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Local resident Brad Jordan hikes over 200 miles for Fallbrook Food Pantry

Chloe Shaver

Intern

Setting out June 5, Brad Jordan began his hike of the John Muir Trail, in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Planning on hiking over 200 miles and 50,000 vertical feet over 31 days, Jordan trained for months to prepare for the long trek. Joined by his longtime friend Joe Payne, and Payne's nephew, Jack Payne, Jordan hiked 10 miles a day on average, with between 3-5 thousand feet of vertical change per day.

Jordan has been a long-time supporter of the Fallbrook Food Pantry. Raising over $3,000, his efforts will be enough for 1,900 pounds of food. This amount can feed 100 people for an entire month, including children and seniors. Jordan chose the Food Pantry to support in order to promote the efforts they make and encourage more people to support the Pantry however they can.

The hike lasted 24 of the 31 planned days until they ran into a fire around Mount Whitney. With two rest days, the small group was able to hike over 200 miles with 45-pound hiking packs. The hike, from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, is normally 211 miles. Jordan would have added additional miles at the beginning and end, totaling to 225 miles.

Although Jordan's hike was cut short due to the fire, he completed about 90% of his initial plan. He plans to complete the last part as soon as it's safe to hike Mount Whitney again, though for a much shorter time than his initial hike. The Fallbrook Food Pantry is "ecstatic at the support Jordan has raised," said Shae Gawlak, executive director, "and the food will be put to good use in our community."

 

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