Miles 500-703

After having to get off trail for a few days due to illness, I was relieved to have a great stretch of trail between miles 500-703. 

Hiker Town: Mile 517

Hiker Town is very well known in the PCT community. It is a small establishment in the middle of nowhere right off the PCT at mile 517. As we got closer to Hiker Town, none of us really knew what to expect. A fellow hiker planned for a small gathering in Hiker Town. We had all been on trail for about a month. We kept hearing common names of hikers who were either slightly ahead or behind us. This gathering allowed for us to all spend a day in Hiker Town and get to know each other. The fellow hiker and the owner’s wife made some amazing Mexican dishes and dessert for everyone. 

Martha and the owner of Hiker Town were amazing. Their hospitality and willingness to help hikers was awesome. I would definitely say that all PCT hikers should take time to check out Hiker Town. It’s a unique experience and well worth it. 

LA Aqueduct

You read and hear about hikers hiking the stretch of the LA Aqueduct at night due to the exposure to the elements and lack of water. 

We didn’t have to worry about the heat, but we wanted to still experience the aqueduct at night. At 5:00 PM, we left Hiker Town and set off for the evening. We hiked 24 miles through the night and ended at Tylerhorse Canyon at 1:30 AM. Night hiking was a very rewarding experience. We had a beautiful sunset and the stars lit up the night. The following day, we hiked another 16 miles to avoid yet another snowstorm that was headed to Tehachapi.

True Angel

While in Tehachapi, we were walking to Walmart to resupply. A kind local pulled over and asked us if we needed a ride. She then brought us to Walmart, waited while we shopped, brought us to another store and then back to our hotel. 

I had been waiting for a new backpack to arrive in Hiker Town but it was delayed. While in Tehachapi I was trying to figure out how to get back to pick up my bag which was about an hour and 15 min drive.

I had mentioned this to the lady who picked us up. She then went home and quickly called me. She told me she would drop her van off at the hotel and allow me to use it to drive back to pick up my bag. This was an incredible act of kindness and trust. She didn’t claim to be a trail angel but, in my books, she must have been an angel in disguise. 

Miles near Tehachapi 

The miles after Tehachapi were my favorite miles so far. As the miles went on, it truly felt that we were leaving the desert section. We were welcomed by beautiful flowers, mountains, various rock formations, forested areas, and seasonal streams. It was beautiful and a great change in scenery. 

After being on trail for more than a month, it was interesting to see more hikers around Tehachapi. Prior to this, we would go days without seeing another hiker. We found out that many hikers were choosing to jump up to Walker Pass and hike south to avoid southern sections that continued to receive more snow.

Walker Pass: Mile 653

The 16 miles after Walker Pass were very challenging miles. After getting a hitch from the Walmart in Ridgecrest, we got on trail at 1:30 PM. The section was completely exposed, and it felt very hot (even though it was like 70 degrees). The section was very steep, rocky and there were still a few snow patches to traverse. However, after the challenging miles we camped at Spanish Needle Creek which was a forested area alongside a stream. The campsite was so peaceful. 

Trail Name 

I was named Roadrunner!! A section hiker named me! I had passed her on trail, stopped to eat, she passed me, and then I passed her again. The second time she said I was like roadrunner “beep beep” and that I left her in the dust. She said, “you are roadrunner” It’s a fitting name for me!

Hello from Kennedy Meadows South!

We arrived at Kennedy Meadows South on April 13!