Day 37 – Friday, June 30

PCT Mile 623.5 to PCT Mile 651.3, Walker Pass Campground

Day Total: 27.8 Miles

We reached an amazing water cache with some special trail magic at Bird Spring Pass dirt road after a couple hours of hiking this morning. We sat in the shade for a while and enjoyed some Pop Tarts from the cooler.

There was also a solar charger ,which we used to charge our phones. We also chugged water, in preparation for the long, dry stretch ahead. 

After the water cache we had a big climb, almost 2,000 feet over three miles. The trail was pretty gradual, following long switchbacks to the top of the ridge. We could see long views of the desert to the south.

Over the top of the ridge, we got a far off, hazy view of the Sierras, and could just barely make out Mount Whitney. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the continental U.S., and we'll attempt to hike it as a side-trip in a couple weeks. 

Just as quickly as we got to the top, the trail descended back to the heat below. We walked down for something like four miles and then had several more miles of ups and downs. 

Just after 9 p.m. we got to Walker Pass Campground, a drive-in campground with real pit toilets!

Our friend 3G was already there and saved us a spot in a flat area. We cooked some rice for dinner and the three of us ate at a picnic table, a real luxury compared to sitting in the dirt like we usually do. Fancy stuff.