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.