Day 13 (14 April) - Mile 112.51 - 126.92

Campsite Along Agua Caliente Creek to Trail Angel Mike Herrera's House

Sleeping last night was pretty great with the sound of the stream just below us. We woke just after 7:00 AM and put into motion our daily ritual of getting dressed, packing the sleeping bag, deflating the air mattress, having breakfast, taking down the tent, and packing up our bags. Today we had the added chore of collecting and filtering 4 liters of water. Somehow we were able to do all this in our typical 2 hours it takes before we are ready to leave. Actually, for Barbra she was ready to leave in 1 hour 45 minutes so she took off and told us that she will go slow so we can catch up.

She was so rearing to go that we didn't take the daily picture until later in the afternoon, but I put it here in the blog out of time order:

Thirteen fingers for 13 days.

Today's hike was just incredible. It was mostly uphill which actually feels pretty good on the feet and legs. We started today at 2,990 feet and ended that day at 5,079 feet, so we gained 2,089 feet but with ups and downs actually climbed 3,790 feet. In short, we had a lot of climbing to do. However, the incredible scenery made the miles just pass by. Today was so diverse with mountain streams, high desert, boulder fields, and tremendous views.

Self-portrait with view.

Plenty of water in trail today.

A cactus growing by a stream...hum.

Brad keeping the sun out.

What a view.

Daily PCT sign of the day.

Oh...we finally caught up to Barbra around noon today. I guess that morning coffee really does work on her. After we caught up we had lunch and hiked another 2 miles to the next water source where we needed to filter water since we were planning on camping at a dry site, meaning there would be no water tonight.

We arrived at the side trail where the water was. Barbra decided to do more catching up with her Barre class again, so stayed at the top of the trail to watch our bags as Brad and I hiked down to the spring.

Barbra exercising.

Brad and I headed down for water

Lost Valley Spring.

After collecting and filtering water we had 5.18 miles to our planned campsite for the night. We were feeling pretty good about the time that I was able to convince Barbra to slow down and smell the flowers.

Beautiful, smelly flowers.

The scenery continued to amaze. Here we think we have a view of the boulder field we plan on sleeping in tonight.

Boulder field afar.

About 40 minutes later we were among the boulders.

Hiking among the boulders.

We finally arrived at mile 123.80 where we planned to spend the night, but we were worried about the wind and how exposed out potential tent site was. Brad recieved a message earlier in the day from Tim saying that there was predicted 40 mile per hour gusts tonight. When we arrived at the boulder field we believed it.

We now made the decision to hike an additional 3.23 miles up trail to a trail angel's house where we could hopefully find a tent spot protected from the wind...plus I heard that he put in a wood-burning pizza oven and makes pizza for hikers that stop in.

We we were all pretty tired, but was now motivated to hike the additional 3+ miles.

Incredible scenery.

Exactly 6:00 PM shadow.

Finally, after a tiring 1.5 hours we made it to the side trail that leads to Mike Herrera's house.

Finally here

We walked up the side trail and down a road for 4/10 mile and was welcomed by the following sign:

Thanks Mike, we will do that.

What a place this is. There are about 10 other hikers here when we arrive and the pizza was already being served. What a great, positive place to spend the night. The owner Mike wasn't around, Kennedy Meadows Tom was running the place. I remember him from 2 years ago. Kennedy Meadows is the last town you hit before heading into the Sierra Mountains. Tom helps out hikers there.

Also here was a hiker we met earlier in the day, Wonder Woman. She came off the trail 1 week ago in Warner Springs because of blisters. She hung out at a feiend's house for 3 days and then went to the hospital because the blisters were getting worse even though she was staying off of them. The doctor gave her antibiotics and bandaged up her feet. He told her to stay off her feet for 2 weeks. Four days later she is back on the trail with bandaged feet and sandals because shoes are too tight. This was her first day back on the trail and she hiked 18 miles. Uh...what the heck?!? I have a feeling she will be leaving the trail soon.

Trail angel Mike Herrera's house

Pizza being baked. Kennedy Meadows Tom on the right.

Incredible vegetarian pizza.

I think I ate at least half of the pizza, it was so good. We hung out a bit and talked to the other hikers then at 8:09 went back to the tent to warm up. The wind really is ripping tonight, but at least we have a flat tent site in a abandoned dirt road behind the house.

Since we hiked an extra 3 miles today, tomorrow we hike 3 less miles. Woohoo. Until then we say goodnight.

Pitched in an old dirt road.