I’m first out of my tent this morning. The sun creeps down the rocks into the canyon. I slept so warm last night. I didn’t need to zip up my sleeping bag or wear my warm hat.  
I watch the sister team, Melissa and Skylar hike past on the trail as I pack. I wonder where they camped. Jeff makes his morning coffee and we scramble up back onto the trail. Good bye beach!
  
Wild squash flowers grow all over the canyon. Their big white faces look for the sun.  

 I catch up to Jeff taking pictures. I always find him hidden in some tall grass or up high in a tree. It’s fun to watch him run and climb around trying to get the perfect shot.   

Overstock catches up to me and we hike together for a few miles. I’m impressed with how flat the trail is cut into the side of the hill.

  
 We approach a dam.   

The water report says to use caution, there might be quicksand in the area. It then lists a 4mile detour to go around it. 

I look down and watch a handful of hikers walk right through. Meh it looks okay. Overstock and I follow a Swiss hiker across the large swath of sand. It’s powder fine. 

  
A large gust kicks it up into the air. Bleck! I wait for the Swiss hiker to walk farther ahead. I’m literally eating his dust. 

We get across okay. Overstock stops for a break and I find Jeff with his camera in some tall grass again. It feels like he’s hiding everywhere haha. Crouching tiger hidden Jeff. His trail name has to have photography something in it. Hrmmm
The trail goes across a wide shallow stream. Jeff walks right through with his shoes on. The Swiss hiker, Jonathan and I stop to peal our socks off. We wade across. The water feels so good on my feet! I get to the other side and put my dirty socks back on. 

     

 The trail leads us through dense vegetation. I feel like I’m walking through a jungle. A hiker approaches us. He’s section hiking the trail south bound! So cool! (Everyone I’ve met so far is hiking north). We push on.

 The trail starts to climb through a meadow. A storm lingers in the distance. The wind is fierce. It whips through the grass. Droplets of water spray my face. It looks like rain. 

 

 
Jonathan and I stop to cover our packs. I stash my camera deep in my pack. 

The meadow gives way to rocks and bushes. I pass the sister team taking a break sheltered from the wind. Jeff is far ahead. Or is he… I’m wary of each tall grass patch I pass. 

The vegetation starts to close around the trail. The air is humid. The wind dies down but the clouds persist. Is it going to rain or not? I get impatient and dig my camera back out. The flowers are beautiful through this section. 

   
    
 
Jonathan and I leap frog each other as we stop to take pictures. These purple ones are particularly magical. They glow like jewels set in the grassy hillside. 

   
   
I pass under another dam. The trail crosses a small bridge. A group of hikers snooze underneath like bridge trolls. I wish they were awake enough to ask me the password.

  
I see some very large pipes in the distance with… Surprise! It’s Jeff standing on top. 

   
  
   
The three of us cross a traffic-y bridge then hike up some switchbacks to the top of a ridge. Silverwood Lake expands before our feet. It feels special to see so much water. Small patches of sun break through to illuminate the surface. Tiny boats zip in and out of inlets. It’s beautiful. 

  

 Maybe we can beach camp two nights in a row! We hike down to one of the beaches.   

 Unfortunately the sand is littered with trash and dog poop. 😦
We decide to keep looking. 

Jeff and Jonathan get ahead as I watch the clouds pass over the hills. It’s hard to look away. Giant sun beams glide over the forest and illuminate far off sandy beaches. This is so different than this morning, it almost feels like a whole new day. 

   
   

 The weather continues to battle, rain or shine. I find the OCBoys at a paved bike path. We follow it to a picnic area. Water! Nice restrooms! Trash cans and tables! 
We set up for the evening and make dinner at one of the tables.

  

Camped near mile 328.56 of the PCT

Miles hiked today: 18.39