PCT day 33, Oh, what a view!

PCT day 33 start 411.7, end 430.4.  18.7 miles ending at Messenger Flat campground 

Elevation start 6,600, end 5850, total ascent 2918, total descent 3747 average grade, 356 feet per mile. High 77, low 58, light winds, sunny.

This day started with wonderful views from the top of the ridge line. A group of us watched the sunrise with multiple silhouettes of different hills and mountains seemingly stacking on top of each other. My campsite was a “premium “ site, with incredible views, logs to sit on, perfectly flat ground, and a ready made cooking table naturally etched into the rocks!

I was heating up water for my 3 packs of Quaker Maple and brown sugar oatmeal when I heard the strangest sounding bird! The bird kept making a clicking noise which sounded just like someone clicking their tongue, very loudly, in rapid succession. It wasn’t a woodpecker. I hit the trail around 7 AM. The theme of this day would be the gorgeous forest and increasing humidity!

Air felt more humid today. It’s supposed to be really dry as we close in on May, but 2019 hasn’t been a normal year. Rain and storms may move in within the next 3-5 days with extremely cool air on the valley and desert floors.

I’m close to leaving the pine forests that surround Mt. Baden Powell, and I must say this forest and ridge has been nothing short of incredible, being my favorite national forest so far! I noticed something really interesting as I’m getting closer to the forest/desert transition. The north sides of hills (away from sun side) were lush and green with lots of trees and grasses, similar to Kansas hills, including lots of chirping birds, grasshoppers, and a wide array of plant life on the forest floor. The south side (facing the sun) was sandy desert with desert shrubs. The desert is starting to encroach upon the forest. See the picture example below.

I had to make one final climb up to 5,850 feet to the upcoming campsite. Climbing up the ridge=incredible views!

I feel asleep listening to the wind again. I was on a ridge, but somewhat protected from the wind by a higher ridge nearby. It was interesting listening to the wind. It was howling in the treetops around us, but only once in while making it down to my tent. I could, once again, hear the wind coming, then blow over, then gone. Silence. What causes these random wind gusts, and what causes most to stay in the tree tops, and why did the occasional gust angle down to our tents?? I fell asleep pondering this.