Now that we are 500 miles old as thru-hikers you might think this is getting easier, but the trail always has something up its sleeve. Thursday morning we hit the trail at 3:00 am to cross the Mojave desert. Isn't this the Pacific "Crest" Trail? Well, supposedly congress tried to wrestle with massive Tejon Ranch to follow the mountains but did not succeed so the trail follows the Los Angeles Aquaduct through the Western portion of the Mojave desert for ~15 miles.
With the stars above and the wind blowing strong we hiked through Sunrise among Joshua trees and little else. The flat miles went quickly but the heat was intense. By 9:30 am Peels and I reached Cottonwood creekbed where the aquaduct passes is built up like a bridge. It was easily already over 90 degrees and the wind had died completely by 5am. So as the heat intensified hikers rolled in to follow the shade of the bridge through the day. Eight hot hours later we hiked on through enormous wind turbines recently built but not yet opperational. The heated desert floor very consistently draws in the wind and we had to fight a headwind that kicked up in the afternoon.
Sleep being a lower priority than making miles in comfortable morning hours we were on the trail the next morning at 4am to make our way into Tehachapi. Tehachapi is a great little town. We spent yesterday afternoon sleeping, eating and doing laundry. I had a cream puff the size of a hamburger and we ate amzing BBQ for dinner. Today I pick up some new shoes and seven days worth of food.
From Tehachapi Pass we slowly climb into the Sierra Nevada. I have just one more week of hot, dry desert hiking before reaching Kennedy Meadows, the Thru-hiker gateway to the High Sierra that is a highlight of this hike. We are all dreaming of cold flowing water and high mountain lakes, cooler temperatures and grand vistas. Hopefuly without too many mosquitos.
With the stars above and the wind blowing strong we hiked through Sunrise among Joshua trees and little else. The flat miles went quickly but the heat was intense. By 9:30 am Peels and I reached Cottonwood creekbed where the aquaduct passes is built up like a bridge. It was easily already over 90 degrees and the wind had died completely by 5am. So as the heat intensified hikers rolled in to follow the shade of the bridge through the day. Eight hot hours later we hiked on through enormous wind turbines recently built but not yet opperational. The heated desert floor very consistently draws in the wind and we had to fight a headwind that kicked up in the afternoon.
Sleep being a lower priority than making miles in comfortable morning hours we were on the trail the next morning at 4am to make our way into Tehachapi. Tehachapi is a great little town. We spent yesterday afternoon sleeping, eating and doing laundry. I had a cream puff the size of a hamburger and we ate amzing BBQ for dinner. Today I pick up some new shoes and seven days worth of food.
From Tehachapi Pass we slowly climb into the Sierra Nevada. I have just one more week of hot, dry desert hiking before reaching Kennedy Meadows, the Thru-hiker gateway to the High Sierra that is a highlight of this hike. We are all dreaming of cold flowing water and high mountain lakes, cooler temperatures and grand vistas. Hopefuly without too many mosquitos.
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