After a night of pizza and laughs this morning starts at 5AM. I am the first to sign the registry for the day at Walker Pass Highway. After that it’s a day of 3 huge climbs. First one starts with 3.7 miles of up hill. Beautiful too, light wind and the suns not up yet. I actually get it done pretty easy.
As I turn the ridge and start the downhill part it’s difficult. Loose shale rocks and steep incline. Slippery footing I call this. Great way to roll an ankle and get blisters.
I extend my trekking poles to max height to help with the traction. After what felt like for ever, there was a water source. I skip it I don’t need water right now. After that it’s again time to go back up hill. This time for 2.7 miles and I see fighter jets doing maneuvers above me and B2 bombers flying really high up. I’m guessing it’s Nellis Air Force base in Nevada. Top Gun!
I stop to take a break and the German couple Fearless and Wigand catches up to me. I mention the planes and we chat for a bit. Then they get going again. I needed that breather. They are great hikers and leap frogging each other every day we are getting to know each other. I cook some ramen and lay down on my tyvek next to a tree. Second breakfast.
25 minutes later I’m out and moving, back into the sun now but it’s still early. I have enough water and I’m not worried. The next water source reports say signs of bear activity. I’m skipping that one too and going 2.5 miles after that to the last water source for the day. I’ll fill up there and then dry camp over night.
As I get to that first water source it’s flowing nicely, I was down low in the valley and the bugs were bad. I didn’t stay long, I literally walked over it and kept going. Right back up hill again. After a bit more I finally hit the last water source and fill up 3 liters to make sure I have enough. I hike another mile and see a beautiful gopher snake.
I move off trail around it and then 3.5 miles of up to finish my day of 21 miles total. Wigand and Fearless say they’re going to push another 2.5 miles to the next campsite half way across the ridge. I don’t have it in me to keep going.
It was a total slog, I’m cooked at this point and I send Seven a Garmin message who’s behind me “solid camp site at mile 674 I’m stopping here.”
His response “On my way! Save me a spot.”
Two hours later he shows up. Long Legs 25 minutes after him. We all eat dinner together, do tick checks and then head to our tents to go to bed.
We chat about how Kennedy meadows is 30 miles away and I debate doing it in 2 days or just saying screw it and getting there tomorrow. We’ll see
The Pacific Crest Trail 