The trail was composed of soil and almost devoid of rocks that had been the hallmark of every previous day's route. The further we descended, the wider and softer the trail, much easier on the knees and feet.
Most of the crew got off in Lone Pine to organize showers and reserve table space at the local Pizza parlor. Gary, John, and Kurt headed for Cottonwood to retrieve the other vehicles parked six days ago at the trailhead. The day was beautiful and the ride up to Cottonwood provided a reprise of the views toward Death Valley we had had a week ago.
Everything went like clockwork. By the time the car shuttle crew arrived back in Lone Pine, showers had been organized; Pizza and beer were on order. It's hard to convey how good a shower feels after six days in the woods.
After eating and drinking our fill, John headed back to Northern California and the rest of us to San Diego. There is only one word to describe this hike... AWESOME! I highly recommend it to anyone with the stamina and desire to do it. I wouldn't change a thing...
Anyone out there who wants more detail is welcome to contact me at gary@stowell.org. Our hiking group is e-mail active.
Day 6 Hike Map
