Day 34 - Monday, May 31

Cowboy camping at Walker Pass Campground (mile 651.3).  Walked 20.5 miles today.

Jedi never showed up last night, but I expect he'll catch us today.  We woke up at 4:15am and were on the trail by 5:30.  Both of those are the earliest times for me so far on the trail.  Yesterday I realized I wanted to try to make it to Walker Pass today because it's Memorial Day and I think there's a really good chance of finding trail magic there.

I feel like I start most days like this: we began the day with a big climb.

We are both moving slowly.  I think we are still tired from yesterday and didn't get enough sleep last night.  After the climb, the trail wound around some mountains through a pine forest and I took a break a little after 9am.

Frank caught up to me and we rested for a while before packing up and hiking on.  We decided to meet at a campsite for lunch about 5 miles away from here.  I put on my music and jammed out to help get my energy levels up.  The trail turned into a 4x4 OHV path for a couple miles.  That made me nervous as I was afraid a vehicle would come up behind me at a high rate of speed.  Looking to the left though, I noticed that some of the mountains are starting to look a little like the upcoming Sierra which is exciting.  Got to the campsite, found some shade, and Frank turned up after about 10 minutes.  We ate lunch and then hiked the final 7 miles to Walker Pass.

The trail here was more exposed and shade less abundant than earlier in the day, but with great views.

Got to the campground and what I was hoping for.  Memorial Day trail magic.  We got some burgers, candy, and soda from some trail angels.  I also ate my first banana in probably a decade.  It wasn't as bad as I remember them being.

Hung out with Sam, Hannah, Forrest, and Arugula before heading to the only shady campsite, doing some journaling, and eating dinner.  Went back to the others and chatted again with Forrest and Arugula before they departed.  They're hiking another 5 miles tonight and they tried to get us to come with them.  It was tempting for me, but Frank is dead set on not doing any more miles today and I don't blame her.  We'll get up early to hit the big climb out of the pass before it gets too hot.

Jedi still didn't catch us, but we think he stayed back to help Tina Burina and AB through their injuries, so I guess we'll see him in a few days.

We heard from Old Dubs today.  She was having trouble getting a doctor to accept her Medicaid insurance, but managed to find a Russian doctor in LA who delt in cash.  She got x-rays and her ankle is just really badly sprained.  Hopefully she'll be back out here soon and will catch up to us.  Meanwhile, she's resting at her aunt's beachfront house near LA.  We're only slightly jealous...