6/05

12 miles (651 walker pass campground to 663 Joshua tree spring)

We gained a lot of elevation straight away after crossing walker pass. We left the Joshua trees and a scraggly forest of pinion pines. Thunder heads grew in the distance and rain tried to reach the ground. Sighting large granite mounds excited us further for our arrival into the sierras. Then more quickly than it was gained, we dropped down 2000 feet in elevation. 12 miles in, we stopped for the night near Joshua tree spring. The spring was swarming with gnats and Mosquitos, a little taste of the side of the sierras I'm not so eager for.