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Day 33 – 24 Apr 19. The race to Hiker Heaven

Today 22.9 km (14.2 mi), Total Distance 731.3 km (454.4 mi). 5 hours 45 minutes (0700-1245)

Sorry photos still to come

I woke up early so decided to get ready and go. No Plan was still asleep and as I left I passed a tent a bit further up which I think belonged to the guy with the extremely wide brim hat. It is a very large brim.

The day started with an uphill that went quickly. My body’s only complaint from yesterday seemed to be a tight left calf.

There were still heaps of flowers and once up on the hill there was a section of very long grass.

As the trail was heading along the top of a ridgeline I saw a deer. It crossed the track in front of me then stood up hill for a minute before taking off down the other side and it was quickly lost from view in the thick vegetation. It had no antlers and was slightly larger than the other deer I saw.

The trail continued going along just under the ridge, changing sides of the hill before going around the end and dropping into civilisation. There was a carpark and toilet, which was nice timing. Once across the road, which was where the KOA Campground was, it was a messy little area with several little streams to cross. Then across the railway tracks by our own trail stop sign.

Not far up the trail I came across a big Centipede. It looked like someone had stood on it and paralysed it. I picked it up and put it in the grass off the trail and it seemed to recover the use of it’s legs, so may have just been stunned.

Now the trail climbed up a valley and then around the side of a hill, steadily climbing. There were several really large rocks in this area. I could see someone ahead who seemed to be struggling with the hill. They would walk 50 meters then take a break. I quickly caught up to him. He had stayed at the KOA Campground last night and said there was a lot of hikers there who were having a late start. He was starting early because of how slow he was. He looked hot in his long sleeved shirt, long trousers and confusingly a puffy insulated vest. I could see the sweat under the vest and it seemed a strange thing to be wearing in the heat.

As I started the hill climb the temperature seemed to get hotter, and it was already warm. There were heaps of poppies here and a few of the hillsides were covered. There were also heaps of other types of flowers and a tall grass that seemed to glow in the sun. Very pretty and a nice distraction from the hill climb.

Once the bulk of the climbing was done I took a break and checked my temperature gauge and it was reading 35 degrees C (90 something F). No wonder I was feeling hot. It was finally time to deploy the umbrella. I had carried it all this way but it had not yet been hot enough to bother.

The trail wound along the side of the hill then climbed up past a cave and upwards to the ridge. There were two guys and a cute dog there. After a quick chat I started the down.

After only one switchback I nearly stood on a Gopher Smake spread across the trail. It slithered away and I continued down.

At the bottom the trail followed a valley towards the highway and then through a tunnel to the other side.

At the end of the tunnel were two guys and their dogs, beautiful Malamutes. I passed them but stopped to put my umbrella away and they went ahead.

I was now in a beautiful area of rocks. The trail went down a canyon with red rock formations on either side.

I caught up to the guys and watched the dogs playing with a lizard. They then ran ahead and we heard a yelp. We continued around the corner and they called the dogs. One limped up and the other was playing with something up the hill. I pointed out that the dog was limping and suggested it was either prickle or snake bite. I looked up at the other dog then realized I could hear a Rattlesnake and yelled at the guys to call off the other dog as it was going to also get bitten. After some tense moments it finally came. After hearing the Rattlesnake I was pretty sure the first dog had been bitten.

They examined its leg and found the bite. The dog started whining. The guys had no idea what to do. I told the guys all I knew was to reduce movement and keep bite below the heart to slow the speed of poison spread. The dog had started yelping in pain now which was distressing for all of us. One guy ran ahead while the other started carrying the dog. They were 1 mile from the car.

I continued on my way as there was nothing I could do to help. While the rock formations around me were beautiful I was sad as I thought the chances of the dog surviving were slim.

The trail headed uphill and skirted the famous Vasquez Rocks, used in many movies. There were loads of kids in the distance clambering around the rocks. The trail skirted the main areas then came out on a road.

It followed the road for less than a mile before turning right and half a mile later I was in Agua Dulce.

I headed straight for the Mexican Restaurant and ordered a quesadilla. It was great.

Then I went to the supermarket to get my resupply. Outside I sat chatting to another hiker and then a local. The local offered a ride to Hiker Heaven which I accepted.

At hiker heaven I was given a brief by one of the volunteers. I put up my tent, grabbed some loaner clothes, had a shower and put my dirty clothes in the line for washing. I chatted to some of the hikers then started the modifications to my hat to increase ventilation and improve the chin strap position.

The rest of the Day was spent socializing.

Visits: 372

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