Hannibal's Pacific Crest Trail Chronicle

I am definitely in the desert, in the summer, in the middle of a heatwave even by desert standards for the time of year. It has been well over 100 degrees the past couple of days, and if forecasters are to be believed could get as high as 115 before Wednesday, when the heat is supposed to break. What was really perverse was hiking in this heat, and for part of the trail, hearing the flow of water beneath me. This was not some kind of auditory mirage, rather, the Los Angeles aqueduct flowing down from the Sierra Nevada. Needless to say, I took refuge for a day in this town, in the air-conditioned comfort of a Motel 6 room.

In another week, I'll be in the Sierras, contending with what was an unusually high snow year there. What a difference a week will make.

The town of Mojave itself is essentially a big rest area, motels and fast-food restaurants, with a big parking lot for planes. Strange, but true. Apparently, if airlines find themselves with too many planes they park them here until they need them. This is the pride of Mojave along with the numerous wind turbines that dot the landscape, according to my conversations with a few locals. The people seem friendly enough, and very curious about life outside the desert, giving me a visitor-from-another-planet feeling.

I don't expect I will have the opportunity to blog again for at least a couple of weeks because of the remoteness of the Sierras, but when I do, I should have a lot to say. They are the crown jewels of this hike. Mt Whitney, the John Muir Trail (which coincides with the PCT for over 200 miles and is considered by many to be the best hiking trail in the world), Yosemite, and much more.

While I have another week of desert, there is much to look ahead to. Thanks for looking ahead with me.