Mile 478 to 517 (road reroute)

Road Walk

I pack up in the dark. We decide to do the road walk to Hiker Town, and I want to beat as much of the heat coming off the asphalt as possible. We are complaining about the heat, but frankly we are very lucky. Most seasons are much hotter. The Anderson’s offer a pancake breakfast, but we are heading out too soon. The coffee, however, is fabulous.

Everyone that stays at Casa Luna has to have their picture taken in front of the banner. Someone asks Terry to be in the picture, but she declines. Her husband frames the picture and counts down. When he gets to 3, Terry spins around and moons the entire group. In the split second that everyone reacts, he snaps the picture. Some are laughing, some are shocked, some are turning away. Every picture, of every group of thru-hikers, all season long, season after season, is taken this way. Terry laughs and says, “Now you know why it is called Casa Luna.” She gives hugs to everyone and drives us back to where we last left the trail.

We hike as a fairly large group, jumping out of the road whenever a car rips by, but otherwise we hog the pavement. The road is tearing up my feet worse than any trail. We make one convenience store stop for junk food, but otherwise it is a death march to Hiker Town.

Hiker Town

Hiker Town is an interesting “hostel.” It is made up like a tiny ghost town with little stores, a post office, a jail, etc. Many of them are little bunks you can sleep in. There are also trailers and a common garage area with couches, kitchen, bathroom, shower and laundry. Hikers here are preparing to face the ironically waterless aqueduct march. There is water cached 16 miles out. After that, nothing for over 40 miles. In fact, there is none there either, but there is a road to hitch to Tehachapi.

Hiker Ghost Town