One Month Down

Stats: Friday 6/4, MM 369

(159 new miles, 369.0 total miles, 2,281.0 to go)

After our zero day on Tuesday, we set out Wednesday morning. Uber driver picked us up and dropped us off at the trail, we started hiking at 7:30. Mild climbs at first, then stopped at a small shaded area provided for hikers by the windmill company META. Met Tarzan, who got his name from hair and jumping over fallen trees really easy.

We left the shelter place and started steeper climbs and then back to the desert floor, really hot weather. Got to a whitewater sanctuary, plenty of water to drink and soak your feet, plus a ranger station. Blazing hot, water felt great! Ran into Tarzan, Flintstone, Kate. Also met a guy from Australia who hiked the AT in 3 months in 2018, now has only one lung but still a great hiker. The Covid shot damaged his lung and he was not able to get it back. We had dinner there and camped for the night.

 

Thursday we left whitewater preserve, hiked 13 miles to get part way up an 8,000 mountain in the San Bernadino mountain range. Very hot again today, but thankfully we had plenty of water. Met very upbeat young lady who started hiking yesterday, named her Upbeat. She was hurt a month and a half ago and had to get off the trail because her leg swelled. Had several tests and they could find nothing wrong, so now she’s back. Had a few conversations today, she is taking a survey of hikers and how the trail is impacted from hiker’s viewpoint. Also met Manners, you could tell how polite he was, and Return, who worked at REI in returns.

Thursday we enjoyed a quiet night sleep before starting a 25-mile uphill on the big mountain on Friday morning. Not the whole thing is steep, gradual at first. Starting 2 miles before the top we knew we’d be without a water source for 18 miles, so we had to camel up (drink as much as we could) then carry 4 liters each. Journey to the top was a pain, but we made it!

Saw Upbeat taking a break in the shade, we joined her. She brought out a bag of peanut butter pretzel nuggets that she shared because they were too heavy to carry. We gladly helped her – we all ate the whole bag – and got an amazing burst of energy to go the next 5 miles. We couldn’t believe how much those pretzels helped! We found a tent site and camped there.

trail angels again!

Crazy windy overnight! The wind died down at dusk, but picked up with a vengeance at 1:30AM. I was camped next to a huge tree, got up to check it at 3:30, no danger. Needless to say, didn’t get much sleep after that.

The wind blew in some cooler weather, we enjoyed a few climbs and a lot of downhills. After 6 miles, came to some trail magic! A young woman hiking with her husband had hurt her IT band had to stop. Now she is following her husband in their van and blessing hikers with trail magic. So glad to see her, so thankful! We hiked 15 miles, had 7 to go the next day into Big Bear. 

Sunday we went into Big Bear, a lady picked us up and drove us to a trolley stop where we could get a free trolley into Big Bear. Enjoyed a day off before saying goodbye to Gramps and Dan. Dan’s wife was coming to join him for vacation before heading home, his journey was ending. Gramps and I have different hiking goals, plus Gramps wanted to stay longer in Big Bear. We may meet again further on down the trail – with hiking you never know!

I am so very thankful we all started and hiked this first part of the journey together. Hiking with them was one of my main motivations to come out here.

Monday I tried to get an Uber, Gramps and Dan suggested the trolley bus. I found it, she dropped me off 10 miles from where I needed to start hiking. As I started walking, someone with a trailer stopped and gave me a ride because they were going past my spot. They ran a hostel and were taking their grandson to Yellowstone for a few weeks. So thankful for their hospitality!

The day was cooler, climbs not as steep. After a while, I looked to my left and could see the place we stayed at the night before down by Big Bear Lake, way below. I wondered what the guys were doing, missed them already.

Shortly I came to a guy with trail magic named Big Sexy. Really nice guy, had chairs set up and was cooking hot dogs for the hikers. Met another hiker named Triple C – people called him Chas, Chuck, Charles. Stayed an hour and enjoyed the food and company, then moved on.

Walked past a family out biking for the day. Their dog didn’t like me, could have been my smell. Yes, through hikers have a smell all their own! They gave me a few bottles of water and a PB&J sandwich, very thankful.

I came to a dirt road and could not find the trail. A guy in a pickup stopped, said “follow the road”, then told me he climbed El Capitan 12 times! He said the guy who free soloed was trying for a record while he was there. It took him 7 days to climb it. Yikes, sleeping on the side of the mountain, can’t imagine! After hiking 22 miles today, found one nice tent site with no wind, stopped for the night.

Tuesday was a crazy long day, not too steep and nice trail, hot but had plenty of water along the way. What a difference! Met Jacob, nice younger guy, probably in early 30’s, very quiet. I haven’t seen many people at all lately, quiet hiking. 

Hit the 300 mile mark! I heard about a malt shop off the trail, where you can be picked up by hostel owner named California Chrome, who had hiked the AT, PCT, and Continental Divide Trail (CDT). He hiked the AT in 2016, I remembered meeting him. But since I had to walk 1.3 miles to get to his place I decided not to go.

Trying to find a camp site, not many spots because surrounded by steep canyon walls. Camped on the side of the trail where the mountain curves. Found out later it was a side trail and not a camping site. I figured that no one would be by since it was late in the day. But around midnight, I heard footsteps and saw a light. Guy said, “just passing through, sorry I woke you.”

Wednesday I saw Jacob again, still hardly seeing any hikers. Met Ocean, who just got out of the Coast Guard, and Flash, she is a fast hiker. They started hiking together after the first day. Saw a dam, not much water there.

more water from trail angels

Hard to find the trail at times, navigation a bit tricky. Crossed a creek – shoes off, water felt good. No camping for 30 miles except at campgrounds. Cost $10 to camp, had to check in at the ranger station. But, plenty of water! Nice sprawling campground, lots of room but also lots of people, which makes it noisier. Even though people talk quietly at 1:30AM, sound carries in the wilderness.

 

Thursday I left the campground and headed up the trail, saw Muddy and Raven again but they were still camping, told them I’d see them at McDonalds.

Yes, a McDonald’s out here about 3 blocks from the trail. Overindulged with too many carbs and felt a little nauseous, but hiked 5 more miles to get to the campground before the next big climb. This campground was in the woods, no sites needed, a backpacking kind of place. Jacob and I and a few others camped out here. Trail angels supplied about 60 gallons of water for us.

Friday I had to hike 22 miles to the top of the mountain, so I got up at 4:30 to get an early start. Saw a few other people a little later in the day. The guy whose wife was following him said that if I could make 22 miles they could get me to Wrightwood, which was where Mary sent my next package. So I pushed to get there, dead beat tired but made it.

Views never get old!

On final leg into Wrightwood. Beautiful!

Looking for a place to stay, I saw a sign on a tree to stay at someone’s house for $75 per night. Peter is a very nice man in his 70’s, has been a scientologist since the 60’s. He drove me to pick up my package and resupply in town. At the grocery store they had a hiker box with Kind bars and tuna. More trail angels!

The next morning I went into town today and had a nice breakfast with Justin and the hiker from Germany. Then laundry and rest, the usual zero day activities.

Unlike my AT hike, much of the PCT hike is about logistics, which can be challenging. Resupply towns are not as frequent and are farther from the trail, so requires more planning rather than “hike until you’re tired” and a town will be nearby. I’m learning a whole lot!

Today is my one-month anniversary on the trail. I’ve seen the magnificent beauty of God’s creation, hiked 369 miles, and met kind and friendly people both on and off the trail. Enjoying the journey!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support, could not do this without you. Godspeed, from the desert!

Nailgun