The Pacific Crest Trail: A hike by Patrick J Griffith: Day 43 : The hunters

1st June 2013
Mile 583 to mile 602 : Golden Oak Spring to Robinbird Spring
Mileage : 19
Impossibly today was even hotter than the day before, and just to make life more enjoyable the trail lead through a huge burn area, meaning there wasn't even shade at the beginning of the day as is the norm. By the end of the morning i was thoroughly miserable, but then suddenly everything changed. I rounded a corner and discovered the most welcome trail magic yet, provided by a group of hunters geting some practice in with their bow and arrows before season begins at the end of the summer. Although they have been camping at the same spot right on the trail every year for several years, they have only met a couple of other hikers, and wern't expecting PRT to rock up en masse. It was amazing, they plied us with soft drinks, beer (i only had a couple though i promise), bbq and more, and even gave me an archery lesson. As i said it was unbelievable. We took full advantage of the hospitality provided by Art, his son Christopher, Rick and Chris while waiting for the temperature to drop. It took a long time, but the hunters were so entertaining the time went quickly telling us tales of their hunting exploits over the years. Up in the woods where we were they hunt primarily deer and bear, and although hunting is not my thing, i can understand the appeal. They only use bow and arrows meaning they have to get within 50 yards of their prey, requiring significant skill on their part. And in many ways they were strikingly similar to us hikers. They enjoy the same sort of outdoor adventure we do, and have the same respect that we do for the countryside through which we hike and the wildlife we encounter, except they swop the hiking paraphernalia for the hunting equivalent. Thoroughly re-envigorated after an afternoon playing hunter, we ventured back out into the sun. Several hours later we arrived in the dark at the designated campsite and set about cooking and sleeping. Before going to bed we noticed a red glow.in the sky on the horizon towards the south. We reckon this is the Powerhouse fire burning 100 miles to the south raging through the chapparel near the Andersons. I hope i gets put out quickly.