The Joshua trees and desert sage floated past like eerie ghosts in the night. My head lamp lit up a little circle of the trail. I started walking at 3:50 AM and I was night hiking. Since there is no reliable water between my campsite and Walker Pass campground, night hiking conserves water by hiking in the cool of the day.
The sunrise was pretty. It was also party cloudy so that would help as well.
By mid morning I saw where the trail was headed. It would go to the very top of the mountain with the rocks.
The elevation gain was over 1,700 feet. I got a picture of Origami just after he reached the top.
For much of the day the trail wound through forests of Pinion Pines. Often there were flowers along the trail.
By 1:30 the trail joined and followed a jeep road for over two miles. Unfortunately there were four-wheelers and motorcyclists using it too. I had to step off the road and wait until the dust settled before continuing.
The trail finally left the road and I was rewarded with more flowers!
The last five miles to Walker Pass campground were all downhill. My feet are complaining!
I was rewarded with trail magic at the campground! Rachel gave me a salad and two scrambled egg tacos. I gave her a donation and in return got a glass of wine!
I am camped tonight at PCT mile 651.4. The elevation here is 5,018 feet.
This is my campsite.
