While I missed the majority of the desert section of the PCT by starting at Walker Pass, my few days spent trekking among cactus and joshua trees on the way to Kennedy Meadows gave a glimpse of the awesome beauty that this region can offer. Luckily, my timing coincided with the blooming of these prickly pear cacti, which lined the trail for much of my second day.
I also met my first fellow thru-hiker, trail name Diesel, while filtering water at a small stream surrounded by bees. We chatted while the insects hovered around us and kept flying annoyingly close, and continued to jump past each other on the trail through the afternoon as I attempted to make up for my late start the previous day.
To my surprise, toward evening the desert flora suddenly gave way to pine forest as I crossed over a ridge. The stark difference between the southern and northern flanks of mountains would be a continuous theme on my journey along the trail.
Russell on the Road 