Slept like garbage - I kept slipping off my sleeping pad. Also heard mice scratching and exploring around the tent last night.

Walked to water cache near the road and passed two wonderful campsites - next time don’t settle (no matter how tired).

Filled up water and hiked for several miles through verdant green mountains - covered in brush and shrubs and oaks - looks like mountains covered in giant broccoli 🥦 🥦 🥦

Stopped for a snack after about 7 miles and met ‘Two Trees’ a trail angel 😇. She was just setting up for some trail magic and invited us over. We enjoyed her company and that of another hiker called ‘Colibri’ which means hummingbird in Spanish. We dined on fresh watermelon 🍉, chocolate chip cookies, chips, Coca-Cola and coconut water 🤤.

After a few hours of hanging out we filtered water at the station and soaked our shirts as it’s HOT again with full sun and we have a climb.

As we climb we can see, far in the distance, what awaits us in a few days - the desert covered with windmills and the aqua ducts.

Beautiful flowy trail, gives a bit of deja vu in the afternoon as we wind in and out and around the mountain at a slow descent. White sand and rocks are visible as the vegetation has thinned out.

We are rewarded at the bottom with a creek and a water cache. We rest for a while before one last climb to camp.

The wind appears out of nowhere as we get higher - we found a somewhat secluded spot to camp with a bit of a windbreaker.

Get ready for bed and eat in the tent - cold soaked ramen tonight too windy to cook!

@ 4232 ft. Elevation