Day 5: Monday, May 2

(Stud): We woke up to rolling thunder at 4:30 am and broke camp quickly. Headed down the trail in the dark with Dwight in the lead heading the wrong direction. A barely visible figure told us we were headed the wrong way and we found out later we interupted someone taking a dump. Cooler and windy today, did not get above 70 until around noon. Lots of water at Scissors Crossing water cashe. Met 3 guys taking bird inventory at bridge near Scissors. There was a cow birdtrap there.

The Anzo Borrego Desert was somewhat desolate yet filled with interesting cactus. Several were flowering. Found a nice place to have lunch around 11:30. The Mountain House Pro Pac Spagetti we had was pretty tasty.

Arrived at the next water cache around 6:30. Only about 10 gallons of water was left. Between the 3 of us we took about 3/4 gallons hopefully leaving enough for the hikers behind us until the cashe is resupplied tomorrow.

People I met today: Pygmy and Noel (from Hawaii); Jeremy and Sunshine, Ready to Hike and Feet of Fire from Asheville NC, Easy, EasyDoesIt (not the same one as we met on the AT), Marshmallow/City Girl, (she can't decide on which one to go with).

(Dr Bug) ...At 4am thunder claps twice and there is lightning strike on a distant mountain. We are sleeping under the open sky and Susan freeks! She's afraid her sleeping bag will get wet. I'm too tired to care and besides, we're in the desert, the average annual rain fall is a mere 6 inches, or so. Anyway, we husstle ourselves up and break camp. We ended yesterday at 9pm. It was dark when we arrived, dark when we departed and the light was not on between my ears. I urgently and confidently lead us down the dark trail in the wrong direction.

No significant rain actually hit the ground. In the mornings light we saw distant rains evaporate before reaching the ground. This was the day we walked the Anza Borrego Desert. We were expecting 100 degree temperatures. The cloud cover from the 'storm that never was', lasted most of the day. The temp. in the desert was 70. It was a gift.