Mile 514.6 - 540.0

We hiked 25.6 miles today, our longest to date. It was a mostly flat day as we hiked along the aqueduct and then into a huge wind farm. That was the easy part, now the hard part. It reached close to 100 degrees today and by late afternoon in the wind farm area, the winds were pushing 30 miles per hour into our face. With every step we needed to lean into the wind and at times we got knocked off the trail by the strength of these winds. We are solo camping just outside the wind farm, mostly to get away from the herd of hikers that seemed to appear from nowhere. 

Y-Knot early this morning, heading to hikertown for water.

Hikertown is really a built up hostel for hikers just off the PCT. we are happy we didn't stay here as we slept really well last night. Other hikers who did stay here told us about the roof and walls making noises all night because of the strong winds.

Just a small part of Hikertown. This is the City Hall and wagon out front. Hikertown is an old western facade of buildings. Each building can sleep hikers for a small donation.

We hiked along the California aqueduct for most of the day. It eventually went underground.

Absolutely no shade today and close to 100 degrees. We all jumped the fence to this hunting camp to seek shelter. We had to get out of the sun for a little while. Left to right is : Jack, Sizzler, Michael, Balance, and Trail Candy.

Just in the nick of time. A fully stocked ice chest with cold drinks. We couldn't believe it. Everyone was so excited. We just drank one ice tea each and saved the rest for future hikers. Trail angels are just amazing here on the PCT. 

This is hiker trash at its best. I couldn't fit everyone in the photo but about 40 hikers were at Cottonwood Creek. No water in the creek but there is a very large water tank that is filled by other trail angel so hikers don't die out here in the desert. Water sources are getting scarce now so every hiker hangs out at them taking long breaks waiting out the heat of the day and drinking as much as possible before moving on.

This wind farm had thousands of windmills over miles and miles of land. We walked right through it.

Balance's latest blister. Her feet are not getting better. Very painful to walk on, never mind hiking 20 plus miles every day. 

Mile 540.0 - 558.2

We camped in the high winds last night but by setting up in a valley we kept the tent upright. There's a reason so many windmills are in this area.

We were hiking today before 6am. We had 18 miles to do before reaching the road to Mojave. Our plan is to hitchhike the 10 miles into town to stay the night, resupply, and do laundry.

The desert scenery is always changing, but temperatures do not. It's alway hot.

We made it to the road by 1pm. Now it's time to hitch a ride. It took about 15-20 minutes, but it was only the 4th car to go by. Not too bad. We are in the town of Mojave now. We went swimming, did our laundry, ate a huge dinner out at a neighboring diner and are now resting.

   Tomorrow we will spend most of the day in town and hitch a ride back to the trail in the afternoon and hike into the night to beat this heat. 150 miles of desert remain.

Mile 478.4 - 514.6

No we didn't hike a 36.2 mile day. There was a fire closure from mile 478 to 511. We were forced to road walk 19 miles around the closure. I actually enjoyed the road walking, but Balance hated it. She got even more blisters from the road walk. I just felt it to be different and easier than hiking the trail. 

We really only walked 25 miles today, not 36. The difference is trail miles versus road miles. The road is a straight shot where as the trail winds it's way around every nook and crany.

We are finished with the fire closure and back on the PCT now. Heading for the Mojave and 100 degree temperatures.

Fire closure at mile 478. It's a 22 mile road walk around it. The fire happened last fall.

Lake Elizabeth 

We passed two lakes during our road walk. Traffic was not bad but they did travel fast.

Loving the long rolling road walk.

I spelled my trail name in stones along the side of the road walk. Every hiker who passes will know Y-Knot is up ahead. The orange cone was on the side of the road so I put it in front of my trail name. I was ahead of Balance at this point but she told me she noticed it.

I didn't make this one, but we are 500 miles into our hike. Hard to believe only 200 miles of desert remaining. We are hearing it's the driest and hottest part of the trail coming up.

