PCT 2018 Day 60, June 21, Thursday.
Start mile 1261.7 flat spot
End mile 1284.7, just past trailhead, cowboy camp under power line tower
Miles walked: 23.0
Before climbing Bucks Summit, a history sign tells us that others had a more difficult time. 
I did not need to empty my pack to get up, and did not have any loose mules nearby, but have been called mule-headed, so that might serve. From 7k elevation the trail drops to a stunning 2.2k, on switchbacks that go for hours and miles. 
On this mountain the switchbacks are in shade, but on the next mountain over, you can just make out the switchbacks for tomorrow, exposed to the sun. 
Amazingly, a cargo plane zooms by in the deep canyon, below me, on some practice manuever. 
Finally at the town/resort of Belden, I can get a shower, laundry, and a meal. 
Atom, an artist-in-residence, has a tiny home he built himself and asks me to look over. 
Belden hosts half a dozen music festivals each year, with thousands coming to camp out and listen. 
“Atom, the World’s Fastest Artist”, gives a demonstration to me and a couple staying at the resort of his painting technique using cans of spray paint. 
He paints and moves to music, with flashy painting tricks, like a street performer. Cool.
The staff of the resort are kind, with infinite free refills of my Dr Pepper as I charge devices and use their wifi. Saunter arrives later, and will take a room to rest a hurt knee. 
The resort charges for tent sites, but national forest land is near, so I start hiking out. A camper at the resort sees I am a PCT hiker, and offers me dinner, salad topped with steak, which would be impolite to refuse! 
Craig’s buddies did not arrive today, so he had extra food. He shared some personal life experiences. 
Now close to dark, I hike across the river and past the trailhead to a tiny flat spot next to the trail underneath an electric power line metal tower. In the dusk I almost get too close to poison oak, which is common from here to the next state border. I cowboy camp, and will start out early tomorrow to get past exposed switchbacks in the cool morning. 
Logs appear to decay normally, but sticks apparently go slower. Why?
Starting at the campsite at 7k elevation, the trail descends by switchbacks to the Target River, at 3k. 
Then the trail climbs back again from 3k to 5.5k. Tomorrow the trail plunges even deeper to arrive at the tiny town/resort of Belden.
Saunter passes me, grumbling about the new route, which he took. He was moving fast, not sauntering. 
The area here is characterized by many large rock outcroppings of crumbling rock, tall trees and thick forest, and fewer water sources. The water sources are now once every few miles, like a normal trail, not the insane concentration of once every 200 feet like in the Sierras. 
The day has a couple of 1k climbs, but is mostly gentle downhill or level. 
Where are all the southbound hikers we were rumoured to meet? Not one today. Aside from Saunter, it is only me out there.