Day 4 : Back to the desert

24th April 2013
Mile 53.5 to Mile 73.5 : Pioneer Springs to a small campsite overlooking Scissors Crossing
Today's Mileage : 20 miles.

To saw Ron and I waking up on our ledge overlooking the Anza-Borrego desert park, what a sunrise. It was such an exposed location that the sun shone hard on us right from the word go. I broke camp early determined to get the next waterless stretch to Rodriguez Spur Fire Tank, a distance of 15 miles, before the heat of the day. The first 9 miles were easy, the last 6 difficult. At the beginning we were averaging 3 miles an hour, a fantastic speed made possible by the cool high altitude early morning breeze and temperatures. We made it to mile 62 by 10am, just shy of the pct daily goal of 10 before 10. The next 6 miles were tough, very tough. My ankle was really starting to cause me pain, the trail for a lot of the last 3 days is slightly higher under the left foot as we've been contoring round hills and mountains, and the inside of my left ankle is took the full brunt of it and is now quite sore. The first of the next 6 miles was a steep descent, and it was like walking into an oven, we had no choice though but to carry on. We each only had 1.5 litres of water so there was no stopping, we had to get to the Rodriguez Spur Fire Tank where the water report assured us we could resupply on water. 5 miles is something I can usually cover in about 2 miles, but it took us more than 3, we staggered up to the water tank at 13:15 hot, tired and thirsty. My ankle was now not being helped by the extremely rocky terrain forcing it to bend everywhich way with each step, it was almost too painfull even after a couple vitamin I tablets. There was no shade at the fire tank except for the 30cm shadow cast by the tank itself, so Ron and lay almost hugging it for the next 4 hours as it slowly grew as the sun sank. By 5:30 my ankle was much recovered and it was cool enough to start moving again, so we set off again towards our next goal, a small campsite on an outcrop of rock overlooking the desert floor and scissors crossing at mile 73. I should say here that campsite here means there is enough space to sleep, nothing more. We made it tired but pleased at the end of a long and knackering day, I wonder how often I'll use those adjectives to describe a day on the PCT. Soon after we arrived at the campsite we were joined by Red Top, a 21 year old american college grad taking some time off before work. We sat talking to him in the evening while we ate before settling down for another night under the stars. His parting shot for the night was 'who wants some vodka?' He was carrying about half a litre of vodka with him using it as fuel for his stove, antiseptic for injuries, and to help knock him out every night. I don't usually drink vodka but enjoyed swigging it it with him while listening to the sound of Cayotes somewhere in the night on the desert floor below us. I hope they don't climb mountains otherwise they'll find 3 tasty treats waiting for them at the top of this one.