October 22

We have a southbound caravan for the first time on the trail. It consists of 8 hikers and we are getting an idea of what the northbound "pack" must be like. All are committed and driven hikers and the energy of the group is incredible. Bobcat, who has already finished the trail, pointed out Poodle Dog Bush right by our campsite this morning. It can be harmful and has sent hikers to the hospital in some extreme cases. It's good to know what the plant looks like in its late stage because all of the pictures I have are from it in full bloom earlier in the season.

We hiked down from the elevation and into the Mojave Desert this morning. I found out quickly just how fast an ultralight hiker walks right away after hiking a few miles with Bobcat. The rest of our group consists of Nat and Jane from Alaska Ryan and Marie from Hawaii, Tom "Special Ops" from New Zealand, Louis "Sugar Side Down" from France, Joshua Stacy "Bobcat" from San Francisco Bay Area, and myself "Puppeteer". We all hiked the flat desert along the aqueduct together and pulled a 31 mile day to "Hiker Town". This is an interesting stop, and I have heard the words "eccentric", "crazy", "unique" etc. to describe it. There are old and new campers and trailers for us to stay in and they have been really generous about trying to get us anything we need. I'm crashing on a couch that feels like the most comfortable thing I have ever slept on, and I'm sure that the 31 miles of hiking has something to so with that.