Written Friday, 28 May 2021

Another day that will be all about the water.

Luckily, we don't have to worry about it here, where the water source is fantastic!

We intentionally sleep in a bit late, in hopes that the rest of the group will roll in. It was quite nice (although I couldn't stay asleep too late), and it paid off as Anchor, Maverick, and Catch caught up as we were finishing our breakfasts at leisure.

With most of the group together, we do a quick consult on the miles ahead, and I set out at the relatively gentlemanly hour if 0850.

The beautiful forest walk from last evening continues, and I get to cross the first 0.4 miles of today's hike for the third time. Luckily, it is a pretty section!

Unfortunately, we soon descend out of the forest into the desert again, where it's warmer and definitely "a different kind of pretty." The path itself is also mostly and gentle downward slope so it's not too tough.

The morning is pretty unremarkable and shortly after noon, we arrive at Kelso Road where some dedicated group of Trail Angels maintains a big water cache. Thank you Trail Angels!

The next water is another ways away, and our choices are to dry camp before we get there (which means we have to carry extra water to camp with) or go all the way to the next water cache, which means we don't have to carry as much water but will be a long day for the part of our group that had a 5 or 6 mile hike before I even got started.

Those of us who started at Landers Meadow decide to go for the next water source so I pound 3 liters, refill two, and launch for Bird Spring Pass.

Ooof.

The start is a long, hot 2,200 foot climb, and the path was covered in ankle-deep sand. I was making forward progress like I was on a treadmill set on the 10-degree incline.

Sweat was spilled. Swear words were uttered. Prayers were offered to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Slight progress was made.

Every time I turned a corner, I discovered another higher crag to be climbed.

It was, seriously, an eternity before I finally went over the top and began a nice, relatively benign descent into the camp site at Bird Spring Road, followed shortly by Florian and Baewatch and, perhaps, 30 others over the next 2 hours (including Maverick who did pull a 37 mile day today!). Everyone wants to camp in close proximity to the water cache here.

Not sure where Catch, Anchor, and Elle are tonight, but we are safe, dry and warm tonight at the Bird Spring Road water cache.

Miles Hiked Today: 21.9 Total Miles Hiked: 630.8

Sea Otter Fact of the Day: Sea otters float on their backs, mostly to keep their paws, flippers, and faces (all the places where they have the least fur), out of the cold ocean water.