PCT: CA Section D - Highway 15 to Auga Dulce (partially closed)
Day 26 - 06/01/2025 - Part 2, from McDonald’s to Lytle Road
Distance: 14 miles
Weather: Cloudy, Hot
End Location: Lytle Road
Lessons Learned: Let the opportunities come to you
After I posted the blog for Section C, tons of hikers came into the McDonald’s.
Anika and Mazzy (named after the Mazzy Star) - they took a break in LA from Cedar Glenn.
Skunk, Ellie, 360, Tasha, Trail Spice, Hot Dog, Trail Chef, and tons of others I wasn’t familiar with.
I ordered lunch (Meal Deal - McDouble, Chicken Nuggets, and fries) and a Dr Pepper (I don’t know why, but it’s become my go-to drink; I’ll even add some root beer if there’s the opportunity).
Left at 1:30 p.m., plan was to hike as much as I could until it got dark. I was feeling fueled up after caffeine and nutritious McDonald’s meals.
Lytle Road, where the PCT has been rerouted due to the LA fires, was 14 miles and the goal.
I saw Cody and Rick (father-son duo) and congratulated them on finishing section C.
I’d love to do something like that with my dad one day.
There were stray puppies outside roaming freely.
Skunk said that she was going to stay with them until shelter comes and gets them.
They crawled under the Asian hikers’ car, and I lured them out with some banana chips.
Thought about the last of my previous job and the new job I tried getting a new role at the company.
Honestly, I wasn’t the best version of myself I could’ve been.
Not getting that other role was probably the best thing that could’ve happened to me.
Funny how having less feels more fulfilling than what I had before.
And in talking so much less on the trail (hiking alone basically all day), I feel my voice has never been heard more.
My thoughts are organized and my confidence is high.
Put on a philosophy podcast again because I wasn’t finished.
“Origins of Totalitarianism”
How leaders keep citizens in a state of flux to keep citizens at bay and use providence rhetoric as a way to seize power.
When Joseph Kay was sentenced to death in “The Trial”, they told him “you don’t accept this as true, just accept it as necessary.”
The “right to have rights.”
Listened to the Decoder podcast on the future of AI with Google CEO.
Basically, they are going to start selling different products utilizing AI and “anyone will be able to create whatever they want.”
Made it 4.5 miles to the water cache around 3:30 p.m.
Took a break and ate banana chips, drank a good amount of water.
Filled up a 3L for the rest of the hike.
Plan: Hike as far and high as I can, end at 7:45ish - if I made it to Lytle Road (the PCT reroute), it would be 9 miles and over 2000 ft elevation gain… let’s get it.
Become a student of life.
Listened to Dead and Company’s “Fire on the Mountain” live from Wrigley Field.
Thought it was funny because of the trail closure coming up due to quite literally a fire on the mountain.
Energy felt great, was practically running up the mountain at some points.
And was going at a rate of 2 miles per hour, I should be able to make it.
As I passed the switchback, I watched the Californian traffic slowly moving along.
Semi trucks battling weekend trippers to get back to Los Angeles.
Comfortable is when something new starts to feel normal.
Lots of trail overgrowth towards the end.
The hike was intense, but I made it to Lytle Road around 7:45 p.m., as the sunset was in full bloom.
14 miles in 7 hours from McDonald’s, a supersized 2nd half to the day.
When I got there, however, I realized I did not want to camp in the middle of the dirt road.
It was slanted and on the off chance a car came by, there was a possibility of being run over.
So I looked around and thought and prayed there was a flat spot up the road.
There was, thank god
It looked like a popular sunset overlook spot that cars drove up to.
I found a good spot for the tent and boiled water for my favorite mountain house meal, beef stroganoff.
After the boiled water was in the meal, I set up my tent.
As the gloaming sun set, I enjoyed my meal, feeling accomplished I had conquered nearly 20 miles in total.
I also brewed some tea, yogi wisdom:
“Let the opportunities come to you (lesson learned - in pushing myself and taking a chance, I had the opportunity for a beautiful campsite with an amazing sunset - not to mention a fairly short hike tomorrow).
Over the ridge, I saw the city light of Victorville twinkle in the distance.
I went into my tent and massaged my muscles with Tiger Balm; today my right calf was the problem child.
