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Journal - April
| 16 April - Campo, CA. |
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After spending the night in aubin's car parked outside the "motor transport museum" instead of the Train Museum (where we were expected) we awoke to beautiful chaparral scenery, lots of wind, and about 15 border patrol chevy blazers whizzing by.
We left Aubin's car at the real Train Museum, where a very friendly Tomas Bragington helped us out. Then we headed up the road, about a mile and a half to the border and the start of the trail. Border Patrol had no interest in escorting us there, though they made sure to let us know there were lots of "aliens" out there...despite the 75 or so trucks in sight, and ready for action.
After the ceremonial pictures at the border (a six foot high metal fence) we headed north towards Canada, passing mexican sardine cans, discarded shoes, and two pairs of underwear hanging from a tree branch. We saw a bobcat right off, sneaking through the sage brush, and later, and enormous rattle snake that I almost walked into.
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| 18 April - Lake Morena, CA. |
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A large and successful gathering of tru-hikers. The day started at 630 with a loud steller's jay alarm call. It was chilly- frost on my pack. Fortunately Bob, a good samaritan and hiker friend from San Diego served us all a warm breakfast of hash browns, eggs and english muffins. Needless to say it took a few hours to get on the trail after a meal like that. I took off with two hikers I met the day before- Yip and Donna, but met up with several others throughout the day until there was group of eight of us by nightfall, and we all camped in Long Canyon, five miles outside Mt. Laguna and our first resupply point.
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| 20 April - Scissors Crossing, CA. |
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Made it down to the flats just as the sun fell. A 21 mile day, made easier by the water stashed by friendly PCT hiker friends. I picked the first available flat spot to camp, only about 15 feet from the trail and supposedly protected from the wind [My tent collapsed around me that night as the wind made its first debut of what became a four day rampage!]
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| 21 April - Grapevine mountain |
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A windy supposedly hot mountain. This side of the valley is completely different from the other side! Here is is all cholla, barrel cactus, ocatillo, rock wrens, and prickly pear. All in bloom (except the bird) and beautiful.
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| 22 April - Warner Springs, CA |
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The day started with dark clouds whipping overhead, and it was freezing- probably 35 degrees. We [Donna, Yip and I] started hiking at 7am, but Batch, the 77 year old from NH, camped a mile down the trail from us and was hiking by 6am. We were slowed by wind, and a massive gorp spill on the trail, which required an expert clean up crew...
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| 23 April - Near Combs Peak, CA. |
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Hands too cold to write. Hiked in rain, hail and snow across this here mountain. Camped on trail, still freezing, but I'm in my tent and in my damp but warm sleeping bag. Big pot of hot food in front of me. I should eat it.
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| 25 April - Kamp Anza, CA. |
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150 miles are behind me, and today was supposedly a rest day. We got here yesterday (I hitched in with Lara, Jason and Jonathan) did some laundry, and was fed a large lasagna dinner by two wonderful hosts at this here "Hiker's Oasis".
Pat Ziegler and Paul Miller. We are camped in their green yard, and this morning Paul drove us to the trail head so we could hike the 14 mile that go go past this town, then he picked us up at the end of the day, and re-fed us!More hikers have shown up for the same hospitality, but I'm headed out in the morning toward Idyllwild. Yip and Donna have not arrived, but will hopefully catch me up the trail. The weather has taken a distinct turn for the better.
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