Me 2007-06-02 One Quarter
June 2nd, 2007
Today I crossed the 25% mark so I’ve only got to do the same distance three more times! I’m glad it’s not going to be the same landscape. Right on the 25% mark was the end of the last water alert for 500 miles. An alert is noted in the data book when there is a 12 mile stretch where there is no water within 1/2 mile of the trail. Washington has 3, Oregon has 5, California has 19 (but is also 2/3 of the trail). Enough with the numbers.
At Walker Pass I met two trail workers Bill and Jerry who have already cleared the trail from Spanish Needle Creek to Kennedy Meadows (40 miles) and are about to work their way south from the pass. They gave me water and advice about camping. I knew Joshua Tree Spring was a bad idea because of a nosey bear, but now Spanish Needle Creek is being visited too so my 20 mile day became a 25. And those extra miles were distinctly uphill. I passed Blue Sky and Vortex just before stopping at the creek for dinner. They’re the only people I have seen on the trail since Hiker Town which was a week ago. I wonder if the herd will have faded out by the time it passes me.
I’d already decided where to camp based on the guide book’s note that there were sites and that it’s 10 miles mostly down hill to water tomorrow morning, but when I got here I was amazed as much as I was daunted. Right on a saddle, gentle to the west, perilous to the east which is where the wind is blowing me. I hope that dies down tonight, the tree I am sheltering behind is a noisy one. I just saw sunset and if I were to still be in my bag at sunrise I could watch it from the same spot. My alarm is still set for 4am so I’ll probably leave early again, we’ll see.
Early during the night I woke and looked skyward. I actually said out loud “Holy cow!”. With no moon or haze it was gorgeous. I wish I could have kept my eyes open longer but I drifted back to sleep quickly. Later I saw the moon rise. Through the desert dust it has an orange glow and looked just a little haloweeny.
More photos of this day’s journey can be found at Tehachapi to Kennedy Meadows