Tehachapi gave us a welcome break. After leaving we felt ready to pound out the rest of our desert miles to reach the Sierras where beautiful vistas and most importantly cooler weather beckoned. The heat began to soar quickly as we climbed out of the wind farms causing us look for the only shade we could which ended up being under the highway underpass. We love feeling homeless sometimes. We all took a nap or siesta as traffic rumbled the ground above our heads. The remainder of our climb finally put us into the high desert, home to Pinion Pine, Juniper, and Sage. I felt right at home again as I've spent over 8 months calling that ecosystem my home working wilderness therapy outside Spring City, UT. This also gave us intermittent shade which was a relief from the desert heat. There hasn't been much water this last section so our packs have also been weighed down a bit with extra water. We've had to change our schedule to hike more at night as well when you don't need to drink as much per mile. One of the sections would have been near hell if it weren't for the amazing care of some Trail Angels who diligently stock two water caches. Without them we would've had close to a 50 mile stretch with no water. They got so little water this year that many of the springs have dried up. One of our siesta spots ended up being right in the middle of a burn area that must've burned only last year as there was literally no new growth and the ground was full of soot. At the end of our break we took a look at each other and could only laugh as we looked as if we were three year olds who and just been rolling around in ash and sap. So dirty, you simply learn to embrace it. The trail dipped out of the high desert for one last stretch of true desert. This stretch though was beautiful and well timed as we walked through hills of Joshua Trees as the sunset casting amazing shadows and leaving us with a very quiet sense of peace at the vastness that surrounded us.
Our next stop was Walker Pass where we were planning on going into Lake Isabella for a quick resupply. When we descended into Walker Pass in the dark we were expecting to have to hike 3 miles off trail to get to water but as we neared the sign for the campground we read a note that said, "come down to the blue tarp for some trail magic!" Yogi (A famous thru-hiker and PCT guidebook author) and Okie Momma had set up a feast. Because we got in so late 11PMish we picked through leftovers, ate fresh fruit, and chugged a few sodas and gatorades. We had no idea that this was here and it was a literal oasis. Yogi and Okie Momma come out for a couple weeks each year here and cook for hikers they also try really hard to make sure that no one advertises it so that it is a complete surprise for all the hikers that come in. The next morning they cooked all you can eat pancakes.
Our next stop was Walker Pass where we were planning on going into Lake Isabella for a quick resupply. When we descended into Walker Pass in the dark we were expecting to have to hike 3 miles off trail to get to water but as we neared the sign for the campground we read a note that said, "come down to the blue tarp for some trail magic!" Yogi (A famous thru-hiker and PCT guidebook author) and Okie Momma had set up a feast. Because we got in so late 11PMish we picked through leftovers, ate fresh fruit, and chugged a few sodas and gatorades. We had no idea that this was here and it was a literal oasis. Yogi and Okie Momma come out for a couple weeks each year here and cook for hikers they also try really hard to make sure that no one advertises it so that it is a complete surprise for all the hikers that come in. The next morning they cooked all you can eat pancakes.
Rain Maker had a close family friend who came and picked us up from Walker Pass and drove us into Lake Isabella for us to take care of our resupply. Again it is crazy and humbling how much others kindness is so needed and accepted on our journey. We got our shopping done, picked up some packages, and got a bit to eat. On our way out of town we decided to stop at Lake Isabella to swim. We'd be talking about this for days, it was one of our favorite subjects when sweat was running down our backs. It was funny to see all the locals out fishing as a group of 5 sweaty, homeless looking hikers clad in only underwear, jump in the lake, start showering, washing clothes and sprawl out as if this place was paradise. It was quite the contrast. We all felt very gypsy and nomadic as we rigged our clothes out to dry on whatever fence or thing we could find.
We enjoyed hiking out of Walker Pass as we'd now caught up with a lot of other hikers that we hadn't seen in awhile. The miles between the pass and Kennedy Meadows went quick and as we'd make our climbs we would catch sight of Mt. Whitney in the distance calling our name less than a hundred miles away. We crossed the mile marker indicating that we were a quarter of the way to Canada. It was rewarding and humbling at the same time as we now have to do what we just completed three more times.
We are now in Kennedy Meadows. Tom, a Trail Angel, has set his whole yard up for hikers. There are retro trailers set up as if in a trailer park/camp setting where hikers can sleep in a real bed. Our trailer is complete with a fenced in porch, pink flamingos out front, and a matching pink trailer. There is also a 9 hole frisbee golf course around his yard. Multiple guitars and hammocks scattered around and an outdoor amphitheater set up for movies at night. Hiker paradise. There is the one and only store here across the street with an amazing porch and burger shack where we all congregate, play games, and can shower and do laundry. There is no cell service here or even a gas station. Cameron and I are now waiting patiently, going on 4 days now, for AJ and Andrew to catch up.
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