Landing

I did not seem all that cold in my tent last night, but when I went outside I found that my tent was frozen. It cracked as I roll it up. Still, no worries. I am up, I have choked down some random bars and the last of my dried apples, I got my stinky clothes on and I am outa here! The tent can be dried out later.

The Plan

I am camped five miles from the trail that goes over Cottonwood Pass then through Horseshoe Meadow to the parking lot that is connected by road to Lone Pine. The Pass trail is a little more than four miles. Therefore, it’s more than nine miles to the parking lot. Bob and I are meeting our ride there between noon and 1pm. (More about that later.)

The early trail goes up about 500 feet, and then it is mostly downhill from there.

Early Trail

Bob and I are out of camp by 6:45. No reason to linger. Within our first mile out of camp I see this marker. I have not seen an official PCT sign or blaze in days. But in front of me is one of the biggest PCT signs I have ever seen. It seems that the trail has a few parting words: “I brought you here, I will escort you out.”

The sky is bright and deep blue, as it has been since my Whitney summit. We hike a couple hours and then take one of our scheduled breaks. (No reason to forego our breaks just because it’s our last dang day on the trail!)

There is a forced normality to our conversations this morning. Bob tries to make it normal by posing a “thorny” theological question to me. It was originally posed by a famous mathematician, so it must be deep, right? I betray my anxious anticipation by announcing that the question is one of the dumbest I have ever heard and shows that genius is no guarantee of insight. (The question is about God’s power.) Then I proceed to rip the question to shreds.

Bob is noticeably surprised by the vigor of my response. I think he is a little amused too. I am focused and full of energy. Don’t anybody or any thing, really or imagined, get in my way!

And then we are at the trail to the pass.

While Bob takes a bathroom break I rush up the trail to the pass, to see what I can. It’s Horseshoe Meadow. At the far end of the meadow, out of sight from here is the parking lot.

Exodus

After an initial steep descent, the trail levels out. It’s the same kind of sandy environment we have been walking through for two days. It’s pleasant to walk through, and I slow down so that Bob can catch up. I want to walk out together.

We take one last look back.

Serendipity

Last week when Bob and I decided for sure to skip ahead to avoid the smoke from the Garnet fire, I changed my train reservation to September 18 – two weeks ahead of schedule. It had been my plan to spend one night in Reno with my hiking friends, Seven and Dealer, before boarding the train.

I called them to let them know of the change in plans. Dealer asked me about the exact date that I would be at the trailhead in Horseshoe Meadows. I said, September 15. There was a pause and then Dealer said. I think we are going to be driving through Lone Pine on that very day! (Lone Pine is the city nearest the trailhead.) She and Seven would be returning from a visit to their sons in L.A. I told her that we would be at the trailhead around noon. She said, that is about the hour they would be driving by! Would we like them to pick us up?!

When I stopped jumping up and down, I heard her say, “the trail provides.” This is a saying among through-hikers. It means that things have a strange way of working out on the trail. But I couldn’t help but believing that more was going on here.

Excitedly, we planned to meet.

When Bob and I arrive at the parking lot, Dealer and Seven are emerging from their car. They have arrived only minutes before!

A Soft Landing

It is not often that one has the fortune of good and generous friends. I am indeed blessed. Dealer and Seven put Bob and us up at their home until Bob caught his flight home and I stepped onto my train. Here they are on our way to the station.

Trails to Rails

I enjoy train travel. Looking out the window as the country rolls by calms me and gives me a few days to make the transition between dedicated hiker to husband/father/rancher/deacon/runner/golfer/gardener/brewer. I am eager to see Patti again. I have a long list of chores waiting for me in Florida. My friends and my son are there. And I am eager to get back to them all.

I don’t know what trails are in my future, but another trip to the PCT seems unlikely. We will see. I feel like it’s time for giving back. The Florida Trail is near my house. Trail maintainers are always welcome, and the winter is a great time to be out there.

Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Doolittle

September 18, 2025