PCT Day 26

 

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PCT Day 26, 07 June 2022 (Tuesday)

"An Unfair Wind"

Start Location:	Hiker Town	Destination:	Wilderness Campsite
PCT Miles Day 26:	27.5	Cum PCT Miles:	545.1
Non-PCT Miles Day 26:	0	Cum All Miles:	571.3
PCT Miles Remaining:	2,107.5
Elevation Gain Day 26:	3,583	Cum Elevation Gain:	91,340

The wind was blowing pretty hard all night, and was still going pretty good when I left like Hiker Town.  However, as soon as I turned eastward, the wind which should have been at my back and helping me, just died.  Later, when the trail made a major switch of directions again, a strong wind picked up again.  It took a lot of effort to hike into this wind, the kind you need to really lean into.

It’s a few miles walk from Hiker Town to get to the LA aqueduct.  There is an impressive amount of water that’s flowing through that thing.  For about 17 miles you are walking near, or in the vicinity, of the aqueduct facility.

It’s the longest stretch of flat walking on the PCT so far, and maybe the longest of the entire PCT.  But this does not mean it’s necessarily easy hiking.  This time of year you are walking under the hot sun and there is almost no shade for over 17 miles until you get to Cottonwood Creek Bridge.

All the PCTers pile under the bridge since it provides much desired, and needed, shade.  Many people rest there for multiple hours until it gets cooler in the late afternoon when they resume hiking.  There is also usually water provided there, as there was today.  This water comes at a very good spot as most people have consumed most of what they had at the beginning of the day.

After leaving the bridge, you spend a fair amount of time hiking through a large wind farm.  Of course, everything seems more expansive when you are experiencing it on foot--like walking around your neighborhood vs. driving  though it.  The wind farm I will be walking through tomorrow will be magnitudes larger.  Walking through the wind farm wasn’t unpleasant at all, though, except fighting the wind.

Good, sheltered campsites are very rare in the area I’m at tonight.  So, my tent is very exposed to the winds.   I think it’s going to get a real wind tunnel test tonight.

 

Walking along the Los Angeles Aqueduct in the morning

 

 

The reality of what 90% of the trail along the aqueduct looks like

 

Windmills peeking over the hills

 

 

This part of the PCT has an easement on private land, and this is a reminder to the workers there to watch out for us hikers

 

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