Days 32-35

May 31 day 32 zero mile day today camped at the Anderson’s Casa de Luna.
Walked the few miles to the Anderson’s. spent the day hanging out eating and watching the fire.

June 1 day 33 stayed at Hikertown zero miles today.
The fire had got much bigger closing down a number of miles of PCT. In the afternoon I got ride from the Anderson’s to Hikertown at PCT mile 517.6. When we arrived a plume of smoke from the fire made the sun into a orange ball. Hikertown looked like a Hollywood set for a Wild West town. I stayed in the Post Office.

June 2 day 34 camped at mile 541.5 Tylerhorse Canyon hiked 23.9 miles today
Woke at 4:30 this morning trying to avoid the heat for the infamous LA aqueduct part of the walk. Unfortunately for us while the fire was still burning like crazy the plume of smoke would provide no relief from the sun as the winds had shifted. Mid day I took a break at the water cache at the Cottonwood Creek bridge. Under bridges is one of the haunts of the thru hikers. It was welcomed relief from the sun and the essential element of water.

June 3 day 35 camped at mile 562 walked 20.5 miles today.
It was another scorching day. Passed thru the fire scarred mountains. The Tehachapi pass area before me is covered in wind mills. It is supposedly the largest concentration of wind mills in the world. The trail crosses a minor highway from which I hitch into Tehachapi. Pick up supplies and barely charge my battery pack before hitching back to the trail. Camp among the windmills.

Days 28-31

May 27 day 28 camped mile 427 hiked 22.4 miles today

A long day of Poodle Dog Bush detours. A plant that can cause severe inching not unlike poison oak. The evil PDB grows in profusion in the area of the gigantic Station Fire of 2004.

Had a gorgeous sunset.

 

May 28 day 29 camped mile 444.3 the Acton KOA walked 17.3 miles today

Nice early start today. More Poodle Dog Bush dancing today. Arrived at the KOA after a long hot descent. It seemed like hiker heaven with showers, laundry, jacuzzi and Chinese take out.

 

May 29 day 30 camped mile 454.5 the Saufly’s hiked 10.2 miles today.

It was hard to leave the jacuzzi and start hiking today. The walk was short but interesting. In the tunnel under the 14 freeway met up with Simba, Rainmaker and Drama Queen. Passed thru Vasquez rocks county park a frequent Hollywood location. Had a wonderful lunch at the Sweetwater  Cafe with a dozen other thruhikers. Shopped for food at the local market. Met swarms of people at the Saufly’s Hikers Heaven. It was a fun evening eating French toast watching Forest Gump and later drinking wine with 786 and Captin Christy.

 

May 30 day 31 camped mile 478.6 San Fransiquito Canyon Rd walked 24.1 miles today.

Started late after a ham and cheese croissant at the little bakery in Agua Dulce. Hot long day. There was a wildfire just starting to burn ahead. It was cool walking closer and closer to the fire. Walked out to the road in case the fire got more out of control.

Sun and Smoke

image photo

May 31 message: “There is a fire near the trail. I am holed up in Green Valley at The Anderson’s place with a lot of other hikers. Currently the closure area includes about 30 PCT miles. Will likely get a ride to that point tomorrow.”

Days 25-27

May 24 day 25 hiked to mile 369.8 hiked 13.1 miles today

The dawn was gorgeous from my vantage point. I was on the trail by 5:45. It was great weather for walking. Made it to the trailhead at highway 2 and was greeted with a big hug by Yani who was getting back on the trail. After getting groceries and alcohol fuel I spent the afternoon first with some thruhikers and then with my sister Lauri niece Nicole and friend Begonya at the Yodeler restaurant. Spent the eve at the Lodge at the Methodist camp. Lots of other thru hikers were staying here.

May 25 day 26 camped mile 384.5 hiked 14.7 miles

It was Boy Scout day today. Started with a free breakfast in Wrightwood sponsored by troop 529. Met various other groups out hiking. Climbed Mt Baden-Powell named after the founder of the Boy Scouts. After the summit the trail follows ridges west with great views. Made camp just past an established campsite with loads of Boy Scouts near Jimmy Springs.

May 26 day 27 camped mile 404.6 walked 20.1 miles today.

Ran into Kati and Positive today right at the decision point to do the official 2013 PCT detour or do a mixture of PCT, road walking, and the Buckhart trail. Decided the latter.

Days 18-24

May 17 day 18 off trail mile 266 stayed with Papa Smurf and Mountain Moma hiked 9.5 miles today. Quick hike out to Highway 18. Called trail angels Papa Smurf and  Mountain Moma. Got all my preparations for the next section to Wrightwood. Had a wonderful day with the other thru hikers. Got to sleep in a tiny trailer.

May 18 camped mile 275 Caribou creek hiked 9 miles today. Was going to be a zero day as in zero miles hiked however my meet up plans fell thru so I decided to hike. Stayed with Kelso and Dave a section hiker.

May 19 day 20 camped mile 293.3 walked 18.3 miles today

May 20 day 21 camped mile 308 Deep Creek Hot Springs walked 14.7 miles today It was a beautiful descent down deep creek the largest river we have seen so far. Arrived at the hot springs early had my best trip to deep creek ever.

May 21 day 22 stayed at Deep creek hot springs. I soaked slept and ate. It was a fantastic zero (mileage) day for me and my first so far on the PCT.

May 22 day 23 camped mile 333.9 hiked 25.7 miles today. After a good long rest I zoomed today. Felt good to put on some miles.

May 23 day 24 camped mile 356.7 hiked 23 miles today. Hiked thru the Cajon pass today. It was cool and cloudy and windy in the pass. After a couple of burritos made the tough climb out of the pass. Met up with Rewind and walked with him the last part of the day. Had a fantastic view campsite. Saw the full moon rising over a sea of clouds.

days 13-17

May 12 day 13 camped mile 195.4 walked 10.2 miles today

Climbed to the summit of San Jacinto today and was rewarded with gorgeous panoramic views of the great pass ahead. Descended about half way down toward interstate 10 and the heat.

May 13 day 14 camped mile 210,5 at the Trail Angels Ziggy and the Bear’s place in Whitewater.

It was brutally hot today descending eventually to the low point of the 10 freeway. There was water, sodas and even beer left by trail angels there. It was 108 degrees today. The trail angels Ziggy and the Bear’s place was fantastic. I was number 564 passing thru this year.

May 14 day 15 camped mile 222 walked 12 miles today.

Rattlesnakes gliding
Rattlers rattling
What would slide under
The reclining Soup Nazi’s shoe
A snake and it was a big one too

Met Scott Tanner at the Whitewater Preserve for several rounds of Thai food from Banning. Yum and a busted belly. Superb evening walk up 3 resupplyed miles. Made a gorgeous little camp for the evening.

May 15 day 16 camped mile 239.5 walked 17.5 today

Started out a lovely day but eventually got very hot. Trail followed miles of Mission creek.

May 16 day 17 camped mile 256.5 hiked 17 miles today

Nice to be up in the mountains again. Was very cold last night with ice on my sleeping bag by morning. It quickly warmed to hot. Gorgeous incense cedar in a pine and fir forest.