Thoughts, happenings, and inane ramblings on the continuum of before, during, and hopefully after hiking the PCT 2008.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Refreshing...
It is such a simple joy to, after a long, hot climb from the desert floor up into the chapparal, to finally reach the cooler climes of the Montane in the higher reaches of these fault mtns (7000-8000+ ft ASL).
Day 1 12 miles to random spot in Hauser wilderness
Day 2: 9 Miles to Lake Morena Pk(approx)
Day 3: 12.4 Ridge above Fred Canyon Road
Day 4: 10 Mt. Laguna
Day 5: 10.7 Pioneer Mail trail head
Day 6: 24.9 Scissors Crossing (brutal heat once dropped down into Anza-Borrego Desert
Day 7: 13.6 To 3rd Pipe Gate (ridge cache-This is the day I holed up under the juniper around mid day, then hiked again from 6pm until 9pm-locals said it could easily have been 118 degrees in the Anza that day and on Day 8)
Day 8: 18.4 (was up hiking by 3:40 am, and got to Warner Springs Ranch at 3pm...took a nap/break at Barrel Springs)
Day 9 &10: Zero Day @ Warner Springs Ranch-resupply, internet, real FOOD, laundry, and letting my blisters blisters, grandchildren heal. Great hot springs, I could stay here forever...but blisters are healing
Day 11: 10 miles. Left Warner Springs Ranch Reluctantly at 3 pm. Camped near spring with guitar guys, and after running into the 3 Gospels and a Canadian
Day 12: 21 miles-above Nance Canyon somewhere. Got hammered with snow, sleet, rain and a bit of exposed lightening/thunder which was motivating. Camp felt oddly liked a critter was looking in on me--not unlike being predated by mtn lions in the slot canyons East of the Ark in Buena Vista--could be since it was appropriate terrain, and a lot of deer tracks
Day 13: 11 miles plus 1 mile road walk to Paradise Cafe on hwy 74...hitched to Idyllwild to get bounce box from P.O. since they aren't open on Sat to mail forward. Cold, rainy. Ran into bunch of folks from trail--sang karoke with new friends.
Day 14: 12 miles--hitched back to Pines to Palms from Idyllwild part way--walked about 5 miles on the hwy before getting on the trail
Day 15: 15.2 miles to Humber Park Picnic table--brrrr.
Day 16: Picked up Food resupply in Idyllwild. took shower and short nap-saw Indy Movie, and hiked up Devil's Slide trail and then up to Summit of Mt. San Jacinto--slept on summitt, froze butt off.
Day 17: 26.6 miles from summitt of San Jacinto to near snow creek faucet...but not exactly there
Day 18: 4 miles to I-10, then 4.5 mile lonely walk on a lonely road to Cabazon--then hitched a ride to Banning.
Day 19: Zero---new insoles, mailed box in banning, saw new Narnia....let feet have a break
Day 20: 10 trail miles, took bus from Banning to Cabazon, then walked the 4.5 lonely road miles next to the I-10. Camped in sand at Whitewater River--best nights sleep yet, with the sound of the river nearby.
Day 21: 13 long hot miles up Mission Creek--nearly walked into young golden/black bear-100 lbs or so....came around densely foliaged creek crossing, and there he/she was! 15 feet or less away---glad it took off like a shot. I said, "S _ _ _, a bear!!" out loud That thing shot up the canyon wall sooo fast---I saw it was "cubbish" in look right away, and got out into the open so that when momma bear came to tear me up, at least I'd see my doom coming at me :) When that didn't happen, I think he/she is just really young....still, was wary of all the bear prints up the trail the rest of the day and into the next....VERY COOL. That's the closest I've been to a critter like that yet (that I've been aware of/awake)...just glad it was young and small, and that mom wasn't around. Lots of creek crossings---took a number of breaks with shoes off. Feet continue to be an issue, but not as bad when in such a gorgeous and remote setting
Day 22: 23 miles to Arrastre trail camp.
Day 23: 10 miles to hwy 18 and hitched easily to Big Bear City...great town, Idyllwild and this place rival each other for trail towns
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