May 19, 2013
25 miles today

Woke up cold. Moved out chasing the warmth of the sun. Smiled when I found it. The oatmeal kicked in and my pace quickened. I often imagine stevedores, like on the Titanic, inside my body. Shoveling coal into the boilers, quickly or slowly, depending on my need for speed. It’s a fun image.

As I made my way down the path, I hoped Stupid and Dumbass would not mistake me for game and do something unpleasant with their crossbows. Yesterday, when they passed our camp, S&D told of lunch. Two eight inch trout and stinging nettle salad. I love this stuff.

Arrived at the bridge over Deep Creek and watered up. There Slack did a yoga move off the rail of the bridge, high over the creek below. Once again confirming his low regard for the implications of risk. Another 5 miles brought me to the hot springs at Deep Creek. They were a good five miles as I had a sweeping conversation with Rocks, a thru hiker in the same chapter and place as me in life. Conversations tend to be very good while hiking, as they are free from intrusion and interruption. One can only walk and listen.

The Deep Creek Hot springs were quite the dynamic. In any given pool, one would find families, nudists and thru hikers with bad feet sitting side by side. As it was Sunday, the crowds were large and animated.

Then it was back to the North. Foot by foot, until an arrival. The trail climbed high on the canyon wall above Dry Creek. It paralleled an old, forgotten aqueduct. The temperature hovered around 100 degrees.

And then, a scene not predicted. A family sitting in the shade with two large, panting Newfoundland dogs and a new litter of pups. Bizarre and sad, as I don’t think the pups were long for this world due to the heat.

At the canyon mouth, the Mojave River Valley stretched low and far. Deep Creek exited as we did, humiliated by four-wheelers diving through her and over her protected and endangered toads.

Eventually we stopped for the night by a small stream where I write this by headlamp under a half moon.

And, so, I say goodnight.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

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