Day 45: 566-583

Because the heat was expected to be so intense, and this next stretch of the trail has the least amount of water of the entire PCT, we decided to hang out all day in town and then hitch a ride to the trail head at 6 or 7pm for a long night hike.

Spacejam and I hung out at the motel in Mojave until the bus came. We took the bus to tehachapi and met up the rest of the crew at a bakery. They were chilling with a trail angel named Jim, who offered to bring us over to his ranch to check out his animals and 23 acres of property before giving us a ride to the trail head. Of course we went!

He and his wife's ranch is beautiful. They have 4 horses, 3 goats, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a dozen chickens. He brews his own beer in the barn and gave us some pints while we waited. In the back of my head I was getting more and more nervous about the next 85 miles of the trail.

Jim wrestling his pet goat, Gita.  

Jim wrestling his pet goat, Gita.  

oh hey a horse  

oh hey a horse  

I was informed that this murder mask is keep flies from laying eggs in her eyes  

I was informed that this murder mask is keep flies from laying eggs in her eyes  

jim's cave  

jim's cave  

We all jumped in Jim's truck and headed to the PCT/HWY 58 intersection. The sun was almost down and it was extremely windy. The night hiking began. I was last in the pack for a few hours, and told myself that I just needed to hike my own hike..."stop trying to keep to others more ambitious schedules."

oh fuck me

oh fuck me

After 6 hours of hiking through treacherous and rocky cliffs I was caught up to Mowgly and Ten Gallon. We made it to the water source 17 miles in. It was 2am. There were so many scary bugs out at night I decided I was going to set up my tent to sleep. I passed out in about 10 minutes.

at night you can see everything  

at night you can see everything  

Day 43/44: zero in Mojave

Not much to report today. Been hanging out with Mowgly, Spacejam, Speck, Ten Gallon, Scottie, and of course, Jessica. Going to relax today and tomorrow.


Anxiety fills me about the Sierra. In under 2 weeks I will be entering, and I'm secretly scared shitless. Snow reports, river crossings, and high altitude passes are producing unsettling stories already. I really want to try and stick with this crew.

Day 42: 554-558

Sunrise was absolutely fucking beautiful this morning. I slept on a hillside overlooking the Tehachapi wind farms. The sun pierces through the hundreds of spinning blades. The turbines sleep at night and slowly get started in the morning, just like me.

My mansion

My mansion

Getting some shade and shut eye in the blistering heat 

Getting some shade and shut eye in the blistering heat 

​I hiked super slow and listened to my knee. No pain like last night. A quick 4 mile descend over 1800 feet down to the highway. I got to the highway and was immediately greeted by Captain America and a trail angel. She gave me a ride with her dogs to Mojave and dropped me off at the best western. Sadly, the only thing I wanted was not a shower, but a cigarette. Jessica is going to meet me here and hang out with me today.

Hitch doggies  

Hitch doggies  

​Literally everything that has touched my skin smells like shit. I'm going to do some serious laundry and clean out my gear today. It's amazing what one week can do to all of your hiking gear. I can't wait to smell like fake angels (laundry detergent) again.

She brought me detergent ❤️ 

She brought me detergent ❤️