May 1 on the Pacific Crest Trail, 35 Years Ago

On the Sierra Pelona Ridge just outside Acton

May Day on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1982 was my second rest day of the walk, the first for 17 days. In the previous 28 days I'd walked 388 miles. Ahead lay the Mohave Desert and then the still snowbound High Sierra. Having already slogged through deep snow in the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains I knew that I wasn't equipped for 500+ miles of snow. I was staying in the little settlement of Acton with other PCT hikers. A local resident, Delree, offered to take us into Los Angeles to buy extra gear, so May Day was an urban day of vehicles, freeways and outdoor stores. The result was much extra gear to carry across the desert including crampons, snowshoes and gaiters. I wrote in my journal 'I hope I use the snow gear'. It was to prove essential.