Long delay!

Hi folks, I apologize for the long delay in getting this thing updated. I have a lot written, but only have my phone and limited connectivity to the Internet based on where we've been hiking in the Sierra Nevada and haven't been able to do any really good work on it. I am hoping to get the text posted sometime soon, but unfortunately it looks like photographs may be a ways out. Never fear, smiles and I are still hiking! 

Day 39: random ridge near cache - Casa de Luna (mi 464-478)

Dots on knuckles kept score for the 24 challenge. Photo taken at the Oasis Cache, some 6 miles from the Anderson's. 

Typical desert scenery as we left the Oasis Cache. 

Dr. Smiles examines foot damage once arrived at Casa de Luna. 

We had a slightly groggy, though still early, morning with a heavy dew. We slowly packed up as we dried the moisture off of our prized sleeping bags in the quickly warning sun. I continued drinking beer for the 24 challenge, and quickly shampooed on easy. Our gear dried and we were hiking @ 730. Everyone else was pushed too, and nobody made it more than a mile further than our campsite the night before. Somehow we were the first ones up, and passed Rocky, T-rex, and Chik-chak at the bottom of the hill, while sour cream and lunchbox crashed out at the cache with Games, Reason and Sunset. The hike from there on was long climbing and descending in relatively exposed chaparral habitat, however my load would get 12 ounces lighter every hour or so as I worked on my dwindling supply. I finished the challenge @ the oasis cache, then shotgunned beers w lunchbox, reason, and sunset. We finished hiking in the heat of the day to the Anderson's, and were greeted with a slow clap by approximately 40 hikertrash lounging around "hippy daycare," as Casa de Luna was also dubbed. All the hikers were camped out back in a crazy, sprawling chaparral thicket with a maze of trails. Smiles and I found a patch off the beaten path and spread out our gear, then donned the requisite Aloha shirts - the official uniform of the establishment. We lounged around all day, had beers, and mingled with our fellow hike trash as social bonds coalesced further. A huge taco salad was served for dinner, and a dance party ensued afterwards. A crazy place. 

Day 38: Hiker Heaven-random ridge near a cache (mi 454-465)

Waiting for a good time to hike!

We woke up, after a surprisingly chilly night of sleep,  with the intention of late departure so that we might rest more, blog more, and (most importantly) avoid the heat. After a nice long snooze, we hopped on a couple loaner bikesfor an  exhilarating ride down to town,  got a delicious light french breakfast @ the local cafe and resupplied in town. We blogged all day , and started drinking beers for an attempt at the "24 challenge" to Casa de Luna. The "challenge," a long time trail tradition, requires completing 24 beers and walking 24 miles to the Anderson's within 24 hours. Smiles, Rocky, T-Rex, Chik-chak, sour cream, lunchbox and I started hiking @ 930pm under a brilliant moon, after getting a much-appreciated ride to the trailhead from Tequila Jack. 

En route to the Anderson's, challenge underway! 

It was a brilliant and fun walk, and good times were had by one and all. Smiles' night vision tired out around 11 miles in, so we pitched camp on a flattish ridge in some grass just off the side of the trail around 3 AM. Most challenge beers were consumed by this point, under the cool night air, rather than the withering glare of the daytime sun. Only 7 light beers to go...