Wednesday May 23
Start: Mile 298
End: Mile 318
I decide not to take the Deep Creek detour and head for the hot springs. I stop for breakfast at mile 301, Devil’s Hole and go for a swim. At noon I reach the hot springs. They are indeed hot. Weird things grow in them. A hiker told me about a deadly amoeba that can kill you if it enters your body through your nose if you swim in the hot spring. Not possible; much too small. Nobody is in them. People are camping on the beach on the other side of the creek. I find an empty beer bottle. There goes my plan to Leave No Trace and carry out other people’s garbage too, if I find it. That cardboard cup I found at the bridge and two empty cans, OK, but glass bottles? I make miso soup for lunch and put my new solar charger in the sun. It has been hanging on my pack this morning, but isn’t fully charged yet. In the full sun it takes minutes. The wind is cool. The heat is reflected by the soil, the air itself is almost perfect. If I were alone, I’d take all my clothes off and go swimming again, like this morning. I think about my mileage. On the one hand, I’d like to do another 25 miles today. On the other hand: Why hurry? I have plenty of food (too much) and its beautiful in Deep Creek as long as I can avoid the crowded areas that are just filthy. Someone defecated on the trail, leaving used toilet paper and all. I just need to find a place to camp. That’s not easy: for the most part, the pct is high above the creek and very narrow. I may have to go another 10 miles at least. I do another 10, past the Mojave Dam, which looks like some giant land art project , through the Mojave River bed and finally back into the hills. Ramen for dinner. Too spicy. I’m going to try to reach the McDonalds at Mile 342 tomorrow.