I went to bed at 10 p.m., cooked from a long day.
Because I did so much today, tomorrow I only have a 4-mile hike down to the highway and a short hitch to Wrightwood for a zero day.
Day 27 - 06/02/25 - to Wrightwood
Distance: 4 miles and a hitch
Weather: sunny clear
End Location: Wrightwood
Lessons Learned:
Woke up 6am
Ate nutrigrain bar and granola with m&ms
Little water so had an espresso (with collagen) instead of full cup of coffee
Hiked 3.6 miles down Lytle Road
Played my Spotify playlist “morning vibes part 2”
Right calf felt way better today
Pretty easy hike down to road
Made it to the bottom around 8:30am
Getting a hitch 6 miles into Wrightwood, however was not easy
Called an uber after trying for 30 mins
“Hot Dog” walked up and split the ride with me
We got dropped off at the grocery store
Belgium hikers Lucas and Natalie were there charging at hiker station
An interesting cat named “Detour” pulled up and gave me water and an orange
He asked if we wanted a watermelon
You never turn down a watermelon
He gave a machete to cut open the watermelon
I slashed the watermelon into 6 pieces in the grocery store parking lot, not my finest work, but I didn’t lose any limbs so that was good
Detour got in an argument with another guy trying to park, was glad I had possession of the machete
Ate watermelon, scooped some out with my spork
Went into store and got stuff for trail thanksgiving dinner (stuffing, chicken packet, cranberries)
Got a sandwich (Philly cheese) as well
Also go probiotic drink, banana, apricots
Went outside on bench and ate sandwich
Found a place for $50 a night at a shared cabin, Wrightwood Getaways, Rustic Cabin
Ate sandwich and snacks
“Hot Dog” hopped in on the deal and booked the other bed at Rustic Cabin
The cabin had a full kitchen, so before we left for the lodging, I went back in the store and got steak, potatoes, onion, broccoli to make dinner and save money
Walked .75 miles to cabin
Got text for laundry pick up so got clothes ready and put them on front porch
Changed into pajamas that were made available
Lovely caretaker Pajama Mama came with “ice cream bread” in hand and took our laundry, she runs a lot of cabins in the area
Hung out at the cabin with Tiny (from PA)
We listened to music and talked about life, he’s doing a 500 mile section North and started at Cajon Pass
He left to go on a store run and I asked him to grab me a bottle of red to go with my steak
I showered and freshened up
When he came back, we drank beers and listened to Keller William’s cover of “Slow Burn” and then bonded over Kasey Musgrave’s version - some songs are just too good😂
Tiny ate his sandwich
We switched to the wine he got, and when I asked him what I owed him, he told me: “Trail Magic” - what a guy
It was a $4 Red Truck 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon and actually really good
I cooked dinner, steak with onions and mushrooms
I used an enamel pot in the oven to cook the potato, broccoli, and onion as a potluck with red wine and oranges for flavor
Dinner was delicious
Chatted with family, walked my mom through what to send in my bear can to Kennedy Meadows South
Went to brewery and met up with Ellie
The Brain Fog Hazy IPA is dangerous
Had 1 and then switched to a blonde
Going at the same pace in terms of hiking, we agreed to try hiking together on the next section
Went to The Yodeler for food
It was Monday so it Mexican night there
Got a quesadilla and a Moscow mule
Hung out with Trail Spice, Rox, 360, and Tasha
Signed Rox’s shirt
Got another Mule
Hung with some locals, nice guys
Walked home to burn off the drinks around 10:30pm and passed out
Day 28 - 06/03/25 - Zero Day in Wrightwood
Distance: 0
Weather: cloudy, then rainy, then sunny
End Location: Wrightwood Rustic Cabin
Lessons Learned: watch a movie if you can (or 3), do more yoga
Woke up too early around 6:00 a.m.
