May 28 Hiking was extremely hot and dry all day. The desert portion was not something I wanted to have to tackle, however I am really glad I started at Walker’s Pass and experienced the tail end of the hot, sandy and sweaty portion of the PCT. How the hikers that started in Campo made it across the desert with the heat and 70 mph winds I have no idea! I give each and everyone of them mad props! I hike the desert at South Mountain often, but I can turn around and jump into my car with AC if it is too hot. They are super human for sure! 
​Mike is an amazing hiking buddy! He has helped me is so many ways- lots of hiking tips, filters water like a champ and even has helped me adjust my backpack because apparently it is the wrong size and my torso is too long for the pack. It is kind of humorous to think I am actually too tall for something! Because the pack doesn’t fit right I have been having a very hard time carrying the load without having to readjust about every 50 steps. As if I’m not moving slowly enough trying to acclimate to the heat, energy exertion and elevation. Oh yes- let’s not forget the fact that I have a new layer of skin made out of salt. I’m sure a shower will feel like a salt scrub massage! 

We hiked to Spanish Needle Creek and decided to set up camp close to the water that way we wouldn’t have to start off in the morning without a full load of fresh water. The last 3 miles to camp were kinda scary for me as I ran out of water and was on the verge of crawling by the time I made it to the creek. Luckily Mike (Treetop) was sitting there waiting for me with 2 liters of cold fresh filtered water. I drank half of it in one swig! Lessons learned are in abundance each day out here! 
In spite of all of that I am still happy with each step and in awe around every corner.