Tehachapi Daily miles: 0 Planned camp so that I only had to hike maybe a third of a mile to the road, so we’ll call it a zero.  Wait for over an hour to get a hitch, but finally a ride arrives.  He talks about the seasons, the mining, the town of Tehachapi.  I ask … More June 4 (Day 34)

Tylerhorse Canyon to Tehachapi Willow Springs Road (541.5 to 558.5) Daily miles: 16.9 I’ve lost track of what “enough” means.  Full enough? Rested enough? Cold/hot enough?  I wake up shivering, covered in sweat.  I sleep under the stars, sand in my face, sleeping bag tossed open so that the desert creatures can come and lay … More June 3 (Day 33)

Horse Trail Camp to Tylerhorse Canyon (508.1 to 541.5) Daily miles: 33.4 10 miles straight down to the desert floor where the collection of buildings called Hikertown sits.  It’s a ramshackle place that some guy threw together that hosts hikers for the day or night, but most people just hide out there during the day … More June 2 (Day 32)

Upper Shake Campground to Horse Trail Camp (493.4 to 508.1) Daily miles: 14.7 I shake all the bugs that spent the night resting on my tent loose and they fall across the ground, dazed.  I try to shake the sleep from my eyes, but I’m just too groggy.  Coffee and poptarts go in, and I … More June 1 (Day 31)

Campsite at 468.2 to fire closure to 478.2 to Upper Shake Campground (493.4) 10 PCT miles + 12 mile detour around closure Daily miles: 22 “Blessings to you on your journey,” he says.   He’s lit a marijuana cigarette and he’s smiling at me.  “I hope it is a blessed journey.” I’m standing at his … More May 31 (Day 30)

Saufly’s Hiker Heaven to campsite at 468.2 (454.5 to 468.2) Daily miles: 13.7 The Saufly’s live in Agua Dulce and past Agua Dulce are the desert hills. I road walk a couple miles to the outskirts of town and the hills are yellow and brown from all the dried grass.  The scrub bushes are green … More May 30 (Day 29)

Campsite at 451.5 to Hiker Heaven in Agua Dulce (451.5 to 454.5) Daily miles: 3 Dew overnight, dry grass seeds stuck to everything in the morning, pack that weighs almost nothing.  No more water, no more food.  Only a couple early morning miles to town and resupply.  Stay with The Saufly’s, who are trail angels of … More May 29 (Day 28)

Messenger Flats Campground to 451.5 (430.4 to 451.5) Daily miles: 21.1 I’m beginning to worry about the snow in the Sierra, while at the same time becoming nostalgic for parts of the trail I’ve already gone through.  It can be hard to appreciate the daily miles of trail, so I try to focus on that … More May 28 (Day 27)

Sulphur Springs Camp to Messenger Flats Camp (407.1 to 430.4) Daily miles: 23.3 Last night was that loud kind of quiet, so I stuck in my earplugs.  Climbed up into a burn and the burn lasted all day.  The heat finally returned and it was so nice to hike and sweat and not feel numb … More May 27 (Day 26)

389.2 to Sulphur Springs Camp (389.2 to 407.1) Daily miles: 17.9 The 3rd PCT detour is today, this one because of an endangered mountain frog.  Luckily, it’s only a 4 mile closure and the subsequent detour is right about the same, requiring a 2.5 or so mile road walk and then a hike down a … More May 26 (Day 25)