Morning I got up with the most of the group and started packing/chatting. Gal named Skids took off with 35 at some ungodly hour. I packed and left behind most of the group at about 6:30….but not Late Start. She was just getting out of her sleeping bag.  Sometimes, tail names just fit.

Today is a mostly downhill trek to scissors crossing. Most folks are picking up a hitch into Julian to get their free pie. I’m betting the guys will be doing the same, so this is my chance to jump ahead.  As I was headed downhill I texted Storm. He was approaching Scissors and I was 5 miles behind.  They want pie.  My plan is working out.

Met Endless (firefighter from MA) and his wife QB.  We chatted for a few miles into Scissors around noon.  I hung out under the overpass making lunch with the non-pie-people: Graceland and Riverwolf. Trail angels had dropped plenty of water.

While I’m eating my lunch I’m watching Graceland dumping crap out of his pack and into the hiker box. Playing cards, extra foot powder, etc. Then he is holding this liter bag full of Bourbon Whisky. He’s like, “I’ve been carrying this since Campo and it is too heavy.”   He is about to dump a liter of Tennessee’s finest into a bush!  I hold out my cup and fill up.   It is a nice complement to my dehydrated beef stroganoff.

After that it was back on the trail and a some sweaty climbing. 80’s and sun, but the wind is blowing so things are working out. Graceland and I were lapping each other. Boy has grit. He is carrying a 75 liter gregory pack that is actually even bigger than mine.
I was hoping to make the 3rd gate cache but the legs are not cooperating. I was bit concerned about some big wind blowing up and settled on a rather small spot that was well well sheltered. There is some room for another tent below me.

I setup my tent, had dinner, and climbed inside.   I’m laying there in the twilight admiring the view when Stormtrooper hikes up.  He was rocking the miles trying to catch me. 15 minutes later the Anthony and Bryan show up. After much debate, the 1 person tent site below me becomes a 3 person site. Their tents were all bumping into each other and all twisted up. I got to watch all this from the comfort of my tent. I tried to help with some cynical comments.

Anthony is crouching over his stove making dinner in the tiny space available.   All of the sudden he jumps up.  He sat on a cactus and now has a bunch of thorns sticking out of his ass.   Takes him 10 minutes to get that taken care of, after which his dinner is lukewarm.   Living in the desert can be harsh.