Day 7: Lodging. Waiting out the storm.

Day 7: Grant and his trail mates have found a room in town. Snow and rain overnight, better weather tomorrow. Grant reports “Looking forward to the next 100 miles.”

Day 7:

Day 7: “Early start with the group this morning, best picture yet.” Grant is coming up on a small town called Ranchita. The town is just beyond mile 100. Bad weather moving in tonight.

Day 6: Photo sent in overnight EST. “One of the nicest spots so far to take a picture.”

Day 6: Grant and the crew.

Day 6: First word from Grant in 24 hours: “We found a campsite that had showers and laundry, so we washed up this morning and hit the trail around noon. Going for mile 92-93.”

Day 5: Return of the “Giant German” Despite struggling on day 1 and 2, guess who just showed up in town for a good beer! He claims to be going back out on the trail today. He went from my brother worrying about him to “he is a beast!”

Day 5: Free to hikers

Day 5 (cont): Grant is in a town called Julian at Mile 77. He is between getting a room or simply getting back on trail. Many hikers from Day 1 have arrived in town and they seem to be sharing drinks and all having a wonderful time. Considering going to “Mother’s” for a slice of famous apple pie. Grant reports, “found a good group, going to stick with these guys for awhile.” Bad weather coming in on Sunday. Plan is to try and get to mile 105, near a town called idylwild. A quick break in idylwild before summiting one of the highest peaks in Southern California.

Day 5: Grant made it to mile 78 and decided to get some rest in town. He waited under an overpass and a truck drove around 6-8 hikers into the nearest town which was 7 miles away from the trail. He is making good time, but some of the hikers he started with did catch up today. Feeling good physically. Sore in the evening, but he reports being surprised how quickly he recovers. The hotel in town has raised the rates to 180 per night for a small room. Grant contemplating going back to the trail.

Day 5: Last night I received the following message from Grant. This was his first time sending a message with his GPS system. “At my camp no service here this from gps tell group chat”

Day 4: Lunch No other comments.

Day 4: Heading towards the snow capped peaks in the distance. He reports his first night of excellent sleep secondary to taking Benadryl as a sleep aid. Mild soreness, but making great time. 10 miles down before lunch.

Day 4: He says we may not hear from him for a bit because the next town is 2-3 days away. This picture was from the start of this morning’s hike.

Day 4: Grant sends a picture of the sunrise. No caption or comment.

Day 3: March 19 First picture is a view from the campsite from the night prior. After morning stretches, he is back on the trail. We don’t hear from him all day and ask for a “Radio Check.” Grant tells us to “have a little faith, I’m too tired for a ‘radio check’ every few hours.” 2nd picture is the mile marker which also serves as encouragement. Views from the hike and the final picture is from Day 3 camp site. Grant states that one moment he is walking in the brush, and suddenly, the landscape opens up. A picture of the burger and beer from Day 2 is included. He seems to be doing well at this point.

Day 2: Monday, March 18 Sunrise on the trail. 

Grant comments his feet feel fine, but his legs feel like he was kicked by Jon Jones. 
He reports good sleep and is ready to hike the ascent out of the creek basin. Picture 2: Encouragement on the trail. Grant finds a small town and grabs a burger and a beer. As he was leaving town, a rain comes in and he stalls under an overpass. The rain quickly passes and gives way to beautiful weather. Grant comments many people stayed behind in town, but he doesn’t want to waste time so immediately gets back on trail. He is gaining confidence and says that if the trail doesn’t take him out within the first week, he will be sending a post card from Canada. Camp was taken at mile 30, he is tired, but must hike on another 2.5 miles to find another camp. Picture of Kitchen creek, a place to fill water bottles. Grant makes camp in Fred Canyon.

Day 1: Camp at Sunset Hauser Creek

Day 1: Sunday, March 17 Grant starts the trail. He finds a hiking buddy, “A 7 foot German guy” with a sense of humor. 2 miles in the guy stops Grant: “I need to dig a cat hole.” The accent and the scene was apparently hilarious and Grant couldn’t quit laughing. A picture (2) below where you can ”see the German Guy waving.” They seem to be getting along nicely. Other pics include: First trail lunch, Selfie Grant makes it to camp. Legs feeling stiff. He mentions: “The last time I saw my German friend he didn’t look so good.” Grant comments that most of the people he started with probably NGMI. He mentions there are many out of Shape hikers on the trail. Dinner: Freeze Dried Chicken Alfredo At dinner, Grant notices “2 Austrian chicks walk right by the camp” without missing a stride. I guess they were going farther than the 15.4 miles Grant hiked on Day 1.