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Day 35 – 26 Apr 19. 10 by 10 and an annoyed snake

Today 40.2 km (25 mi), Total Distance 781.5 km (485.6 mi). 10 hours 15 minutes (0630-1330, 1615-1900)

Sorry photos still to come

I woke up as the sun was starting to rise. I was ready really quickly and at 0630 continued climbing up the hill. I was full of energy and enjoying the views to my left and the flowers on the trail.

After 30 minutes I reached the top of the hill and everyone who passed me last night was camped in a large open grassy area. I checked on Zac and thankfully he was feeling better. I continued on up the last little uphill before starting the long descent.

The trail went through a lovely area of trees and green grass then alternated between shady green patches and open dry hot patches. It was nice variety.

The young guy caught up to me and disappeared as the trail left the side of the hill and descended down a ridge. There was a reservoir in the distance down in the valley.

At the bottom of the hill the trail crossed a road, past a water cache and then started to climb again. Once again there were some shady patches and some hot patches. It was a hot day, even that early so I was appreciating the shady patches. In one patch the guy was having a break.

I was hot and starting to feel like a break but decided to push on to the top of the hill. Unfortunately around every corner was more hill so it took a lot longer than I anticipated but once over the hill I quickly found a nice grassyshady spot to stop for a break.

While having a snack I checked my location and realized I was just over the 10 mile (16 km) mark, and it was just short of 1000 hrs. This meant I had just done what is called a 10 by 10 on the PCT, 10 miles by 10 o’clock. I
did not think I would be doing that until way up in Oregon and I was surprised as I did not think I had been going that fast.

Now it was a short steep descent, as in the side of the hill was steep, the trail was not as it switchbacked down as usual. From the bottom it was following a narrow valley. There were several small streams crossing the trail so I was able to refill my water
which I had gone through quickly during the morning because of the heat and long hill.

In one patch of trees were some lovely campspots and two women were tucked away at one having a break. I had a quick talk and then continued. The trail started another climb and then descent. As I was dropping I could see the trail snaking around the side of the hill across the valley, climbing up to the ridge. This was still at least 3 miles (4.8 km) away.

I was winding along the trail when I heard the distinctive sound of a rattle snake. About 10 meters away in the middle of the trail ahead was a beautiful big black rattle snake. It was curled up, shaking it’s rattle and I could just make out it’s tongue flicking in and out. I filmed it for a couple of minutes and then backed up even more to see if it would calm down and move off the track. It did not for ages and then once it stopped rattling any movement from me would set it off again. Eventually it did move off the trail but it moved into some bushes and I could not see where it was, but I could still hear the rattle. I waited some more to see if it would move further away and it did not so I scrambled up the bank on the opposite side, pushed through the prickly bushes and down the bank on the other side. As I walked off I could still hear the rattle going flat out.

The rest of the climb went well. There was one patch where the soil was almost white. As I got closer to the top there was a nice patch of flowers.

From the top was a short steep descent down to the road. I did my normal pre-hitch preparation of collapsing my poles and putting them in the outside side pocket of my pack and taking out my town bag with passport and money and adding the phone and small wallet from another pouch.

As I was walking down to a better place to hitchhike a Ute (pickup truck) stopped. It was a couple of locals. I jumped in the back of the pickup and they dropped me off a few hundred meters from Casa de Luna. I walked the sort distance.

I was a little taken aback at Casa de Luna. It was very cluttered and dusty. There was piles of what seemed like rubbish, a few areas for hikers to hang out, a table for people to paint rocks. There was one familiar face so I went and sat with him. A man introduced himself and asked me to put on a hawian shirt to fit in. There was a rack full of the shirts so I picked one and put it on. I ate some lunch and ended up talking with an interesting character who I could only handle for a short time so I excused myself.

I sat with another group of hikers and chatted a little but they were having conversations specific to their group. A couple of other hikers came over and they started passing around the marijuana. There were two very opinionated hikers and I was not enjoying myself so I left. I explored a little, looking at the camping area way down the back of the property. I changed back into my own shirt, filled up with water and left. You are meant to do a dance and receive a bandana but the volunteer was fast asleep and I did not want to wake him up. I was fine with not having the bandana.

I can see how the place would appeal to many of the hikers but it was a big shock after the beautifully organized and clean Hiker Heaven run by the Saufley’s. I am not sure if it was the place, or the people there, but not my scene so I left.

I walked the short distance to the main road and went to the restaurant that had heaps of signs advertising pizza and coffee only to find it was closed. I headed to the service station and got an ice cream and chocolate milk and went to the seat outside. A
man walked up and we started talking. He knew about the PCT and lived in Tehachapi. He offered me a ride back to the trail.

Back on trail it was a big hill and then along the side of the hill. I decided around the 21 mile (33km) mark to start looking for a campsite but the terrain was too steep and there was nothing available. The trail went along the side of steep hills for the
next few miles. Finally the trail dropped to a flat area just before the road and I was able to find a nice spot for my tent. A couple came by shortly after and they camped out of sight but in earshot. Once it was dark two guys came past and one girl cowboy
camped at the first spot I had considered.

I was pretty tired and slept well.

Visits: 391

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