Day 30 There was a long and exposed climb at the beginning of today’s iteanrry so I got up and started walking back to the trail a little after five am. Turned out to be an overcast and colder day so the climb was easy. It was foggy and slightly drizzling. When one sood still, distant birds could be heard. Further up the mountain the mist was condensing so extensively that it was actually raining…
Day 29 In case you missed last days post you might think that “Hiker Heaven” is where hikers who fall of cliffs or get mauled by bears go and not the colloquial name of a backyard belonging to a married couple outside rural Agua Dulce who lets hikers camp there. The amenities include port-a-potties, showers (warm ones if you are patient), wifi, the possibility to recharge your electrical devices and yourself. Today I am taking…
Day 28 The small rural town of Aqua Dulce was the aim of today’s hiking. Got up early as usual and got some easy but uneventful miles done. Then at a point where the trail crossed a road I was surprised to find trail magic again from the aforementioned “Copper Tone” that I had met a week earlier. Nice! He had simply moved shop further into the trail. Small talked with him and and some…
Day 27 Slept well and got up before dawn to hike. Just before leaving camp I checked to see if I forgot something. I hadn’t but instead noticed anbig frog slowly waddling across it. When the sun poked up over the horizon it highlighted surprising number of nice views as the trail took us near the crest line most of the day. The trail was pretty flat and nicely maintained, so things were easy going.…
Day 26 Slept well and got up at a little before 4 am and got a lot of hiking done before it got warm. That is to say it didn’t get intensely warm at any point, which was nice. There were some fine views here and there peaking out over the surroundings. The cloud covered some of the desert floor so that it looked like the mountain peaks were sticking up through a sea of…
Day 25 I’ve often had problems with getting cold late at night/in the early morning even though my sleeping bag is supposed to handle much lower temperatures. Today was one of those days despite the fact that I was more or less wearing all of my clothing while sleeping in the sleeping bag. I am apparently a very cold sleeper. I’ll buy another pair of long johns so I could wear two pairs and see…
Day 24 Today was going to be a long day as I had to get all the way to Wrightwood and in particular its post office before it closed, resupply, and get back to the trail and camp. I therefore set my alarm for 2:35 am was a bit slow to get out of the door, but still this should leave ample time. Was a bit chocked when I on my way back to the…
Day 23 To get something out of the hotel stay, I had decided to take a zero day here in Cajon Pass. It was all the usual stuff: planning and resupplying for the next couple of days, doing laundry. The laundromat unfortunately got jammed on my coins. A guy came to help, but couldn’t fix it and said that he’d be back. Cut to 40 minuets later and he wasn’t. The hotel apologized and got…
Day 22 Thirty one miles was the goal of today in order to make it into Wrightwood in two days. Thus I got up at 3:30 am to start hiking. Saw a deer in the distance. Probably explained some weird animal noises I had heard the previous night. I had thought that the noise could have been mountain lions, but I don’t know if they are found here in the Inland Empire region of California.…
Day 21 This day started out following the Deep Creek, which had eroded its way down a deep canyon. This made for a nice but not extraordinary scenery. After that came Deep Creek Hot Springs, which was an area with natural hot springs and clothing optional bathing. Where the springs ran out into the creek small tubs had been made to relax in. I think the hot springs would be cooler on a cold day,…