PCT Day 18

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PCT Day 18, 30 May 2022 (Monday)

”Cajon Pass”

Start Location:	Silverwood State C.G.	Destination:	Wilderness Camp
PCT Miles Day 18:	27.4	Cum PCT Miles:	356.2
Non-PCT Miles Day 18:	1.6	Cum All Miles:	377.0
PCT Miles Remaining:	2,296.4
Elevation Gain Day 18:	4,384	Cum Elevation Gain:	58,841

The zero in Big Bear, followed by the threasy was really noticeable today.  I felt more energy and strength today than since the first week of the hike.  I actually did four more miles than I originally planned today.  It made for a long day, but it’s good because I’ll have a much shorter and easier hike to Wrightwood tomorrow.

Today was another day on the PCT with very interesting sites, though different from yesterday.  The highlight, in a way, was the rest stop at Cajon Pass.

Most PCT hikers really look forward to this, because of the novelty of having a McDonald’s right off the trail.  But, it was also nice to have a convenience store to get a few items.  I normally only take about half an hour for lunch, but I was there for three times that long today.

In a different way, a bigger highlight for me was hiking to, and over, the very noticeable slanted rocks (Mormon Rocks) that you see to the west of I15.  I always noticed them when I drive over Cajon Pass, and always wanted to hike over to them; I finally did today.

All in all, a good day.

BTW, the trail provided again.  Although trail magic has been sparse for us May-start hikers compared to March and April hikers, there was some today at Cajon pass.  There was a guy who had section hiked the PCT, and he had all kinds of stuff from beverages to food.  I can’t believe it, but one of my, supposedly, high quality Black Diamond trekking poles broke.  The temporary fix for many things on trail, as I’m sure you guessed, is duct or gorilla tape; and this guy had some.

 

Wildflowers on the way down to Cajon Pass.

A great view from the PCT looking out towards Cajon Pass.

Where the PCT meets I15 at Cajon Pass.

A curious place for a PCT sign, on the wall of a major highway underpass.

An interesting, if short, section of trail under I15.

This is your daily traffic report, the I15 is slow with traffic (look near the back of the pic), but the PCT is very clear.  We suggest you get out of your car and start walking.

A close-up of the interesting, slanted rocks (Mormon Rocks) you can see to the west of I15.

Another interesting passage.

Trains going by the PCT near Cajon Pass.

This section of track is well known to train fans around the world. Many of them come here just to see it...you know how train fans are.  And this is probably a bench they sit on while watching.

Spectacular, this is why we hike the PCT.

Yuccas in full bloom.

Swarthout Canyon water cache…nice!  They even had hand sanitizer.

Different stages of yucca.

 

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PCT Day 17

 

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PCT Day 17, 29 May 2022 (Sunday)

”Threasy”

Start Location:	Wilderness Camp Near Deep Creek	Destination:  Vu	Silverwood State C.G.
PCT Miles Day 16:	22.8	Cum PCT Miles:	328.8
Non-PCT Miles Day 16:	1.9	Cum All Miles:	348.0
PCT Miles Remaining:	2,323.8
Elevation Gain Day 16:	2,777	Cum Elevation Gain:	54,457

Just like Pat Riley, former Lakers coach, copyrighted the word “Threepeat“ I am copyrighting the word “Threasy.”  It is when you have three easy days in a row.  It’s not that the last three days were easy hiking in absolute terms, it’s that they were easy by PCT standards.  Today was the hardest of the last three days because it was the longest, and it felt the warmest, and there was a lot of moderate bushwhacking.  The sights today were more varied than most of the other days: creeks, canyons, dams, power plants, highways, industrial fences, and lakes.

I saw rattlesnake #5 today., a western diamondback. It “sliddered” two feet from my toes when I was hiking on another steep hillside.  It part slid and part slithered quickly past me down the steep, sandy, slippery hill.  It didn’t even rattle, and I had no shot— no pun intended—to get a picture.  And I think I get double bonus points for making up two words in one day.

I camped at the Silverwood State Campground tonight, it was quite a popular place with the recreational crowd.

BTW, A non-hiking way you can use the word “threasy:” you’re at the office on a late Thursday afternoon before a three-day weekend, a colleague walks by and says “good night have a nice weekend”.  And you say “good night have a nice threasy.”

Deep Creek in the morning

Hairy Yerba Santa, looks a lot like Poodle-dog Bush

Deep Creek Hot Springs

The colorful, arched Deep Creek bridge, one of several bridges that spans Deep Creek

Mojave River Forks Dam, holding back…sand?

