Location: Grass Valley Creek
Well today was interesting. Woke up and started out early by
myself. I walked yesterday with mango but went solo today. At 15
miles I came to a natural hot springs. At first I was excited to soak
a bit, but then i noticed that there were an awful lot of naked
people. Ummmmm, so apparently the locals treat the hot springs as a
hippie nudist colony. Needless to say, I tipped my hat and politely
said a few hellos and walked on. This trail is weird.
I'm camping tonight with Dave, straightjacket, and wanderer.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Day 16: Mile 293.1 (19)
Location: Holcomb Creek Camp
Left big bear today and got a ride up to the van dusen trail head in a
Swiss army truck....pretty cool. The day was very easy. Lots of
level and downhill hiking. Went through a long burndown section , was
kind of depressing. At the end of the day I had two river fords and
slipped on the first one. Completely dunked under, and got a nice cut
on my leg in the process. Hasn't been a good week for injuries, but
tomorrow we have a hot springs on the trail....will be nice to soak.
Only a few days to wrightwood.
Left big bear today and got a ride up to the van dusen trail head in a
Swiss army truck....pretty cool. The day was very easy. Lots of
level and downhill hiking. Went through a long burndown section , was
kind of depressing. At the end of the day I had two river fords and
slipped on the first one. Completely dunked under, and got a nice cut
on my leg in the process. Hasn't been a good week for injuries, but
tomorrow we have a hot springs on the trail....will be nice to soak.
Only a few days to wrightwood.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Day 15: Cruisin' and Bruisin' in Big Bear City
Location: Big Bear City : Zero Day 1
Enjoying a nice day off here in town. Did my usual postal stuff and
laundry, and now just relaxing. I went to the outfitter and got a sun
hat...finally.
The story on the bruised arm is pretty embarrasing. During an 8 mile
road walk a few days ago, I slipped on loose gravel. As I was
falling I grabbed a metal bar on the side of the road (the kind with
the white reflectors) and it tore my wool shirt and arm up on the
process. Doesn't hurt anymore really, but looks nasty.
Anyhoo, thought this would be a good time to talk a little about gear
so far:
Favourite piece of gear so far:
Backpacking Light Merino wool hoodie
I love this shirt. Sucks that I tore it up. I hand sewed it, but I
don't know if it will hold.
Close second: Brooks Cascadia 5 shoes. Great shoes. No blisters or
foot pain and with almost 300 miles on them they still look new.
Most worthless piece of gear:
Mountain Laurel Designs Gaitors. Terrible design. I am ordering some
Dirty Girl gaitors on line.
Close Second: Six Moons Meteor Bivy. Very annoying to setup and
use. I sent it home already.
Gear I was most glad to have: gps during snowy sections and 15 degree
bag.
Will write more later....
Enjoying a nice day off here in town. Did my usual postal stuff and
laundry, and now just relaxing. I went to the outfitter and got a sun
hat...finally.
The story on the bruised arm is pretty embarrasing. During an 8 mile
road walk a few days ago, I slipped on loose gravel. As I was
falling I grabbed a metal bar on the side of the road (the kind with
the white reflectors) and it tore my wool shirt and arm up on the
process. Doesn't hurt anymore really, but looks nasty.
Anyhoo, thought this would be a good time to talk a little about gear
so far:
Favourite piece of gear so far:
Backpacking Light Merino wool hoodie
I love this shirt. Sucks that I tore it up. I hand sewed it, but I
don't know if it will hold.
Close second: Brooks Cascadia 5 shoes. Great shoes. No blisters or
foot pain and with almost 300 miles on them they still look new.
Most worthless piece of gear:
Mountain Laurel Designs Gaitors. Terrible design. I am ordering some
Dirty Girl gaitors on line.
Close Second: Six Moons Meteor Bivy. Very annoying to setup and
use. I sent it home already.
Gear I was most glad to have: gps during snowy sections and 15 degree
bag.
Will write more later....
Day 14: Mile 274.1 (27.9)
Location: big bear city
Well, I had no intention of going into big bear today. I started the
day with 19 miles to hit highway 18. I was going to hike to about
there, and then hike the 8 miles to van dusen rd tomorrow. I got to
highway 18 at 1 pm and just decided to keep going. At 4:00 pm i was
at van dusen so I walked into town. Never on the AT did I cover 27
miles by 4pm. Anyway...I'm staying at a little hiker motel with
ishmael. It's a perfect little spot. Tomorrow is a zero!!! Not
hiking. Going to enjoy town, get my mail, and go to the outfitter.
