Unexpected Paradise in Section E

Section E of the PCT starts at Agua Dulce (Vasquez Rocks), crosses the western edge of the Mojave Desert, and ends at Tehachapi Pass. From Green Valley we were expecting the trail to have less trees and be more like the desert. The trail also went through an old burn. It looked like the fire had been pretty bad in places.

An old burn made it feel like we were already in the Mojave.

But I noticed that in amongst the burned trees were little green clumps of regeneration. And many of them were sporting pretty little flowers! I wish my Mum could have been there to see them. I took a bunch of photos to show her all the varieties.

Wildflowers along the trail always make me feel happy. My mind often floats away as I walk, and the flowers bring my focus back. But even this wasn’t the paradise. Just before the trail dipped out of the San Gabriel mountains, we walked into a grove of Californian oaks!

Beautiful shady oaks made a great breakfast spot.

We went through in the morning, when we normally try to make a lot of miles. But they were so unexpected and beautiful that we stopped to have a snack. A nice excuse to enjoy the last shady trees before getting down into the dust of the Mojave. What a great way to start the day!

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