Mile 259.3; Altitude 7160; Windspeed 21 mph, Gusts to 40 mph: Snow showers expected. Low predicted, 19 F. First night in tent after one of the longer nights of my life last night, sleeping cowboy at 20 F. At least there was no wind. It is an increasing gale tonight.

If you should see PCT public enemy number one approaching you on the Pacific Crest Trail, please do the following: Realize that MTB’s are extremely dangerous. If they were not, why would we spend so much time keeping them off the trail. Therefore, do not hike alone. If you should see an MTB approaching, make yourself as large as possible. Stand your ground. Do not run. If you run, the MTB will think you are prey, and will hunt you down. Use anything at your disposal to fend off the MTB. Some people have even fended them off with their hands. If you are gifted with coordination, and if there is a precipice, stand on the high ground, and give the MTB a simple hip check as it passes you. You will hear yourself exclaim. “My, My! Look at that MTB go! Those really are extraordinary downhill skills!”

The truth is that MTB’s do little damage to the trail.

There is danger to hikers, however.

When the MTB comes down the trail at high speed, a serious hiker injury can occur.

I am working on an app that will direct a 180 dB sound at an MTB approaching a hiker. That may be almost as good as an hip check.

Horses will be on the PCT forever.

Horses have always been on the PCT.

Talk about LNT though.

Horses should wear diapers. Or maybe there should be a man with a wheelbarrow to follow the horses and clean up the trail apples.

And, who was the careless rider who destroyed the edge of the trail north of Campo? That trail building took a lot of work with pickamatics, pulaskis, and rock bars.

Why am I criticizing the use of horses on the trail?

Beerdra stepped in a hoofprint covered by brush, and ruined her ankle. The last I heard, she might be off the trail.

What a shame that a careless rider may have caused the end of Beerdra’s hike!

Hiker midnight.

Time to put my icy hands inside my sleeping bag.

Time to put in my earplugs and hope that a tree doesn’t come down on my tent.

Good night.

Sleep warm.