Hazy headache
Made coffee, put hot cocoa mix in it
Had breakfast, iced honey bun, and a banana
Hung out with Hot Dog, Levi, and Leah
Levi and Leah are twins (not identical) from Cali / Michigan and we’re staying on the couches at the cabin
Hot dog went back to the trail
Levi and Leah went to the store
I took a shower
I decided to stay another night
I also went to the store as (I forgot tortillas)
Stopped by Daily Grind - free iced coffee for PCT hikers
Also got blueberry pastry
Got tortillas and Tillamook cheddar cheese packets
Went into the shop and bought a harmonica in the key of C
Walked back to the cabin
Took some vitamins
Ate lunch (leftover steak and potatoes from yesterday, added leftover rotisserie chicken hot dog left)
Watched the Bee Movie, and an episode of Avatar with Leah and Levi
It started raining so Leah and I watched Twilight too😂
Made tea (kava and green tea)
Took a nap after the movie
Then made dinner, tried out the Thanksgiving dinner - stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, dried cranberries, and chicken (used leftover Rotisserie chicken that Hot Dog left)
Looked like dog food but tasted pretty good
Would probably not add the instant potatoes again
Then walked to town for a yoga class (free for PCT hikers)
When I walked into the yoga studio, Friz was there as well - great minds think alike.
Mallory was the instructor and asked us what areas we wanted to work on.
The regular ladies in said lower back, and Friz and I said our legs and feet.
The class was lovely, with a lot of flow sequences - it felt good to stretch my body.
Hanging as artwork on the wall, Buddha smiled at me as I lay on my back.
I’ve gotta do more yoga (lesson learned).
Met Leah and Levi at the Mexican Restaurant for nickel margaritas.
Stuffed from the stuffing, I just got guacamole and a delicious mango chile margarita.
Went back to the cabin and watched 2 episodes of Trailer Park Boys.
A few other hikers booked the open spots in the cabin: Skybird, Cheech, and one other.
I chatted with them as they sorted out their resupply boxes.
Went to bed around 10 p.m.
Day 29 - 6/4/25 - Road Walk and Movies
Distance: 16 miles
Weather: sunny
End Location: Islip Saddle
Lessons Learned: enjoy it when you can
Woke up 7am
Cabin was cold with the windows opened
Microwaved coffee with collagen protein powder, ate rest of thanksgiving dinner for breakfast
Just like actual thanksgiving leftovers, it was better cold
Cheech and I went on the porch
She played ukulele while I played my new harmonica and jammed on a song in c
She has a beautiful voice
Pajama mama offered to drive me to Highway 2 by Big Pine
I got Ellie, Tasha, and 360 in on the deal
Left 9:30am, picked up the girls
Arrived around 10am and started hiking the closed road still open to foot traffic (the PCT is closed to foot traffic for 15 miles)
Hiked 6 miles along the highway
At 12:00pm we took a break to eat snacks
As we trekked on, the sun radiated off the asphalt and made for hot conditions
The highway carved in the mountain sides showed our path for the next few miles
To see what’s in the future, can sometimes bring more questions than clarity
Hot Dog had sent me the rough locations of water
Didn’t have a great grasp but never ran out
Hiked probably 3 more miles
Took a lunch at 2pm next to little water runoff and filled up
Tasha informed us on the history of digestive biscuits, she loves the chocolate digestive biscuits
Ellie explained some German idioms: “it is not the yellow from the egg” = it’s not the best
Walked 4 more miles to Islip Saddle
Filled up water just before we reached the parking lot, Tasha and 360 threw their water bladders up to each other, dropped it a few times😂
I went ahead after filling up water to use the facilities at the parking lot
As I walked up to Islip Saddle Parking Lot at 6pm I saw what looked like trail magic… a camper van with 2 clean guys accommodating a dirty hiker at a little picnic table next to some coolers
The two guys introduced themselves as Christopher (Pasadena) and Richard (Santa Barbara)
The two of them recently had a revelation during a backpacking Trip at the Channel Islands
Towards the end of a long day, they desperately wanted a cold beer on a hot day, but when asked fellow hikers if they had “any cold ones” in their bags, all of them shook their heads no, often because beer was too heavy to carry
They realized that if they wanted a cold beer after their hike, then surely PCT hikers would want the same (“do unto others”)
So they made a plan to camp out a few weeks later with some friends and provide trail magic at Islip Saddle
They provided In-N-Out burgers and fresh cold ones (beer and kombucha)
I cracked open a Hazy Little Thing and ate a burger and chatted with them
Christopher hiked the PCT in 2017 and earned the trail name “Wind Breaker” due to a diet of high fiber and well-traveling sound through the desert 😂
I enjoyed their circular humor and consistent laughs as we cracked jokes
The other hiker there Gordon (“Comissioner” like Batman) was from Vermont and seemed like a nice guy
After about 30 mins, Ellie, 360, and Tasha pulled up and joined us
Finishing the beer, I switched to kombucha for the probiotics and health
Chris and Richard’s other friend Ian and Christopher’s cousin Amy pulled up to the parking lot as well
As we all cracked jokes and laughed, time kept ticking and the sun sneakily set below the mountains and we had to make a decision on whether to leave or not
We decided to stay, opportunities like this don’t come often
We all set up our tents and Gordon set up his hammock
After camp was set up, I went back over to eat dinner and drink another beer
When I went back over to the van, Christopher shouted “Who wants a dog?”
