kennedy Meadows is huge! 😄 Looking forward to your return to the PCT!

[@katreyes6358]

Congratulations, you guys are awesome! Enjoy your family vacation and hope to see more videos on the PCT when u return.

[@mariusventer853]

Troy guys killed it!! Amazing watching you guys. Thank you. Wow you got there so early. The first ones there

[@deanbothwell6992]

So yeah…wow!! This is big deal guys super big accomplishment. There’s life then there’s living, you are taking full advantage of the latter. Gotta love Earth.

[@pismorichy]

Congrats Boys! Remember, Everyday your off trail you get weaker and Charlie Umm I mean the trail gets stronger 😂 enjoy the break to Well Done.

[@garycrockett4477]

Congratulations on making it to Kennedy Meadows South! We've loved watching your videos. Today's was especially good. Just pointing the camera down the trail and walking and talking. Fantastic!

[@randysmith6493]

👏 👏 Salad ! 👏 🎉 👏. Congratulation Gentlemen & Ladies. You had some snow But the good news is you had some water. 700 miles of desert.

[@cheryl_the_horsechick]

👏🏻👏🏻 i'm clapping for you! great job. so proud of my codgers as i'm one of them .

[@barbiedollism]

I enjoyed following your hike and i even look at the map to follow through your trails. Wish im hiking with you all. Watching from Texas

[@tomnoyb8301]

Sure would be handy to hear what elevation various snow conditions occur, (if it's not too much. trouble?)? Thanks

[@thuthiehiker]

Congrats on the first 702 mikes. Looking forward to the next chapter. ❤🎉

[@felipericketts]

I enjoy the story you are telling and the way you are telling it! Looking forward to future chapters 🙂

[@T_Mo271]

And so begins the much-lamented Codger--free interval.

[@breathe.move.perform.health]

I have to say I love your videos and the breath is a bit strong and tending toward over-breathing patterns that contribute to many suffering more than needed. It plays itself out in long term body adaptations that aren’t going to support long distance sojourns. Best to rein it in or reach out to see wha5 you can do. Best wishes

[@jorgemiguel1040]

The lagre rock to screen right at 6 56 or so. looked to me like a monkey skull. eye sockets.😉

[@nonthelessjess1202]

Gonna miss these! Cant wait til you’re back on trail

[@bettybarnett6994]

Going to miss you guys. Safe travels!

[@timnisbet2078]

See you back on you tube in 6 weeks Congats !!!

[@hounddoghiker9021]

Congratulations Codgers!

[@glendavis9663]

Cool beans 👍👍👍😂🤙🤙🤙

[@patrickdevlin9673]

Yehaaaaaaa. Congrats

[@NatureSoundsandSights]

Congrats!!

[@bionicdan1959]

In your next video can you talk about the logistics of getting from KM to the airport for your return trip home? That would be good to know!

[@jbro4779]

What are those PCT symbols you have clipped to your backpacks?

[@hikingwiththecodgers4086]

Bagtags give to us by the PCTA at the border.

[@reaper_hikes]

Welcome to the end of the desert! It’s a major accomplishment 🎉and it only gets better. Side note….you’re not able to see Whitney yet but keep going. What you’re looking at is probably Olancha peak. Whitney has a couple 14ers in front of it, Langley, Muir etc. Hopefully you guys will get to summit Whitney soon. Godspeed, reaper

[@froggyonthepct9947]

Congrats boys. I am sorry you missed the 700 mile marker…also since you are the first at the general store and the throngs of hikers have not reached it you did not receive the applause and the cheers for completing 702 miles and the desert is in the rear view mirror. 🤟 clapping for you… you look rode hard and put away dirty but vey pct happy…. Rest up looking forward to you return on trail. I am heading south bound this year I hope to run into both of you and your tramily Froggy out…

[@rolfvdbrink]

Thanks for the videos of the first part of your PCT hike. Congratulations on reaching Kennedy Meadows 👏. Enjoy your time off. We'll be here waiting for the next series whereever on the PCT it may start.

[@Judy-fi7ce]

👏👏👏👏 Congrats on Kennedy Meadows!! Hope you were able to get that beer and burger at the country gas station. Take care. Love your videos.

[@musingwithreba9667]

Yay, you made it! And I guess the rest of the tramily headed off without you to continue their trek north whilst you 2 headed back home. Onward! We'll see you in a couple of weeks 😊

[@markdickenson594]

Congratulations Codgers! Great Job! Enjoy your Zeroes with your loved ones. We will be anxiously awaiting your return. Maybe for us SOBO Codgers, in your next installment, you could give a little briefing on how you get off trail and into civilization from Kennedy Meadows. I hope to do the same thing in the Fall if I get that far South!

[@SLAMCGY]

Enjoying your videos and seeing your progress. Well done - enjoy your downtime! Watching from Calgary Alberta

[@christianbehrens7449]

Watched every minute of your videos - looking forward for you to continue! Enjoy Scotland - it´s great!

[@BicheBug1996]

Where are the girls att the end?????

[@ianhall702]

Well done guys!!!! Now don’t you stay away to long! Been really enjoying these videos! Remember, old guys rule!

[@jillaubin481]

Congratulations on making it to Kennedy Meadows!!!!

[@HiFi-Markus]

Congratulations! What a performance...thank you for sharing your Journey on KZbin. ❤ 700 Miles 💪

[@barbarajeangard4036]

Going to miss you Codgers. Can’t wait until you return

[@stevenvarner9806]

Congratulations on 702 miles and finishing the southern California section!

[@peterbainbridge8528]

Well done guys, going to miss you over the next few weeks. Hope to see you back soon.

[@bionicdan1959]

Hey question for you. Did you have to hang your food bags at all along the section from Campo to KM???

[@hikingwiththecodgers4086]

No.

[@jellybeanhikes9581]

Yea you made it who ho i did not get that iether when i got to km

[@lois6705]

Great job, guys! Well done and enjoy the break!

[@carolinenunez3455]

Congratulations on making it through this section!

[@cherylmitchell2808]

After doing a little day hike on the PCT and having lunch at the shack and who comes out of a car...The Codgers and a surprise it was. We were the couple that talked your ears off, and Tucker made sure you didnt stop petty him. Great to see you and look forward to the videos. From Mr. & Mrs. Sticks.

[@hikingwiththecodgers4086]

Great to meet y'all. Thanks for watching.

[@scottperine8027]

Keep on trucking Codgers!!!

[@youngheart1065]

Congratulations guys! 🎉

[@mulchies]

Congratulations!!!🎉🎉

[@janmariolle]

Congratulations!❤

[@michaelingram7844]

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@daddymay]

What an enjoyment this has been I’m guessing the next video will be the last for sometime. Sweet Sorrows. The ladies and John must of continued onward?