Since we were staying an extra day, we joined the daily van trip to town. They would take us to REI, then In-N-Out Burger (unless anyone dared to request something different), then the grocery store. We were all excited to be out in real civilization for the first time in a month. Being caught in LA traffic was a new experience but couldn’t hold our interest for long. Before much time had passed we were starting to get hungry. This was also the first time we’ve been without easily accessible snacks and water in a month. How could we leave without something to tide us over? Since we couldn’t eat and couldn’t move around, we all defaulted to our 3rd instinctual behavior these days – sleep. Within 20 minutes of getting stuck in gridlock nearly all of the 12 hikers in the van were napping.

The rest of the day went more according to schedule and we got back to the Saufley’s to spend the afternoon packing up and relaxing. It was hot and we were glad we planned to hike out at night. We kept putting it off, but finally it was time and we caught the van back to the trail.

We made great time with the benefit of my new headlamp. After all the activity at the Saufley’s it was really pleasant to listen to the silence as dusk moved into night. We climbed but it seemed easier in the dark, just as it had after Cajon Pass. The Germans were hiking ahead of us and we kept seeing their headlamps up above us, letting us know how many more switchbacks we had left before the top.

By a little after 12 we had made it 10 miles and were on the lookout for a campsite. We found a little open patch in the juniper-manzanita scrub and settled in for a few hours of rest. I’ve never fallen asleep so fast.

– Posted from the PCT

Location:Pct mile 466