Mile 551: One Pair of shoes down... ? to go?

This is the final hello from the desert: a beauty for sure but, like the best, a terrible ruthless one at that. Everything is prickly, cranky, and generally pissed off; I don't much blame it, especially between the hours of 1:30 and 4:00pm. Even still I wouldn't trade a single degree drop in temperature for what I've seen during the past four weeks. Its also a farewell to my first pair of shoes, worn down to the nubs by the hot, gritty sand terrain:



The permanent, "lifer" Trail Angels in this section lived up to their reputation: so many thanks to the Saufley's in Agua Dulce (a huge operation with large tents with cots, air conditioned hiker-trailer with A.C., kitchen, and shower, and wonder-woman Donna holding the show together), the Anderson's in Green Valley (these guys cook dinner and breakfast for 20+ hikers every day in addition to not only rehydrating and putting up with but keeping up with the drunken party-hikers) and Bob at Hikertown, who provided much needed mid-day shade and glorious water.


Surreal things happen daily, but this one was pretty cool. Two black Wild Mustangs from a herd of about 100 watched us carefully from the hills of a windfarm.


Fellow hiker Colorblind represents. She hiked all but 200 miles before dropping off in Northern Washington last year, and is an amazing resource for everything from watersources and landscape changes to creepy sections in towns to be avoided.



View from Rooster Crest. Awesome camping to be had in it's saddle. I usually try to camp in an exposed spot with my head to the west and feet to the east: there is nothing like waking up with the sun rising at your feet.