Smokey the fire safety bear says run to safety

Miles: 8.2 + 9.9 side trail
Start time: 7:02am
End time: 8:15pm
High / Avg / Low temp: 78.9F / 64.8F / 50.1F
Relative Humidity Avg: 47.2%
Injuries: none to report

We woke this morning with a dusting of ash from the nearby forest fires, just a subtle reminder I suppose that nature is angry about that lightning storm from yesterday.

We bumped into a ranger today and he told us that 2000acres was on fire and 0% contained, we didn't see any flames while hiking though, just smells and smoke plume.

Our camp site turned out dandy and 2 other tents were snuck into the rocks nearby.  The skeeters were still mostly asleep when we packed up and fled, we skipped breakfast though to put some distance between us..

The first 6 miles was downhill and very pretty as we wandered down the canyon I guess you'd call it, with plenty of water and streams among the trees.  After 4 miles we stopped to filter water and eat, given I missed dinner last night I decided to cook a meal, and I poured the last of my bacon bits in it, so good..

Soon enough we hit the last of the downhill and started the few miles up to get to the side trail exit, which was longer than what we spent on the pct today, but what are you gonna do? It started to rain though, and the smell of burnt stuff intensified, we didn't meet any pct hikers today until we started on the exit trail, then only 2.  Plenty of jmt hikers, and while on the downward slope of the exit trail (after 4 miles up to kearsarge pass at 11,900ft) a herd of teenagers being marched up the slopes, perhaps as punishment for something, none of them looked like they were having a good time..

The last miles dragged on, and we felt like we were descending forever, but finally we hit the car park and the challenge to find a hitch began.  We walked a lil out of the car park and stuck out our thumbs, 2hrs later a day hiker we passed going up the hill pulled over and helped us out.  We were lucky that he was heading past lone pine so we booked a room there and counted ourselves lucky.  The hot tub and pool is definitely needed after this last stretch, our poor aching bones.

Our friend catrina is heading to meet us and take us on some side trips for a week, after that we'll reevaluate our plan and see where life takes us.

Nighty night