At Walker Pass: I think I need to wash more. I’m filthy.

Up until now just about every day has been sunny. Today the clouds rolled in and nearly touched the ground.

Last year a hiker, Rocket Lama, got stuck in the Washington snow around miles 2250 for days and days. Numerous people searched for her. This included her dad, Rocket Dad, and SAR (search and rescue). It was very serious and many people were very worried. Afterwards she wrote up what happened in a detailed and moving account of all she went through. Since she didn’t complete she’s now back on the trail doing it ALL over again. I don’t know if I would have the same fortitude.

Most PCT thruhikers start at the ADZPCTKO (annual day zero PCT kick off) which took place April 25-27. I started ten days early on April 16th. So it’s taken them until about mile 630 to catch and pass me. So far about a dozen have zoomed by. I can barely say hello and they are by me and gone. I’ll probably never see them again. This first group have taken a number of shortcuts by skipping road walks and hitching around them whereas I done them. Nevertheless, as we say on the trail HYOH – hike your own hike. So I’m going to continue doing what I’ve done which is to walk most all the trail including the detours.

Side note: I saw in a trail register (a book hikers sign into along the trail) that Root Beer Float (my friend Terry S.) passed me today between mile 624 (where I camped) to 630 (trail register location), but didn’t know it. Best wishes friend and safe journey.

Spoke too soon. I crested a hill and saw plenty of desert ahead.

Each day I need to be careful of my water usage. Today I filtered out of this tank in a nearby campground. I always filter unless I’m sure of the source. Since it might be many miles before the next source I drink as much as I can while I’m there. This is called “cameling up”, as in, Tartan cameled up as much water at the spring before he started to hike again.

The scenery is changing. I am now in central California after leaving Tehachapi. From dry desert to pine forests.

I’m now following a hiking plan to meet Justin at Tuolumne Meadows. This means I need to pace myself and do 18 miles a day – no more no less. I also need to take a zero day in Independence CA. All this so I can arrive on June 8th and we can hike together until Echo Lake near Tahoe.

I got to the trail at 5:30 AM and headed out. As always it was a climb. The wind was howling. With the very heavy pack and the gusting wind it was a real struggle to hike. Here is a picture looking back with Highway 58 where I started. It is now just a thin ribbon of a highway curving into the distance.

I’ve been on the trail since 4/16, so today marks my one month anniversary of beginning my hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.