Mission has completed four weeks on the PCT, walked over 600 miles, crossed several mountain passes, including Cajon Pass on I 15, Tehachapi Pass and Walker Pass. There are more daunting NOBO California passes up ahead, Forester Pass, Sonora Pass, Ebbetts Pass and Carson Pass. After trekking one of the most difficult sections of the trail from Tehachapi Pass to Walker Pass, Mission accepted a trail angel’s offer of a ride into Lake Isabella to spend a few hours getting rid of “Hiker Funk” a condition defined in the Pacific Crest Trail Hiker’s Glossary by Scott Bryce. ” Hiker Funk: After a few hundred miles on the trail it becomes difficult to wash the sweat and dirt out of your clothes. The resulting smell is called hiker funk. The reason the person giving you a ride into town has the windows down is not because the air conditioning isn’t working.”
Mission’s other objective for taking a ZERO or a NERO was to alleviate HIKER HUNGER by using the AYCE method. (see a partial glossary below) Granny Hat will list more PCT glossary words as the need arises, just another interesting thing about the thru-hike culture is that it has its own very descriptive language. Life gets real and TMI on the trail. Some of the terms are shocking to Granny Hat and she will not post them.
Zeros and Neros are going to be scarce on the John Muir section of the PCT in the Sierra Mountain Range of California but there will be Caches and Tramily. Granny Hat and Dad plan to meet Mission later this week with a large re-supply and an AYCE picnic including cookies, boysenberry & apple turnovers, a huge salad full of greens and pretty much everything we can fit in the cooler. Granny will try to curb the Hiker Hunger at least for a day or two so Mission doesn’t go Boink.
Meanwhile Granny Hat has been wearing her…..well, her granny hat! Grand daughters Rebecca and Darcy came to stay for four days while dad and mom enjoy a much needed get away. So while Mission toils on the trail and does his laundry, Mission Control has been busy with tea parties, trying recipes from the Little House on the Prairie Cookbook and sewing aprons with Granny Hat. 
There has also been quite a few quad rides and orchard work with Grandpa. Today we just might color some pictures for Mission (Uncle Stephan) and write a note or two.
TTFN or HTTY, Happy Trails To You!!!
Bryce’s Glossary:
NOBO:Northbound
SOBO:Southbound.
Yo Yo: Hiking the entire length of the trail, then turning around and hiking the entire trail in the opposite direction in one season.
Repeat Offender: Someone who through hikes or attempts to through hike the Pacific Crest Trail more than once. The Pacific Crest Trail has been through hiked as many as 12 times by one individual.Hiker
Midnight: 9:00 PM. The time most through-hikers are asleep for the night.
Tramily: Your trail family. The people you meet and hike with along the way become a significant part of your life on the trail.
The Look: At some point in the trail, usually around Yosemite Park, a hiker will develop the look. It is a combination of a lean, muscular body and a look of confidence and determination in the eyes. Those who have the look will probably finish their hikes. Those who don’t have the look, will probably leave the trail before they finish.
Zero: A day in which you do no hiking. So named because you do zero PCT miles. A zero day is almost always taken at a town stop. Zero days are often used to do preparations such as laundry, shower, resupply, repair or replace gear, etc. They are also times to get caught up on calorie loading, and rest.
Nero: Nearly a zero. A day in which one hikes few miles. A portion of a nero day is usually spent in town.
Hiker Hunger: That empty feeling in your stomach that results from eating 4000 calories per day, but burning 6000 calories per day. After about a month on the trail, it becomes difficult to carry enough food.
Boink: Running out of energy to hike due to eating too few calories.
AYCE: All You Can Eat, as in all you can eat buffet. For a through hiker burning as much as 6000 calories per day, all you can eat is a lot!”
Granny Hat 
Let me tell you, Hiker Funk is very real! It took SIX washings to get the mud out of Broken Arrow’s clothes. Even then, some of the trail dirt remained. You can only do so much when dealing with the funk.
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I love these updates. What else can I help with to keep him on the trail? Of course I will give you a few more cards of encouragement. But maybe a gift card for a restaurant in one of the hiking towns? I’m going to some Red Cross classes Thur-Sunday. But I will be back Monday. So I come pick up something next week. See you later, Kelly
Sent from my iPhone
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This is so sweet, Kelly! We are taking him your note and socks tomorrow. I will ask about towns he will actually stop and eat in! And notes of encouragement are always so welcome. My next re-supply box will be mailed next week to Tuolumne Meadows. Call me when you get back and I’ll have more specific timeline information. This experience teaches flexibility for everyone, Mission, Mission Control and all support friends. That glossary had the term Tramily for trail family but what about Framily for all the friends left behind. LOL
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awesome post… love all the terms, how fun!! Post the shocking ones later on!!! 😉
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