PCT SOBO DAY 111 – Among the windmills

Day 111

Start: Highway 58/Tehachapi, mile 2089.3

End: Campground, mile 2109.3

Miles traveled: 20 miles

I wasn’t in a hurry to leave town today, so I took my time until it was time to leave. Sun was getting a zero, so I said goodbye before heading out for one last burger at Burger Shack. I finished a small business on the Internet and then hitchhiked.

It took a few minutes, but finally a woman picked me up. She had no idea the trail existed, but she saw me and worried about me. At 75 years old he had two huge dogs that were his companions and protectors. When we finally got to the trail (actually a dirt road on the side of the road), she said she felt really bad for leaving me in the middle of nowhere. I assured him this was exactly where I needed to be and said goodbye.

As usual, it felt good to be back on the road and in the sun. The day was warm, but not unbearable. The hills looked dry and beige, but very inviting. A train sped by and I headed deeper into the hills. This part of the trail was not as remote as other sections. There were houses here and there along with ranches.

A few miles later, I came to a water tower and found none other than Peaches, Shaggy, and another couple from Norway. They had left town a little before me, so they were almost done with their break. After all, they had decided to take a zero, but Peaches wasn’t feeling too hot, so they were moving a little slower today.

After a while, they were back on track and now it was my turn to get up and get moving. My knees creaked as I stood up from the picnic table and limped toward a strong hiker’s pace.

PCT “Desert Segment”

I was in windmill country! They towered over me, dotting every hill as far as the eye could see. I climbed and climbed, gradually climbing as I weaved in and out of curves in the terrain. Soon, the sun began to set, painting the sky with the colors of the desert. What a delight!

I quickly encountered an even more exciting surprise: the magic of the trails! A small hodgepodge of rest area was set up haphazardly at the top of the mountain. There was almost endless water, chairs and tables, a hiker’s log, and a small cabinet with snacks. It was the most artistic and unique setup I had ever seen.

I chatted with some of the hikers I saw there. Some were going to spend the night there while others were going to travel another 10 miles. Wow! I wasn’t going to go that far, but I wanted to go down a little because it was a little cold up there. Plus, my parents were meeting me in Hikertown for a visit. Another city day was calling!

I went down under the red light of the setting sun. Soon it became night and I had to take out the flashlight. It was cool to see the city light up in the distance and the little lights of cars moving along the road below.

I put on Maroon 5’s first album (a nostalgic classic for me) and danced down the mountain, enjoying every step. For some reason, tonight felt so perfect. The air was peaceful, cool and clear, and everything seemed very open.

I finally found a flat place to set it up where I could see the city lights below. I was able to chat with Janitor for a while during dinner before it was time to go to sleep.

And that’s a day in the life of a PCT SOBO hiker!

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.