Tehachapi to Kennedy Meadows
Back to 3 a.m. starts, long dry stretches and three big days before the desert finally ended.
By Jeffrey “Atlas” Combs · walked Jun 2–9, 2021 · published · updated
Leaving Tehachapi, I was back on a 3 a.m. schedule. The heat, long gaps between water and bigger days all landed together.
On one of those days I decided to push through a dry stretch and camp at a water cache. That let me start early with water and get the next long dry stretch done in the morning. Too much water hurt to carry, but I still needed enough to reach the next source.
I sent a message saying the previous day had been 103 degrees. Another one said, “Joshua trees are the only thing keeping us alive.” I was pretty done with the desert by that point.
Quoted lines are from my 2021 logs, verbatim.
I kept naming the days after the push to Kennedy Meadows. Day 36 came to 29.5 recorded miles across two activities, followed by 28.7 and 28.0. On day 39, June 7, I finally got there.
“Officially done with the desert”. The last stretch had been miserable, hard and still fun. “I have no desire to hang out in the desert ever again lol”.
Kennedy Meadows was also where I got ready for the Sierra. I rented a bear can and bought the next food carry. After six walking days from Tehachapi, I had time to eat and sort things out before heading back out.
The food, then and now
At Grumpy Bear’s I got the Vegan Supreme pizza on June 7, then a plant based burger with avocado and tots the next day. The Triple Crown Outfitters receipt came to $157.59 across 36 items, including food, gear and a $50 bear-can deposit. I bought couscous, refried beans, rice, tortillas, oatmeal, ProBars, cookies and dried fruit. I also bought stove fuel before leaving. The next carry had to fit around a bear can.
For a meal now, hikers reported vegan pizza at Grumpy Bear’s in June 2026. The General Store’s current Cook Shack menu also lists a vegan burger. My Grumpy Bear’s orders are from 2021; ask what is available when you arrive. Menu checked October 8, 2026.