Breakfast tomorrow at the famous Thelmas.
The next 100 + miles of the pct head west towards LA.
Well, I had no intention of going into big bear today. I started the
day with 19 miles to hit highway 18. I was going to hike to about
there, and then hike the 8 miles to van dusen rd tomorrow. I got to
highway 18 at 1 pm and just decided to keep going. At 4:00 pm i was
at van dusen so I walked into town. Never on the AT did I cover 27
miles by 4pm. Anyway...I'm staying at a little hiker motel with
ishmael. It's a perfect little spot. Tomorrow is a zero!!! Not
hiking. Going to enjoy town, get my mail, and go to the outfitter.
Breakfast tomorrow at the famous Thelmas.
The next 100 + miles of the pct head west towards LA.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Day 13: Mile 246.2 (19.7)
Location: Coon Creek Camp
Today was all about climbing. We had a 7000 ft climb from mission
creek camp up to 8500 feet. It's hard to explain starting a day in
sweltering heat and ending the day dealing with snow postholing. At
any rate, it ended with a group of us hanging in in an old cabin.
Good stuff.
Tomorrow I set up for big bear city.
Today was all about climbing. We had a 7000 ft climb from mission
creek camp up to 8500 feet. It's hard to explain starting a day in
sweltering heat and ending the day dealing with snow postholing. At
any rate, it ended with a group of us hanging in in an old cabin.
Good stuff.
Tomorrow I set up for big bear city.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Day 12: Mile 226.5 (23.5)
Location: West Fork of Mission Creek
Rough day today. The day started really well as Ishmael and I
descended to highway 10. Right near the highway a guy named Scott
offered to givevus a ride to cabazon (4.5 miles away). We took him up
and headed in. It was a very bizarre experience. There were giant
dinosaurs outside the diner that had gift shops inside. Here's the
kicker though. They were run by fundamentalist Christians who were
basically trying to tell us that dinosaurs never actually existed.
Like ibsaid....weird. The breakfast was great though. Once hitching
a ride back, we began hiking in extreme heat. Anything chocolate in
my bag was completely melted and I was miserable. Getting to camp
tonight was a struggle. Tomorrow we have a 5000 ft climb up into the
San gorgonio range, before decending into big bear city probably Friday.
Thankfully tomorrow is supposed to be cooler.
Rough day today. The day started really well as Ishmael and I
descended to highway 10. Right near the highway a guy named Scott
offered to givevus a ride to cabazon (4.5 miles away). We took him up
and headed in. It was a very bizarre experience. There were giant
dinosaurs outside the diner that had gift shops inside. Here's the
kicker though. They were run by fundamentalist Christians who were
basically trying to tell us that dinosaurs never actually existed.
Like ibsaid....weird. The breakfast was great though. Once hitching
a ride back, we began hiking in extreme heat. Anything chocolate in
my bag was completely melted and I was miserable. Getting to camp
tonight was a struggle. Tomorrow we have a 5000 ft climb up into the
San gorgonio range, before decending into big bear city probably Friday.
Thankfully tomorrow is supposed to be cooler.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Day 11: Mile 203 (24.4)
Location: Flat spot on descent from San Jacinto
Today was quite an epic day. Our group of four split and only Ishmael
and I left idyllwild. We decided the snow was too difficult on San
jacinto, so we walked the official pcta road detour 8 miles up highway
248, and 8 miles up black mtn rd. Afterword we joined the pct after
fuller ridge and hiked almost all the way down to the valley floor.
Our trail miles totaled 24.4, but we actually hiked over 27. Long
day. Looking forward to a good sleep. The backside of jacinto was
beautiful with all the snow. San gregornio looks pretty bad up ahead
too. Guess we'll see.
Tomorrow we might hitch into cabazon for some burger king.
Today was quite an epic day. Our group of four split and only Ishmael
and I left idyllwild. We decided the snow was too difficult on San
jacinto, so we walked the official pcta road detour 8 miles up highway
248, and 8 miles up black mtn rd. Afterword we joined the pct after
fuller ridge and hiked almost all the way down to the valley floor.