Thank you to trail angel "Dave" who is sitting on the far right of the photo. He had cold drinks and food for us. Left to right in the photo : Animal, Sizzler, Balance, and Dave and his dog Sully.

Back on the PCT after the very long fire closure road walk. We are happy to be back on the trail. We want to walk every mile of the PCT, but we have no choice in fire closures. So we road walk the detour instead. That is the best we can do. Many hikers hitch through the road walking and pick up the trail where it opens. This bothers Balance. I say, "Hike your own hike". I could care less what someone else does. It's hard enough worrying about me and what I'm going to do.

Mile 454.4 - 478.4

Just as we thought, last night was an all night party, maybe not all night, but a good part of it. The Saufley's were nice enough to give Balance and I a room in the trailer. The problem was that the TV and living room was right next to our room. Idiots were drinking, smoking, and who knows what else out there until well after midnight. Hikers midnight is 9pm, so these losers are not really hikers but people who just like to hang out with hikers and corrupt a few. We regretted staying here but we knew what to expect, so shame on us. Many other hikers feel the same as we do. Nothing against the Saufley's and all they do for the hikers but they could take a page out of Ziggy and the Bear and have a few rules. Not our call, just our opinion.

Just mountains. Until we heard the sound of dirt bikes racing at us at full speed. The PCT is for hikers and horses only. This was the first time I ever saw a dirt bike on the trail. For good reason, they are prohibited. I was stunned and froze not knowing what to think. Balance on the other hand jumps right in front of the first rider, not allowing him to pass. He stopped and explained that he and a friend were lost and on the wrong trail. The real problem is that behind us were at least a dozen hikers fighting a steep uphill and these two morons are lost and going to hurt someone by riding on this trail not rated for dirt bikes. They could not turn around either due to the very narrow trail. So we got out of there way and told them to go slow as more hikers are coming. I felt like calling the local forest ranger but didn't. Believing that they were really just lost and not out for mischief. 

Taking a break after a 2 mile road walk and a very steep climb to the top of this mountain

Today we started the day in a cool mist. As we started this climb, it got sunny and hot. We enjoyed the cool mist much better. We are hearing that the temperature is expected over 100 degrees the next few days. Not good news as we head towards Mojove.

Many people have asked. Why are you wearing so many clothes if its that hot out? The sun is so strong here and it's out 99 percent of the time, with very little shade. So, we wear long pants, long shirts, sun hats, and sun gloves. Anything not covered we burn in minutes. We couldn't carry enough sunscreen, plus not showering makes for some sticky skin. This sun hat in the photo works great. I have it tilted up for the photo, but otherwise I pull it right down to my eyes. My neck and ears are protected also. We don't like or want to wear all these clothes because its so hot, but we have no choice. The sun wins every time.

The amazing Yucca plant.

What colors out here in the desert. Who would think?

A hiker oasis. Chairs and coolers full of cold drinks. This was amazing and not expected. Thank you to the Anderson's who stock this cache. About 12 of us hung out in the shade, had a cold drink, and talked about their hike.

The sisters. The only sisters we know of hiking the PCT this year. Hanging out at the hiker oasis. 

Mile 452.9 - 454.4

We did a nero today. Hiking just a mile and a half into the town of Agua Dulce. This is the home of trail angels "The Saufley's". The Saufley's open there home to hundreds of hikers every year. They call it "Hiker Heaven". 

   So we hiked the one and a half miles into town. Stopped at a very expensive resupply market and walked to the Saufley's home which is a mile off trail. A kind neighbor offered us a ride. We were not even trying to hitch a ride.

   Once at the Saufley's we got shown around and signed up for the REI shuttle. Both Balance and I needed a few things.

   This is a rest day, so we did errands, resupplied, ate lots of food, and rested. Resting is the hard part. About 40 hikers are here tonight. Some in party mode. So we will see about sleep. It may be hard. Back on the trail early tomorrow.

Balance at our resupply store called 

"Sweetwater Farms". 

The Saufley's home, PCT trail angels. Balance and I stayed in the trailer on the right. Most camped in the yard.

