Journey Day 48 | PCT Day 48

6/3/85

Rain hits during the night. I’m wet, no tarp, wrapped in insufficient ground cloth.

Up early as it’s no fun sleeping wet. I bitch, accusing Keith of shorting me on water. He’s still mad as I write from underneath a picnic table at Walker Pass Camp. I covered the table with a ground cloth. A fine shelter! Almost too much sun quickly turned to rain.

Walk out of nice forests. Keith and I separate for our own good. I come upon a mule deer in the mist. It’s as curious as me. Minutes elapse before he walks up, then into the woods.

I take pictures, but the lack of light could foil my efforts. The deer was apparently unafraid of me or my camera.

Onward to McIver Spring which we pass on. We take our break together. Keith catches me as I complete my morning constitutional. He’s still mad though and leaves me alone. Fine with me.

More nice forest hiking, mostly downhill, takes us into camp. A nice spot, despite trash. I wash socks, cook a dinner. Keith quiet.

As I get ready to eat, drizzle begins. I set up under a picnic table. Keith tarps up. The weather can’t make up its mind. Is this a foreboding of Sierra weather to come?

Time to hike on as rain lulls. The Ens reappear as we start to leave. So we stay, talking and agreeing to meet at Kennedy Meadows for megafeast.

Down the hill we go on Highway 178. Fast pace hindered only by thinning road shoulders, whizzing cars and semis.

Uneventful descent. Legs, feet begin to complain. As we approach bottom of the hill, we see 2,300-foot climb awaiting us tomorrow. We crash off the side of the road behind a pinon tree. Eat, then quickly crash after a 22-mile day. We decide to cut a corner, go cross country. Keith and I air our differences, sleep better for it.