Our trail miles totaled 24.4, but we actually hiked over 27. Long
day. Looking forward to a good sleep. The backside of jacinto was
beautiful with all the snow. San gregornio looks pretty bad up ahead
too. Guess we'll see.
Tomorrow we might hitch into cabazon for some burger king.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Day 10: Mile 178.6 (10.6)
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Wow....lots of scary snow. The past 10 miles were very difficult. Several unsettling and terrifying sections. It took 6 hours to go 6 miles, and I had no microspikes or axe....just trekking poles. Not fun. There are a lot of people in town that are all trying to decide what to do. It's kind of a crappy atmosphere. A group of is are
talking about roadwalking 17 miles around fuller ridge (San jacinto). San Gregorino is supposed to also be bad. In addition, there is a closed section of the pct coming up that has no reroute yet. Kind of a crappy spot to be in. But hey, I'm in Cali, hiking, and having fun. Been hanging with Ishmael, Furniture, and Sam. Good group.
Might zero tomorrow.
Wow....lots of scary snow. The past 10 miles were very difficult. Several unsettling and terrifying sections. It took 6 hours to go 6 miles, and I had no microspikes or axe....just trekking poles. Not fun. There are a lot of people in town that are all trying to decide what to do. It's kind of a crappy atmosphere. A group of is are
talking about roadwalking 17 miles around fuller ridge (San jacinto). San Gregorino is supposed to also be bad. In addition, there is a closed section of the pct coming up that has no reroute yet. Kind of a crappy spot to be in. But hey, I'm in Cali, hiking, and having fun. Been hanging with Ishmael, Furniture, and Sam. Good group.
Might zero tomorrow.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Day 9: Mile 168 (20)
Location: Nice Sheltered (from wind) Campsite Before Apache Peak.
Today started out with a let down. The famous Paradise Cafe that all pct hikers visit, was closed. I was really looking forward to this place. Guess it might reopen under new management. Anyway, the rest
of the day was amazing. Lots of climbs, but also lots of ridgeline hiking. San Jacinto and it's snow look ominous in the distance. Tomorrow, I will tackle a 10 mile snowy section and head into idyllwild. Woo hoo. Soooo glad to have my 15 degree bag tonight.
Today also marks an important date, for it was exactly 3 years ago that I set foot off of springer mountain on my quest to hike 2174 miles north to Mt. Katahdin. What a fitting way to celebrate my 3 year anniversary of that life changing event....to be out doing another long hike.
Today started out with a let down. The famous Paradise Cafe that all pct hikers visit, was closed. I was really looking forward to this place. Guess it might reopen under new management. Anyway, the rest
of the day was amazing. Lots of climbs, but also lots of ridgeline hiking. San Jacinto and it's snow look ominous in the distance. Tomorrow, I will tackle a 10 mile snowy section and head into idyllwild. Woo hoo. Soooo glad to have my 15 degree bag tonight.
Today also marks an important date, for it was exactly 3 years ago that I set foot off of springer mountain on my quest to hike 2174 miles north to Mt. Katahdin. What a fitting way to celebrate my 3 year anniversary of that life changing event....to be out doing another long hike.
May 1st, 2007
Day 8: Mile 148 (20.9)
Location: Grassy Spot Past Alkali Wash
Another great day. Trying to set myself up for a Sunday arrival in idyllwild, so I have to do two low 20 days. Today was perfect for this. I took lots of breaks and even an hour nap in the grass. There are some ominous snowy peaks off in the distance that everyone is worried about. I'll know on Sunday if I'll be taking a roadwalk detour or not. I'm really enjoying the days of walking that allow me
to think about things.
Hope all is well with everyone and I am excited to be sleeping in my warm bag tonight!
Another great day. Trying to set myself up for a Sunday arrival in idyllwild, so I have to do two low 20 days. Today was perfect for this. I took lots of breaks and even an hour nap in the grass. There are some ominous snowy peaks off in the distance that everyone is worried about. I'll know on Sunday if I'll be taking a roadwalk detour or not. I'm really enjoying the days of walking that allow me
to think about things.
Hope all is well with everyone and I am excited to be sleeping in my warm bag tonight!
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