This is only a faction of the hikers camping here tonight. 

Mile 452.9 - 454.4

We did a nero today. Hiking just a mile and a half into the town of Agua Dulce. This is the home of trail angels "The Saufley's". The Saufley's open there home to hundreds of hikers every year. They call it "Hiker Heaven". 

   So we hiked the one and a half miles into town. Stopped at a very expensive resupply market and walked to the Saufley's home which is a mile off trail. A kind neighbor offered us a ride. We were not even trying to hitch a ride.

   Once at the Saufley's we got shown around and signed up for the REI shuttle. Both Balance and I needed a few things.

   This is a rest day, so we did errands, resupplied, ate lots of food, and rested. Resting is the hard part. About 40 hikers are here tonight. Some in party mode. So we will see about sleep. It may be hard. Back on the trail early tomorrow.

Balance at our resupply store called 

"Sweetwater Farms". 

The Saufley's home, PCT trail angels. Balance and I stayed in the trailer on the right. Most camped in the yard.

This is only a faction of the hikers camping here tonight. 

Shots from the Trail - Agua Dolce

Trail pics

                                         Y-Knot and Sizzler on Mt Williamson

 Taking the road detour thru a burn section and 'poodle bush' area.

Hikers hang out at Vasquez Rocks picnic area

 

Heading into Agua Dolce to re-supply and stay at 'Hiker Heaven-Saufleys'.

Mile 436.2 - 452.9

Balance on the edge of another switchback early this morning.

Y-Knot weather beaten and dirty. We have not showered for 10 days. This trail is so dry and dusty that you get dirty within the first hour of hiking. We do our best to clean up at night using baby wipes.

The vast desert. You wouldn't know from this photo, but 8 miles from here we would shower at a KOA campground. So exciting.

Can you find the KOA in this picture?Neither could we. Another hundred switchbacks and we would be there.

Do you see Y-Knot?

We made it to the KOA campground around 10am. We showered, did laundry, and yes, ordered pizzas to be delivered. Sizzler, Sugar, and Balance all eating as many calories as they could before we hiked on this afternoon.

Back in no-man's land. Pizza one minute, desert the next. Everyone wanted to hike more miles this afternoon to be close to a trail angels house tomorrow morning. It is supposed to be an amazing place for hikers. So we can't wait for tomorrow.

Balance walking way Highway 14. This tunnel must have been about 100 feet below the highway and about 300 yards long. Very busy highway, so we were more than happy to go under.

Vasquez Rocks. 

Balance in search for our campsite for the night. Tiring day but we had a long break at the KOA campground mid day. We stuffed our stomachs with pizza and ice cream. We even packed out half a pizza for dinner. No noddles or instant potatoes for us tonight. We are happy campers.

Mile 412.1 - 436.2

We hiked 24.1 miles today. That is our longest day so far. It wasn't without incident though. We had a 12 mile detour due to the plant Poodle Dog Bush. This plant is extremely poisonous to humans if touched and it is all over the trail. Even with the detour, there are other places that it is really bad. On top of that, we had to dodge poison oak which is also growing across the trail in many places. One more reason that we wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Getting either one of the two poisonous plant would be a major problem. Today was a long and nerve wracking day.

You wouldn't know it by this photo but we woke up this morning in a cloud. We camped at 6,500 feet and it was cold, windy, and raw. It took about an hour of hiking to warm up.

Sugar, Sizzler, and Balance hiking the 12 mile detour up Mt Gleason due to Poodle Dog Bush completely taking over the trail in this area. Too dangerous for hikers to attempt to hike the trail. Getting Poodle Dog Bush will send you to the hospital. It's nothing to take lightly, and it's everywhere.

The 2009 Station Fire destroyed this prison, along with many acres along the PCT.

2 helicopters were practicing for a forest fire. They were flying right over the trail.

Balance standing on the trail among the desert flora.

One of the few areas that didn't have either Poodle Dog Bush or Poison Oak.