Walked out of camp this morning at 7:30. It was a beautiful night crisp, a little cool. The stars and moon were amazingly bright. The sun is just poking over the mountain bringing a little bit of warmth, which is welcoming.
Last night was a dry camp. We started the trail with all of the water we would need for both yesterday and the first part of this morning. There is a water cache about a mile and a half ahead where we will refill our water for the remainder of today’s hike.
Today I encountered the Tall Tumble Mustard with long green stems, and white/yellow flowers and Cupped Leaf Ceanothus which has gray branches, green leaves, and white flowers
Golden Tufted Poppies, are beginning to pop up along the trail, along with Desert Bluebells.
A pipe gate :)
Just shy of a half a mile off trail is a water cache established by trail angel who provided 10 pallets of 1 gallon water jugs. Truly thankful for this thoughtful care of the trail hikers.
Today we regularly have had views of the valley and the mountain range beyond it that we came through just a couple short days ago
Wow, another pipe gate 4 Miles in now.
Today is somewhat interesting in that we follow parallel to the San Ramon Highway for a while, then turn and go far back into the interior of the canyons, and then return to parallel the highway again
We can see off in the distance the community of Rancherita, which is the town we will be going to tonight.
We stopped at a cave mile six for lunch took a little time just to lay in the sun and relax
Continuing down the trail we come up on the more amazing views of mountain and valleys
On this side of the mountain range, cacti have disappeared to be replaced with Red Shanks and lots of Muller’s Oak
This part of the trail is a steady, decent winding through multiple valleys. As I look ahead, I can see the trail two, three, sometimes four valleys away.
This is our first flowing water since we’ve left scissors crossing a welcome site. I drank a full liter.
Yes, 100 miles! The first major milestone
Another pipe gate. We met up with Matthew, a young hiker from Iowa. We had a good conversation on the trail.
As we dropped to the valley floor, we encounter tree cover from full-size mature trees which have replaced most of the scrub.
When we came to the end of the trail for today, we arrived at barrel springs. Trail angels had left some beers floating in the tub of cold water.
Ryan and I toasted each other for completing 100 miles.
Montezuma Valley market is a hiker friendly Resupply location they come to the trail head and pick you up. We called and had a ride waiting for us when we arrived. We spent the night here and head out again in the morning. I was able to use one of Montezuma‘s loaner robes. Well, I did get to do my laundry; Don’t judge 😂, you get what the trail gives.
Today is Miles 11.6 total trail miles 101.2
