Journey Day 46 | PCT Day 46

6/1/85

Early departure from the Waring’s orchard.  Early morning ATV rider forewarns of later confrontations with dirt bikers. Keith and I hike well up to a spring. The landscape goes Arizona. Canyons with interesting rock formations.

Up a side canyon into even more interesting country. Past an old mine, adobe hut.  As we get water at Butterbredt Spring, a small pool, a biker pack pulls up. We exchange friendly greetings despite our transportational differences. More hiking with peaks around us. A steady climb all day long…

Writing from a shady spot under Joshua Trees. Heading down to get more water. Hoping for a big day of hiking. From our Joshua break, we hike hard down to where the trail picks up a new trail to Kennedy Meadows and the Sierras, but we must go out of our way again for water.

We walk down to Kelso Creek, a masonry trough, but I go on to Plants’ house as a hiker’s note recommended, making Keith mad.

I make my way back up, going cross country for a ways. I make it back to our packs as Keith finishes filtering. He’s madder, but shocked, unable to bitch.

Back on the trail, we climb into early Sierras. Hard with a pack after running to water without one. Struggle ahead to about 18 miles.

Crash on the trail under stars as dark hits. Eat, quick crash. Including side hikes to water, about 24 miles covered, a new record.