May 8, 2007

I emerged from my tent and sleepily sauntered over to the pit toilet to retrieve my food bag from the roof.  I was pleased to see my pack was intact.  After getting it down, my curiosity got the best of me and I sniffed it.  Distance hikers smell everything and usually the response is....ugh! My backpack passed the sniff test.  I smelled my breakfast bars upon opening too. I'm not sure why.  I was going to eat them no matter what.

I began today's hike by 9:00 a.m. from Little Jimmy Spring Campground. Bison Ed and I had planned to hike 16.7 miles.  Instead, we hiked 22.5!  I ascended Mt. Williamson to 7,900 an elevation of feet and descended to Highway 2.  I crossed the highway several times today and was even re-routed out of the mountains to walk the highway.  They are protecting an endangered frog so the government thought it best that hikers hike along the highway.  Perhaps the government should also consider the hikers' safety as well by adding a marked path.  My highway hike was hot and there was a lot of fresh blacktop.

I took a break on the highway for lunch in a rare shaded spot.  Some passersby waved, others did not.  Ed hiked up and we hiked together until Glenwood Camp.  I cleaned off at a running water spigot and rinsed out some of my clothes.  Ed and I agreed that Three Points would be our stopping point and I hiked on.  I unknowingly did a loop-de-loop and ended up back at Glenwood Camp.  I was now behind Ed and when I got to Three Points, I took a break and hiked on figuring Ed will set up camp within a mile.

When I had gone more than a mile, I figured I'd be camping alone tonight. So I made the decision to press on in order the be able to camp at Sulfer Springs where I would have access to water and hopefully bear boxes.  I inadvertently took the PCT's horse trail and saw Ed in the distance.  Whew!  Lucky for me Ed had also taken the horse trail.  There were not bear boxes at this camp so we hung our food.  As I was falling asleep, I could hear tree branches cracking in the distance.