700 miles on the PCT: Goodbye, desert!

A short scale in Hikertown

This path of path included a ton of great milestones, the first was to reach Hikertown. This is one of the most commented places on the way: you really can’t describe it, you just have to experience it for yourself. I remember talking to PCT hikers about it when I was in the Oregon section in 2022, and said it is one of the strangest places on the road. In fact I thought it was a bit nice! It was a closed area with a lot of sheds that were simulated buildings: a dentist, post office, store, etc.

Hikertown is also the beginning of one of the most difficult sections on the path: the aqueduct. Hikers talk about this section for weeks, trying to do the best plan. The problem is that there is absolutely zero shadow throughout the stretch of the aqueduct, and is hot. Most people choose to walk during the night, which is what I decided to do. Then, I walked the 2.8 miles in Hikertown and spent all day dating other hikers eating, chatting, playing, dating kittens and making trails. Finally, it was time to leave around 5:30 pm I grabbed a return trip to Hikertown from the owner of Neenach Cafe in the back of his truck with a plot that they call themselves wild. Before leaving, Scrubadub tried to repair Pony Girl for me with a super glue and team patches, which worked in some way. At 6, we were out!

The walk was beautiful: Joshua’s trees could be seen by miles at sunset while walking on the aqueduct for the first section. These people walk quickly, and wanted to keep up, so it was Zoom. We were going at least 4 miles per hour. Kyle and I did a little karaoke, mainly launching songs by Gracie Adams and Taylor Swift. The land was very flat and we were having fun, so the miles flew. We walk at night until around 12:30, when we arrive at a bridge. I was in a wind farm, so it was quite comical to establish my store. I went to bed until 5 in the morning, but maybe I slept 2 hours.

I was awake and ready to go at 5:30. At this point, I thought I had overcome the most difficult part. The aqueduct was so easy! What were everyone talking about?

When I had sweat dripping down my front at 7 in the morning, I quickly realized that the day after the aqueduct was the really difficult part. He still had more than 20 miles to the road to Tehachapi, and he was warming more in the second. I arrived at one of the only shadow points of a stream and found melodies, squirrels and Merlin there. We had originally planned to hang out until it cooled at night and we were late in the city. It was so early on the day we decided to continue moving, how bad could it be really? The answer was very, very bad. As the temperature increased, our only fuel that kept us underway was music. We did a jam on Spotify and had a dance party while we walked. When we arrived at the road at 4:30 pm, the heat of the sun felt that I was climbing my skin everywhere. I am so happy to have my Sunbrella, otherwise I don’t know what I would do.

After walking from 5:30 pm to 4:30 pm with a five -hour break to sleep, unintentionally 41 miles in 23 hours, which is the 24 -hour aqueduct challenge. UPS! Now I completely understand why the aqueduct is considered a passage rite.

Chipmunk and I took the city from an angel of trails, and we went directly to our hotel, the best Western Plus. We made a promise that we would leave our beds as little as possible that night, so we asked for Thai food directly to the room and saw television until we could keep our eyes open. It was magical!

After making that crazy amount of miles, my body was definitely feeling it. The bones and joints that had previously been well were now cracking every time I tried to move. While it was not our intention to double zero, I think my body definitely needed that rest. After 2 nights at the Best Western Plus, we stayed the third night in Joe’s, a wonderful path of paths. It was an hour to go to bed early, because Chipmunk and I were making a trip at 5:30 am on the morning next to the path.

After many more miles in the wind farm with little shadow, we felt relieved when the path finally became more forest a few days. We arrived at the 600 mile score at night, and we camped a few meters from it. The next morning, after sleeping until 7:30, we were preparing lazy in our tents when someone walked playing intense rock music. When they saw our tents, they quickly turned off the music and started running. That’s right, I said running. When they left, we talked about how there is absolutely no way that it was a hiker. Then, I remembered that Tunes had told us that Nick Fowler, the man who tried the fastest moment known on the PCT, would happen to us soon. We were so excited that we had heard him pass, but sad that we didn’t see it!

The day before entering Ridgecrest, a terrible tragedy occurred. After our nap nap in the shadow of a rock next to the last water cache, we drink a little more water before starting our last great climb that night. I was moving to replace quick and random Potatum in his pocket. When we reached the top of the climb, I realized that Potatum was gone! I was completely devastated, it was a full moment of Castaway ‘Wilson’. I calmed down and quickly made a publication in Farout that had lost my hiking partner, and for someone to return me if they found him. I continued despite the hole that was missing in my heart and reminded myself of myself that the path provides.

We arrived in the city the next day and met melodies again for my early birthday celebration at the Airbnb. I was so excited! The woman who owns the place ended up taking us to her salt spa for free, it was such a peaceful experience! When we arrived at the place, they forbade my room while preparing for the party. The melodies did everything: Mac and Cheese, tons of delicious sides, baked and decorated a cake, configure decorations, etc.! She is an incredible friend who is very lucky to have known here.

Suddenly, I heard voices and I couldn’t help investigating. I was surprised to leave and see lost! I shouted and ran to hug her, it was a big surprise! They told me that I wouldn’t succeed because all the way was in Lone Pine, a 1.5-2-hour car trip. She could love a place and get a hitch for this to happen. Kyle, who was also in Ridgecrest, also came to celebrate.

We spent the rest of the night, turning to hit the mini unicorn piñata, and eat delicious food. In the midst of everything, I received a text from a random number with a video. It was potatum! Someone had found him and made a video of hostages in German. Lost was translating for us, and almost fell from his chair to laugh too much. Potatum said: «How can I be a positive dad when you leave me on earth?» He also said he found a new tram, but would consider returning if he gave them a gift of high calories. We were all crying laughing! We agreed that I would give Potatum to Kennedy Meadows.

The next morning, it was time to return to the path. We had to do a great day to invent some miles, and it was exposed all day. We thought we could reach the next water source, but it was so hot that we literally stopped in the middle of the path, where there was hardly any shadow under a tree and took a nap. People kept walking and we apologized for being on the road, but we couldn’t really move! The only thing that helped me spend the following days was to know that we were almost the iconic Kennedy Meadows South, the official desert end!

Our last day before KMS was nice and cruise. He was determined to get to the Kern River for lunch and swim. When I finally arrived, I couldn’t believe what I saw. It was a huge river, large enough to swim! We had not seen a water source as it is in more than a month. I jumped with all my clothes, and Pony Girl and I floated the river. He gave me the impulse I needed to do it the last miles. While we walked to Kms, we obtained applause (including a cow’s bell) from all there, it was the best feeling!

After staying the night at the camp there, meeting with Potatum and obtaining the giant pancake of Grumpy Bear’s that even hungry hikers can end, we made our refueling and we finished our tasks to get out.

I still couldn’t believe that I had reached the section I have been waiting for for years: the mountains! I was anxious to enter the mountains where I knew I would feel at home. I planned to take it easy and completely hug the 300 short miles from the most impressive part of the path. I go in the mountains!

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