5/29  Mile 630-651.3(20.4 miles) 

With the extra effort needed to fight through the wind, I have been burning even more quickly through my food.  With 20 miles to town I ran out of food completely.  The only edible things in my pack were fish oil capsules.  So I ate those.  50 of them.  Surprisingly, I could actually feel the energy boost that they gave me.  They were the equivalent of 500 calories.  One of the really neat things about being out here is being able to see the kind of energy that different foods give you.  I can definitely feel a difference when I am ingesting more wholesome, nutritious things. 

I was mostly in a mental fog for the hike into town and remember very little of it.  At the road crossing I ran into another hiker that I am friends with and we hitchhiked into the town of Lake Isabella together and shared a motel room.  In town I performed some seriously gluttonous acts, rested in my motel room, and made some calls home.  The next day I was once again ready to hit the trail

5/30 Mile 651-670

After leaving town late, I hiked with a couple other guys into the night and camped at a stream fed by a spring.  We ended up cowboy camping in a tiny clearing, rubbing shoulders to fit in.  In the middle of the night a strange thing happened to me that has happened throughout my life:  I woke up screaming.  My fellow hikers were shocked by being awoken this way, and I felt a bit embarrassed about what I will refer to as my night terrors.

5/31  mile 670-693

Another day of hiking.  Spent time with the same dudes again.  The Sierra Nevada mountains are only a few days away, and there is a dramatic change scenery.  More trees. Less cactus.  Good good good.  At night, I once again camped with the two guys.  In the middle of the night a mouse jumped on my shoulder.  I batted it away, and turned on my headlamp.  When I looked around I saw numerous tiny pairs of glowing eyes.  More and more mammalian life is around.  Many hikers have been spotting bears.

6/1 Mile 693-702

Kennedy meadows!  I am now at the gateway of the Sierra Nevada mountains.  I got my bear can here, and my ice axe, but unfortunately not my maps or the food i sent myself.  Luckily, my great friends Nicholas and Megan sent me a fantastic care package full of all sorts of great things.  Thank you so much guys!  It made me feel really great to read the notes and feel your support.  I am amazed at your knowledge at the trail bartering system.  I will spend today and tomorrow resting and then will head off into the Sierras on the 3rd of June, where I will face 13,000 foot passes, food aggressive bears, river fords, and loads of adventure.