& meetup with Devon & Paul

Woke up showered and ate an amazing Burrito breakfast made by Devon. Leftover smoked meets, eggs, cheese 🤤 - so good!

Just after finishing breakfast we saw an outdoor cat run by with a mouse in its mouth!

Devon and Paul drove me to the trailhead and dropped me off - they don’t want to do the 8 mile stretch of wind farm hiking - so I’m going solo.

I forgot my trekking poles but will manage for this stretch as I’m slack packing (carrying a small bag with mostly water and snacks until we reconnect). NEW SHOES today too!!

Hiking up near and around another section of the wind farm. Rolling grassy hills - cows and bulls in pasture.

Many gates to open and close as I pass through. (Gotta keep those cows under control).

Big mining operation visible - they’re tearing down a mountain bit by bit. There’s a huge concrete factory near here - the mountain is likely destined to become concrete - sad.

Some sections of the trail are washed out and require hiking up higher to a passable spot (usually less washed out where you can jump-step across) and then back down to meet the trail again.

So many lizards 🦎 and horny toads today!!

Random bench on a high point - sat and had a snack. You can see the freeway from here - where I’ll be meeting Steven & Devon & Paul.

Sketchy bridge crossing and many switchbacks down to the road.

Road walk for about 2 miles, including a railroad crossing and freeway overpass crossing.

Waited about ~10 minutes for Steven and crew to arrive. Refilled water and rearranged bags - back to my big bag and lots of water = heavy.

We hiked along Hwy 58 for a few miles. Many semi trucks and cars zipping by. Several trains chugging along too.

Eventually we turned away from the road and started to climb up - many switchbacks - Joshua trees all over and Big brown mountains with chickens not rocks and boulders.

The higher we climb the slower the big semi trucks, cars and trains look to be moving - and they get smaller and smaller.

Leapfrog lges with two hikers M & M most of the day.

Eventually made it to our goal mileage and campsites for the day - nice and early so we can relax a bit. Setup, made dinner and hung out.

Read in the tent and finished my book: The Vegetarian, by Han Kang - very good book!

Started a new book: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, by Truman Capote

@ 6112 ft. Elevation