c) Andrew Carter, 2021
The PCT reaches the Mexican border just outside of Campo in rural San Diego County.
The PCT monument (above) is right next to the border wall. Of course, I stuck my hand through the wall to touch Mexican soil.
There’s a border patrol station in Campo. While I was at the border, four different border agents passed by on patrol, riding their all-terrain quad runners.
The border patrol station has a small jail where undocumented detainees are held for a short while before being transported to a larger facility. When I walked by, four detainees were about to board a charter bus which would take them to that larger facility. Here’s the sign on that bus:
Campo is in the desert. The climate is quite harsh. Here’s a sign in Spanish urging those crossing the border to not risk their lives in the process.
And here’s a call box, border crossers can use to call for help. It was on a fire road which the PCT follows for about a mile.
On the way into San Diego from Campo, the public transit bus stopped at a border patrol checkpoint. Two agents hopped on the bus and asked to see passengers’ documentation. Before I could get out my driver’s license, the agent asked if I were an American citizen. When I said yes, he was satisfied. Clearly, I look and sound “American,” which means white.
Carter Hikes 