Back to the desert – The walk

Finally, back on the road where I left it, and feeling like this … hot. I felt so nervous to return to the road, not only because I was going back alone, but because of the heat! I told myself that as long as there was no triple digit heat in the forecast by mid -June, then I would return to where I left it in Mile 478. Well, it was not a prognosis of triples, but 90 in mid -mid to high … swallowed. Then, after many tears, and a complete collapse after dropping my McDonald’s hash brown in a crack in the car, Ian left me and began to walk. Spoiler alert, I survived.

Green Valley to Upper Shake Campground ~ 15.8 miles

Once I walked again, I calmed down and reminded myself of myself that I could do this. It was very evident how few people were/on their way in this section at this time of year. When I left I was in the middle of a bubble, but today I didn’t see anyone for miles. I got well to the first water, my legs surprised me with the ease of everything. I had not completely lost my paths! Alleluia! However, I was heating quickly, so my rest in the water was efficient. I wanted to push a little more before my nap. The next climb, although it is not a substantial elevation gain in any way, was slow just because of the heat. It was a job for me. I pushed until 2 in the afternoon, when I finally found a fantastic tone under a pine to seek refuge. I rested for 2 hours before jumping from one way to another to try to avoid the abundant bush of the poodle dog. I decided to camp at the Shake upper camp for access to water even though it was a 1/2 mile downhill, but water is everything here, and I could not pass it. This camp is an abandoned forest service camp, and only a couple of other hikers camped here tonight. The garbage boats seemed to have exploded and the picnic tables were in several states of poor condition. I prepared and ate dinner before dusk and got into an early night to get up early and try to beat the heat.

Shake superior to the edge edge ~ 18 miles

I was out of the camp at 5:45 this morning, a record for this girl! (I don’t know enjoying early). I left the 1/2 mile camp and sailed for the day. Water today would be tank, or the Guzzlers call them. It was not so hot today, but was still warm. I signed up to another forest service camp for lunch, and arrived at the 500 mile score before! Woohoo! Every 100 miles feel like such a achievement, and everyone seems to be a little easier than the previous one. Today I was amazed at all the beautiful flora and fauna. The flowers were still everywhere, feeding the hummingbirds everywhere. Everything felt so magical! When rolling to the camp, I felt satisfied with my day and how I had sailed the heat, prioritizing rest and hydration and simply not exaggerating it. However, mosquitoes in the camp quickly dissolved any of the magic of the day, which forced me to enter my store as soon as I finished dinner.

I go Hikertoown

Only 6.5 miles from Hikertown, I let myself move a little more slow leaving the camp at 6:30. Today’s morning walk made me think of the AT due to all the little ones (meaningless and down). This section limits with the Hunting Club tissy, and from my reading, it took a long time to establish this part of the PCT through this section, so what ended was a winding path, up and down. It is not the most direct route it is.

I arrived at Hikertown without really knowing what to expect. Some other hikers were heading to the market with Martha, which helps manage the place, so I got on. After enjoying a breakfast and catching up with some people that I met the last days, I returned to Hikertown for a shower and a nap. Martha gently let me sleep inside a bed out of heat and the wind free of charge. I made a nap all day with my plan to go for the aqueduct around 6 pm when I went out to prepare, all the other hikers had already left, except for my new Italian friend Debbie. All in the market have planned to go at night, but they ended up leaving around 3 or 4 pm. Well, I guess it would be a loneliness ride. Debbie left a little in front of me, and I went out at 7pm after the palettes and dinner.

The aqueduct

I felt the emotion of a night walk, even if I was alone. The desert was cooling while the sun sank lower. Walking through the ‘neighborhood’ around the aqueduct, although I began to feel a bit uncomfortable. Some cars would lead slowly and give me strange looks before passing, and I began to wonder if I had really made an intelligent decision. However, I connected. Around 10 pm, I met Debbie, who had waited for me after feeling the same type so I had. We both rejoice in having some company. We continue all night, stopping for a good break around midnight for a chai and hot snacks. Lying at the top of the aqueduct listening to the water race under us, stars on us, we delight in the beauty of the desert at night. At 4:30 am we arrive at the promised tap. All who had started the walk late in the afternoon and organized the camp there to spend the night. We discangle our pads to rest a little. At 6:30 I decided to move 6 miles more to the next source of water and shadow, since it was going to be a hot day and wanted a good shadow. It was not exactly the experience of the aqueduct I expected, but the least that was pleasant!

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