Saturday, April 13, 2019 - 6.70 miles Today was exciting since I saw my first Joshua tree! And touched one too, so my PCT (?) goals of touching a Joshua tree and visiting the La Brea Tar Pits have been fulfilled. I might as well go home, but I guess I’ll keep walking. https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/49569335138/in/dateposted-public/ The …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 30: Joshua Trees!
Friday, April 12, 2019 - 12.50 miles Judging by the ice in my water bottle this morning, and how I started shivering immediately when I left my tent during the night to pee, the nighttime temperatures were the lowest they've been yet. I was wearing my down jacket in my sleeping bag, but surprised that …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 29: Lurking in the Bushes
Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 14.70 miles Despite it being almost 15 miles and 4800 feet of elevation gain away, I decided to walk to Coon Creek Cabin today since eTrails describes it as having a fire grate (which I interpreted as fireplace) and the night is supposed to be cold. Quickly I discovered that …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 28: Disappointment Cabin
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 12 miles I got a late start this morning after climbing out of the canyon to dig a cathole. It took an hour! https://flic.kr/p/2iu7aWe On my way back to the PCT When I finally started off along the PCT, the sky was spotless blue and the views were excellent. Whitewater …
Tuesday, April 09, 2019 - 16.60 miles https://flic.kr/p/2iu8bSr The wind picked up yesterday evening and was terrible overnight, probably the worst I’ve had with this tent. Unable to sleep with all the flapping, I started walking at 6:30 AM. The temperature was already ominously warm. Even my water didn’t get cold overnight, promising a scorching …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 26: Crazy Windy Trails
Monday, April 08, 2019 - 12.20 miles I enjoyed the rest of Black Mountain Road this morning, having seen no other hikers the entire time. Impressive views from the last yellow post campsite. https://flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49544775856/in/dateposted-public/ At the snowmelt stream near the group campground I loaded up with water, since the descent into the desert is supposed …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 25: Back on the PCT
Sunday, April 07, 2019 - 13 miles After trying for almost an hour to hitch a ride up Highway 243 this morning, staring meaningfully at drivers who steadfastly avoided eye contact, I gave up and decided to walk to Black Mountain Road. Since part of Highway 243 is closed because of washouts, I would have …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 24: 50,000 Trucks
Saturday, April 06, 2019 I’ve been having a 'the dress' issue with my pants. I own two pairs of identical pants, one light brown and one grey, and chose the brown ones for this hike, but with the dirt and sunscreen they sometimes look grey - for one day I was actually convinced that I …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 23: Face Stuffing
Friday, April 05, 2019 Hiker bedtime is 9:00 PM, but I kept seeing the moment when Steve flipped and couldn’t get to sleep until past 12:00 AM. I decided to write neglected emails - that’s testimony to my state of mind, since normally those should have sat for AT LEAST two more weeks before being forgotten for …
Thursday, April 04, 2019 - 0.10 miles Tamara and I left camp at 7:15 AM and hiked the short distance to the north side of Apache Peak. Conditions were ghastly, with steep snow extending as far as we could see around the mountainside. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49544974232/in/dateposted-public/ The nightmare otherwise known as Apache Peak. We pulled on our …
Wednesday, April 03, 2019 - 9.30 miles The temperature dipped below freezing overnight. Branches rained moisture from low-hanging clouds onto my tent, and showers of ice were falling from the larger trees in the morning. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49544938992/in/dateposted-public/ I had to make the side trip to Cedar Spring, which is a mile off-trail with 400 feet of …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 20: Desert Divide
Tuesday, April 02, 2019 - 10.30 miles I walked to Paradise Valley Cafe this morning, ate a hamburger and picked up my resupply box. A woman gave me $20 and a pat on the head. I've never been patted on the head before, but I’m down for it since it involves no hand contact. Just …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 19: Ah Live Oak Spring
Monday, April 01, 2019 - 9.10 miles My nose was running this morning and my throat was dry from sleeping with my mouth open. Not sure whether it’s sickness or I’m allergic to something hereabouts. If the former, I could go into Idyllwild tomorrow from Highway 74 and rest there for a few days. I’ll …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 18: Cutely Tumbling
Sunday, March 31, 2019 - 13 miles I left camp early this morning in preparation for a hot day. Just before the spur trail to a water tank I was planning to visit, an unexpected stream was trickling across the trail, and I collected enough water there to cover the remaining distance to Paradise Valley Cafe. …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 17: Bikes Are Like Boo
Saturday, March 30, 2019 - 8.50 miles The trail climbed steadily today, leaving Aqua Caliente Creek in favour of sunny, rocky slopes covered with shrubs. I enjoyed the views, especially towards the end of the day. A procession of hikers that had probably camped along the creek last night passed me in the morning, and …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 16: Making Camp in Early Afternoon Is Best
Friday, March 29, 2019 - 5.30 miles I read during breakfast and finished the book, then completed my other chores. While waiting for my external battery to charge, I bought a root beer float at the community centre. I received a bottle of root beer, an empty cup, and a plastic cup of ice cream …
Thursday, March 28, 2019 https://flic.kr/p/2iu3GrH Zero in Warner Springs today. I had breakfast in the town centre with Katarina and Mosey, but forgot to pick up my resupply package and made a second trip with Peter later. Sadly they were only taking a nero and left in the afternoon, so I probably won't see them …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 14: Warner Springs Zero
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - 13.60 miles https://flic.kr/p/2iu2QJz The scenery transitioned into meadows, oak trees and cows. At Eagle Rock I unexpectedly reunited with 5150, who now has the trail name Bake. He explained that on the first day of his hike, he had fallen in with a group of twenty-year-olds and injured himself matching …
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - 11.40 miles I’m generally in favour of switchbacks, but today's trail was inanely winding and long. eTrails states: ‘The length of the hills is only 11 miles as the crow flies, but the PCT travels more than twice that as it winds in and out of every gully and makes …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 12: As the Crow Flies Is Bogus
Monday, March 25, 2019 Surprisingly chilly temperatures overnight froze the condensation on my tent walls. Unfortunately my water filter can be damaged by freezing temperatures, and I hadn’t stored it inside my sleeping bag. I suspect that the condensation on the walls was subject to lower temperatures than the filter, but I have no way …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 11: Prove You Love Me by Backtracking on a Slope
BANE OF THE TRAIL 