Friday, April 19, 2019 - 16.30 miles I had to walk sixteen miles today, so I was on the trail by 6:45 AM. I passed three tents beside the creek, two below the first bridge and one at the Splinter Cabin trailhead. One of the hikers asked me later where I had camped, and when …
Tag: 2019
Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 35: Happy Day
Thursday, April 18, 2019 - 11.30 miles I was caught within the glut of Little Bear Springs campers this morning and it took ages for enough people to pass for the trail to settle down. Please go on mates, I need to apply Body Glide. Despite the persistent drone of human conversation the day turned …
Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 34: See Ya Later
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 - 14.40 miles The weather was perfect today, sunny and warm but not too hot. The trail provided views back to Big Bear Lake before curving behind Delamar Mountain, where it crossed a handful of easy snow patches. https://flic.kr/p/2iwgUD5 https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/49569358663/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/49569378523/in/dateposted-public/ Entering the Butler II fire burn area, I ended up …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 33: Two Spigots
Tuesday, April 16, 2019 - 4.30 miles I was intending to leave early this morning, but didn’t wake up until 8:00 AM and then leisurely ate and packed, so maybe it was more ‘idea’ than ‘intention’. Moreover I had planned to take the bus to as near the edge of town as possible, and it …
Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 32: Zero #2
Monday, April 15, 2019 I took a second zero today, but still felt adverse to making resupply boxes and decided to change my resupply strategy to buying in towns + a bounce box. I also ordered specialty food from Amazon to send to the Saufley’s in Aqua Dulce - supposedly the grocery store in Aqua …
Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 31: Zero #1
Sunday, April 14, 2019 Still wiped from the last few days of walking, I was shamefully lazy today and decided to make my resupply boxes tomorrow. I did buy a few items at a Circle K a short distance along Highway 18, and don't recommend the walk from Motel 6. The road has no sidewalk …
Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 30: Joshua Trees!
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 29: Lurking in the Bushes
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 28: Disappointment Cabin
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 27: Canyons
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 …
Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 26: Crazy Windy Trails
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 25: Back on the PCT
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 24: 50,000 Trucks
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 23: Face Stuffing
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 22: Chores Day
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 …
Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 21: Fall
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 …
Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 20: Desert Divide
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 19: Ah Live Oak Spring
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 18: Cutely Tumbling
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 …
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Pacific Crest Trail (2019) 17: Bikes Are Like Boo
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. …
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BANE OF THE TRAIL 