We got an early start today, for a long, slow descent into the valley. As we got lower, it got hotter and drier, and the vegetation changed. The higher elevation had green scrub brush, purple-flowered cacti, and grasses.
I wanted to get a good close-up of a cactus flower, but when I zoomed in, the pistils and stamens wiggled as if alive. Let’s see if WordPress video support works.
Edit: it doesn’t.
The view down to the valley was nice, but the valley itself looked intimidatingly hot and dry.
As we dropped towards the valley, the species changed, and the heat got uncomfortable. Not just for me, but for the plants, too.
The sun got hotter and hotter, and shade was in short supply. We saw a bend in the trail that cast a couple feet of shade, so we leaned against it and ate a quick lunch. A single, tiny cloud appeared in the sky to mock us, then disappeared in seconds.
After miles with no shade and climbing temperatures, we ducked under a broad, flat rock protruding from the mountain, the first good shade in miles. Soon enough, a couple hikers joined us, and we chatted until we’d cooled off enough to continue. This rock must’ve hosted many, many PCT hikers over the years.
Soon after, we reached the valley floor, and the vegetation change was complete.
We reached a highway cruising called Scissors Crossing, and got ready to hitchhike into Julian. We took some advice from other hikers huddled under an overpass, and tried to hitch at a nearby intersection, where we found a pre-made sign asking for a ride to Julian.
Soon enough, we were doing better.
Sorry about the milkshake, but I bet it was refreshing after the dessert! Great cactus pictures. That fruiting spire is yucca and the fruit is supposedly edible.