June 4, 2013
25 miles today
Mile 608
Woke up early, alone to writing. Laying in a meadow of view to the sky was open. Suddenly a B-2 Stealth Bomber made a pass through the dawns light. Felt like an exposed Taliban.
The rest of the morning was the mundane pack up, food up, water up and throwing an ever-increasing diameter of pebbles at Doc’s head in order to assist him in exiting sleep, his favorite state of consciousness.
Met a hiker on their first day hiking the PCT. They planned to go to Canada, but were carrying 40 pounds of food and water in addition to their gear. Tried to suggest a lightening of the load without being obnoxious. Probably failed.
As the next spring was 17 miles on, I loaded up with 3.5 liters of water. The sun was already hot to the touch. Took off in good spirits, though my knee remained in a foul humor.
Fire line
Soon came to fresh burn. The fire had been a large one and probably within the last two years. The new plant growth, what little there was of it, being less than 4″ high. Tried to recreate the drama in my head. The fire started in some trees and was blown north. I surmised this because the fire line cut starkly along a distinct line through the forest. A road to a wind farm kept the flames form moving east. As the path passed west of the wildfire, it was obvious the firefighters had used the PCT as their skirmish line, their victory apparent. But the fire, with wind as its ally, carried the day with its remaining directional outlet. For the next hour I trudged north through a cooked wasteland. A hastily dug fire break with heavy machinery being the dam that finally stopped the advance.
Passed a heat prostrated hiker lying in the shade waiting for the dark. Curious how the sun affects different hikers in such a variety of ways. Pushed on to the spring. Arrived with my last sip of water a distant memory. That first gulp of icy spring water defied adjectives. A long siesta followed by the last eight miles of perfect, gentle, down sloping pine beds. Our camp was next to yet another water fountain of the earth, with a picnic table to boot. Shared our camp with Papa Bear and his son, Chris. The conversation was good and centered around a country to the north that was still a ways off.
Sun throws in the towel
Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde
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