The view today, the highest peak to the left is Mount San Antonio (a.k.a. Mount Baldy)

Pretty interesting site along the PCT

This is a pretty funky section of the PCT

Silverwood Lake, like an object in a mirror, it’s much larger than it appears

Horned Lizard

One never knows where a flower grows

 

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PCT Day 16

 

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PCT Day 16, 28 May 2022 (Saturday)

”Easy Peasy”

Start Location:	Little Bear Spring Trail Camp	Destination:	Wilderness Camp Near Deep Creek
PCT Miles Day 16:	20.4	Cum PCT Miles:	306
Non-PCT Miles Day 16:	0.1	Cum All Miles:	323.3
PCT Miles Remaining:	2,346.6
Elevation Gain Day 16:	1,504	Cum Elevation Gain:	51,680

Who said the PCT is hard? Did I say that about the first 12 days?  Well, things have changed at least for the last couple days and probably tomorrow as well.  Today was about a mile longer and the trail was modestly more challenging, but by PCT standards, it was fairly easy.  The trail was mostly mellow, with no real steep, inclines or declines.

The trail followed Holcomb Creek for most of the morning and then Deep Creek for most of the afternoon, so it was pretty nice to hike.

The only real challenges were some downed trees to get by and some very narrow trail on areas that had steep drop offs, which also sometimes had loose dirt— you can’t freak out about trail like that if you’re going to hike 2,650 miles.  And to top it all off, I got a great campsite right by Deep Creek.

Holcomb Creek, I heard it most of the morning in a ravine below me, now I could finally see it.

Deep Creek Area.

Taking pictures of the century markers isn’t getting old yet, but maybe it will soon.

Deep Creek, my water source for tonight.  Excellent!

 

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PCT Day 15

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PCT Day 15, 27 May 2022 (Friday)

”A Change Of Direction”

Start Location:	Big Bear City	Destination:	Little Bear Spring Trail Camp
PCT Miles Day 15:	19.5	Cum PCT Miles:	285.6
Non-PCT Miles Day 15:	0.1	Cum All Miles:	302.8
PCT Miles Remaining:	2,367.0
Elevation Gain Day 15:	2,134	Cum Elevation Gain:	50,176

Up to now the trail has generally been heading northward.   Now we are making a sharp left turn, and for almost the next couple hundred miles the trail is heading generally westward.

Even though I got a late start today, due to leaving town, it was, by far, my most lackadaisical hiking pace yet.   I knew I would have no problem getting to my destination, so no need to burn up the track, I just hiked at a nice, relaxed pace all day.   It felt a little strange to be hiking without a sense of urgency, I almost felt like I was getting behind even though I knew I wasn’t.  I had a nice camp spot, with water, at Little Bear Spring Trail Camp.

This looks like a caterpillar transforming into a moth, but not sure

Sorry animals using wheels, this trail is for animals using feet

Pretty nice trail today out of Big Bear

Wildflowers near Big Bear

Hummingbird food

A nice view of Big Bear Lake

Not a normal hiker lunch, but I think it’s nice to have a somewhat normal meal the first day out of town

Tentsite at Little Bear Spring Trail Camp, cooking dinner on my tiny, but powerful, stove

 

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PCT Day 14

 

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PCT Day 14, 26 May 2022 (Thursday)

"Zero"

Start Location:	Big Bear Lake	Destination:	Big Bear Lake
PCT Miles Day 14:	0	Cum PCT Miles:	266.1
Non-PCT Miles Day 14:	0	Cum All Miles:	283.2
PCT Miles Remaining:	2,386.5
Elevation Gain Day 14:	0	Cum Elevation Gain:	48,042

 

Today Is what is called in long-distance hiking a zero day, a day were no miles are hiked on the official trail.  It is a day to get things done, and to let the body rest.  The good news is I actually got things done.  My cell service is working again, after only nine short days—maybe there’s a lawsuit against Verizon in the future.

I also got new pockets for my convertible Columbia pants (not sure why they used such cheap mesh fabric for their pockets).  Again, the trail provides here.  Nearing the end of the trail yesterday there was a board with various local business cards up there, and one happened to be for a seamstress who will do fast work for hikers.  She drove to the coin wash where I was doing laundry, picked up my pants, and then returned them about 1.5 hours later to my hotel.  She was only going to charge me $10, but I gave her more.

 

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