Day 45 (3 June) - Mile 468.23 - 478.23

Campsite at Mile 468.23 to Casa de Luna

What a night. As soon as I finished blogging and tried to fall asleep, 3 hikers entered my area and stopped to camp for the night. This would have been fine except they talked till about 11:00 PM. I was then finally able to sleep and then at 12:30 AM another hiker stopped and pitched his tent right at my head pounding his stakes in. His noise lasted at least 30 minutes and then I was finally able to sleep.

Then at 5:00 AM I heard voices of hikers passing through that woke me up and at 5:15 I decided to rise as well.

When I exited my tent, The 3 loud hikers were gone, but the tent at my head was still there. I started taking my tent done being somewhat quiet unlike they were last night. When he finally exited I gave a less than welcoming "Hey" and he just heyed back. The least he could have done was apologize for coming in so late, but no such thing.

I quickly ate breakfast and packed my bag and was ready to hike at 6:33 AM, a record early start time and a record leaving camp time.

A bit early, but ready to go.

Today I have 10 miles to hike to get to Casa de Luna, a trail angel's house that is very well known to all PCT thru-hikers.

The good thing about starting early is that I should be able to beat the heat and get to town before noon. Although waking up early wasn't fun, at least I get to hike much of today in the shade.

Hiking on the shady side of the mountain.

At 8:20 AM, after hiking almost 2 hours, I was ready for my self-portrait.

Self-portrait "2 hour done by 8:20"

Pretty much all of the day there was the same beautiful view of desert mountains.

Typical mountain view.

The trail behind me.

Today's PCT sign of the day is unique being a shovel.

PCT sign of the day.

Just after 10:00 PM the town was in view.

Almost there.

I arrived down to the road, completing 10 miles by 10:23 AM. 10 miles in 4 hours is pretty good for me considering I usually hike 2 miles per hour, today I upped it to 2.5 miles per hour and I did this without taking a break.

​Due to a fire in 2013, the next 15 miles of the PCT is closed, but I'm not dealing with that today. Today I am going to spend the rest of the day at Casa de Luna.

Closed section of the trail.

Before walking to Casa de Luna, I stopped at the ranger station for water and to eat lunch. I was starving. I then walked the 2 miles to Casa de Luna.

​Casa de Luna is the home of trail angels the Andersons. They have been hosting hikers for 17 years. This is what I saw when I arrived just after noon:

Casa de Luna.

I set up my tent in the manzanita trees behind their house and then planted myself in a chair in the shade in front of their house for 6 hours without barely getting up. A lot of hikers I met in the past 12 days back on the trail were there, so we passed the time talking.

Hikers kept walking to the convenience store and buying beer and putting it into the community beer coolers. If you wanted a beer you just helped yourself. If you find yourself drinking more than a couple, then you walk to the store and replenish. Somehow this system seemed to work. Believe it or not, I wasn't in the mood to drink, so I just sat back and enjoyed the show.

Community beer coolers being replenished.

Whenever a car went by I wondered what the neighbors thought about this daily party going on for a couple of months a year, but everyone honked and waved. One guy actually stopped his truck and asked if we see interested in some leftover cake from a graduation party. Everyone yelled "Yes" and dug in. About 1 hour later the guy reappeared and asked if we wanted leftover sandwiches and salads from the party. Everyone clapped and said "Yes". Here is the crowd rushing to the free food:

Leftover party food for hikers.

I was getting pretty hungry for dinner, but was told not to cook because taco salad is served every night. I waited and waited, and finally, just before 7:30 PM, dinner was served.

The makings for taco salad.

I was third in line, just behind the volunteer cooks...I told you I was hungry. Here is my masterpiece:

Taco salad for dinner.

After dinner I was pretty ready to go back to the tent since I did have an early night. But first I have to sign the Class on 2016 sheets:

A lot of hikers have come through here so far!

My new logo.

Finally I headed back into the Manzanita forest and somehow remembered where I pitched my tent. Quiet hours are theoretically at 10:00 PM, but I'm bit holding my breathe. I am going to use my ear plugs tonight with all the tents around.

Tomorrow is a 12.5 mile road walk to get around the closed section of the PCT. Brad did it last week and said it wasn't bad, but it is supposed to be over 90 degrees tomorrow so I should get an early start....well maybe I will get an early start. We shall see.

My tent among other tents in the manzanita trees.