May 31, 2013
23 miles today
550 Miles total
Gravel pile also known as sandblaster
The wind gathered strength thru the night turning into a menace. I camped behind a bunker in an effort to escape the nearby giant gravel pile that was being turned into a sand blaster. At some point, I had to take a leak. Standing straight in the blasting wind, was a challenge. Suddenly it began to rain. The impossibility of setting up a tent in this wind hit me hard. Some seconds later, I realized the updraft between my legs was causing my urine to arc upward and hit me in the face erektile-apotheke.de. I was so relieved that I didn’t have to set up my tent. A little face pee was minor in comparison.
The aqueduct continued to be our guide to the next water stop. The sun was hot so we rested. I took off my hat and Brad, a fellow hiker, pointed out that I had a scorpion on my head. I asked him to knock it off with a stick. It was one of the smaller, nasty breed and also dead. I believe it was in my hat and had cooked over the last seven miles. Fire, plague and pestilence. What next?
No sign of the fire in the morning, but by the time I had climbed up through an endless wind farm it had returned to form. We learned eight miles of the PCT were now closed.
Wildfire day two
Orbit and Doc were still stuck at the Andersons with no way to catch up other than a twenty mile road walk around the eight mile section. I slogged on as the heat built, and the wind, so brave in the night, shunned air conditioning the day. I cursed not carrying more water, but at 8.5 lbs per gallon, it is a burden to the back and mind. I figure one liter per ten miles works for me. As long as the urine is clear, copious, and not in your face, all is good.
Finally arrived at Tylerhorse Canyon and its blessing of a stream. Had lunch, calculated the miles to my destination (short) and turned siesta into a verb with a number of others. Woke up and moved on. Came to a steep canyon that with a bridge would be a 400-yard walk, but was a one hour down and up without one. The desert around, as always, so beautiful in its simplicity.
Received a shout out message from Walter Menck with his usual excess of style. It made me laugh through a mile of climbs.
What a hell of a day. Pissed in my face, groomed a Scorpion, and went to bed with an owl that kept asking the same question. I give thanks.
Sleeping on a river
Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde
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steve – good to see you’re still living life like a wild man – best of luck on your trip, it looks like a lot of fun
p.s. – i just retired last year, as a district court commissioner, we started together – I’ll send you some stories about that office another day, when I have a few more minutes
Hey Mr. Barth, what a fine surprise to hear from you. Hope retirement is treating you as well as I suspect it is. When you get ambitious drop me a line at Crsteve333@yahoo.com and bring me up-to-date on all the doings at the Howard County Courthouse. My best to my fellow commissioners that are still around. Be good to yourself Tom and thanks for writing.
Steve ~ Just read your blog. Amazing. What a journey you are on! Stay safe and strong. Wishing you the best.
~Tracy (Rutledge) Madison
PS – We made a donation so your hard work is working!
Hey TR, now that’s a blast from the distant past. How many years has it been? Probably more than we should count. Anyway drop me a line at Crsteve333@yahoo.com And bring me up-to-date on how your life played itself out. I’d love to hear the story. Thanks for taking the time to write and more so giving money to a cause not related to yourself. Also my best to your brother. Take care, Steve