We slept in again this morning, although that really just means until 6. We were on the trail by about 6:30, and it was a warm morning from the start. We walked through a burn area for most of the day that has the entire forest closed except for the PCT corridor. Even camping is not allowed for about a 14 mile stretch. In the middle of the burn area is a ranger station and picnic area. The ranger keeps a water cache for the hikers, and a cooler of soda for a dollar donation to the trail crews. We stayed in the shade drinking water and soda for a long time before we headed out on a hot 8 mile stretch to Acton, where there is a KOA just off trail. As we approached the road, we ran into the trail angel Coppertone for the third time! He gave us root beer floats again, then we headed to the campground. What a terrible place. Huge tents crammed into every corner. We grabbed some refreshments at the camp store and decided to head on. We went another 6.6 miles to mile 451, just past the tunnel going under CA highway 14. We are camped alone tonight, first time on the PCT. Tomorrow we have only 3 miles into Agua Dulce. We walked 24 today. We are going to try and slow down over the next couple of weeks because we don’t want to get to the Sierra before June 15 due to the high snow pack this year.
No, I don’t think you are KOA peeps at this point. Ahoy there!