PCT Day 9: Mike’s Place & Beyond

Daily Miles: 21.6, Total Miles: 136.6

While packing up, a hiker camping nearby said, “Purple Haze, I found my first white roses on the PCT!”. I said “Nice” thinking that Puppy must be a botanist because she commented on the diverse flora the day before. She said, “Purple Haze, white roses are used toilet paper!”. Now I know.

A steady 2,000 ft climb out of the Agua Caliente drainage to the boundary of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

I had lunch and restocked water at trail angel Mike’s place, a nice setup with even a shack and motorhome for hiker use. Several other hikers were there including a recent high school graduate, Tumbleweed. I told him that I wanted to hike the PCT at his age but wasn’t able to. He said, “Can I ask you when you graduated from high school?”. I responded, “1973”. Tumbleweed said, “Wow, that would have tough – that was before trail angels!”. Yes, BTA.

Another hiker was curious about my trail name. She told me that several years ago after some hard partying, she saw a purple haze for quite some time. I said, “Sorry, get your own trail name”.

From Mike’s, a short climb, one more snake and 10 miles downhill to Tule Springs, good water and campsites.