I cowboy camped last night and LOVED IT! When I first made camp the coyotes started yelping. I yelped back. It seems like forever since I looked up at the stars. I saw shooting stars and satellites. And on the morning it was so easy to break camp.
The trail up from Scissors Crossing is notorious for being hot. This is the real desert. I loved the barrel cacti.
The plan today was to make it to the water cache, which was about twenty miles up the trail. Although the trail climbed steadily, it was a gradual climb. I love my hiking shirt and pants because they are well ventilated. I made 11 miles by ten so I kept a good pace.
At the water cache I met Rasputin, Full Roll and Phantom. Full Roll got his name because he always carries a full roll of toilet paper!
I ate my lunch-dinner at the cache and then headed to Barrel Springs, the next reliable water source. It was a nine mile hike through the heat of the day. I paused at Billy Goats cave.
Just before getting to Barrel Springs, I hit the 100 mile mark!
I like the sign posted there.
To top it off, when I got to Barrel Springs, there was trail magic awaiting. I got a beer and a chocolate pancake!
Tomorrow is an 8 mile hike to Warner Springs. I hope to get a shower there, a real breakfast and pick up my first resupply package.
I am camped tonight at mile 101.2.
