Another long day but this one was the most brutal of all so far, even surpassing the "ow ow ow my foot hurts" days. The weather was over 90 and most of the 20 miles was uphill.

I was on the trail around 6:20am. Stopped at Tule spring/tank to get water and make breakfast. I had a picture here from 1996 and although the tank looks mostly the same, the surrounding area is much different. The most noticeable thing is that the tree behind the tank is completely burned now.

Marshall came down to where I was and got some water. He was going to try and make it to the paradise cafe for dinner. They closed at 8 so it looked like he would have time. I was planning on skipping it because it was a mile off the trail and I didn't want to get hung up there.

After having a dinner for breakfast (it helps to juggle them around since you might only have access to water once per day) I continued on. Ran into Joe and Nancy at Nance canyon of all places. I talked a bit and said I would see them down the trail...then casually walked back the direction I had come. After about 20 steps I realized that they were actually on the PCT and not a side trail. d'oh.

It started getting a lot hotter and my pace started slowing down a lot. I had, and was drinking, plenty of water; but none of it improved my pace at all. Eventually I reached a big cache of water that someone had left the previous day. Joe and Ramblin' were here under a tarp. Marshall was there too. Ramblin' was impressed with all my vacuumed sealed goods.

I realized it is much easier to put the dehydrated peanut butter in and on things rather than to tray and mix it up (eg make a total mess) and use it like normal peanut butter. Rails on Ritz I called it... everyone enjoyed it.

Marshall took off before I did. I had to get some photos of an incredibly shot up California road sign.

Joe and Ramblin were going to stay under the tarp until it got cooler. I couldn't stay under there any longer and just decided to keep moving.

It was a very hour and tiring 8.5 miles to the highway. The trail climbed and climbed and it had to have been over 90. By the time we got to the highway the thought of a burger and beer sounded really good. As much would have it there was a car waiting there for another hiker named Lucky. I had met Lucky once before. He is an older guy that walks almost 30 miles a day. The guy with the car was Lucky's brother Larry. Since Lucky was sti about. 30 min away, Larry gave us a ride to the Paradise Cafe which was about a mild away.

The burger and beer was great. Walked back and went down the trail. Stuff about Marshall's line, seeing other people there. Not camping at cafe.