If you looked up carefully from the road, deep in the shadows, hunkered down under the junipers and between the larger boulders, you could see hikers. At least 30 of us, hiding away from the heat of the day above Bird Spring Pass. The maintained water cache is the last (semi) reliable water source until Walker Pass 22 miles away. Bedtime was sprawled out on his sleeping pad playing legos and waiting for us to tell him it was time to go. As the sun began to set we started the climb up into the Kiavah Wilderness. Bedtime pulled out the 4-ish feet of rope he had found a few days previous and began swinging it over his head and yipping like a cowboy. He was definitely the most energized hiker leaving that evening. His positivity continues to motivate.

The desert is harsh. It’s dusty, dirty and dry. Not to mention the wind. The last 100 or so miles is especially challenging. Days are longer now, water more scarce and shade almost non-existent. The desert. 700 miles of Southern California. A long trip for a five year old.

You could hear the water gushing from the spring a hundred yards away. The pines provided shade. Lander’s Meadow seemed to confirm our impression that we had made it out of the desert and into the Sierras. But as soon as we left the meadow we were again met with open skies, heat, cacti and sand. That last 100 miles is a tease. We arrived at Bird Spring Pass the following day. The Kiavah Wilderness staring down at us as we hid in the shadows. And Walker Pass. Climbing out amongst granitic outcrops-picture perfect Sierra examples- to only turn a corner and drop back down to Joshua Trees. A tease.

But as I write this we are sitting in Kennedy Meadows-the official gateway to the High Sierras-looking back on the desert and laughing. Yes it was hard. Hard and beautiful. And yes, we are happy to be headed north. But it was so worth it.

Bedtime says he is excited for the snow and big mountains. His smile was priceless as our arrival at the General Store was met with applause (a tradition at Kennedy Meadows). While I think he does understand what he has accomplished, I am still in amazement. So let’s celebrate the desert by putting a bow on it-its finished-and continue northward, Sierra bound.