He was grilling hot dogs
My lord these people were amazing 😂
He cooked up a few batches of 7 at a time and had condiments (bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, relish) out for us to use as well
I used all the sauces they had but forgot how much I loved relish
I ate 1 hot dog, then made my chicken and ramen, then another hot dog, and eventually the ate last hot dog left standing that no one wanted
Richard brought a camping projector and scrolled through movies
Somehow we all settled on “Shaun of the Dead” 😂 a classic zombie comedy that takes place in Britain and ends in a pub
The viewing consisted of beer, tequila, hand rolled cigarettes (which I failed miserably at), and just good vibes all around
I watched the movie until I got too tired around 11:30pm and went to bed
Day 30 - 6/5/25 - Mt Williamson and Copper Canyon
Distance: 21 miles
Weather: sunny
End Location: Sulfur Springs Campground
Lessons Learned: if you have the energy, use it.
Woke up around 6:30, packed up.
Ate a frosted honey bun and coffee with collagen protein.
Richard set up his vintage camera (circa 1912) for portraits.
He also made us hot coffee.
Once everyone was caffeinated and packed, we all put on our packs and got our pictures taken.
He travels all over the world doing this, so cool
His insta is: farmtoframes
He took all of our portraits and gave them to us as a parting gift.
Ellie and I decided to go back on the trail instead of taking more road walks.
Summit of Mt Williamson (8196 ft) at 10 a.m.
The morning clouds covered LA.
The mountains faded into the clouds, and the sky became the sea.
Listened to “Where Sky Becomes the Sea” by Palace at the summit with Ellie.
Two roads diverged in a burnt wood.
I chose the one with more elevation. 😅
Ellie and I took a break at Eagle Roost Picnic Area / William Rock around 10:30 a.m.
Met a sexy, Japanese hiker.
Took pics of the origin story, language barrier preventing him from explaining.
Basically, his gear is very streamlined and therefore “sexy.”
Detour (guy that gave me watermelon and a machete in Wrightwood) named him.😂
Another trail closure started at William Rock due to protecting the habitat of the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog.
Back to hiking Highway 2, 6 miles to lunch and water at Buckhart Camp.
Saw Ellie talking to a man on a red motorcycle as I rounded a curve.
His grizzly face looked more familiar as I got closer.
It was Papa Bear!
From Day 1 at CLEEF, he was the one who gave the safety talks and made pancakes with Reese’s cups.
He gave Ellie and me some fresh fruit (apples and oranges) and asked how we were enjoying the trail.
We chatted about how great the whole experience was.
I even told him how his story about peeing in a Nalgene inspired me and that I acquired my own personal pee bottle on day 1 due to an animal scare 😂
He reiterated the idea of doing a section in the Sierras this year but broke his back a few years ago so needs to see how a backpack works for him.
He lives in Carson City so it wouldn’t be too much of a trip.
After he drove away on his motorcycle, Ellie and I continued our road walk, 3 more miles to Camp Buckhorn.
When I arrived around 12:45 p.m., I filled up water from a nearby river and saw they had potable spigots on the walk back 😅
Ate buffalo tuna burrito with truffle potato chips and mayo.
Ellie had arrived before me and went further down but came up to throw out trash and spotted me.
We hiked down Copper Canyon and across a river just to hike back up and out, pretty brutal.
I was exhausted so I took a shortcut on a dirt road while Ellie stayed true to the trail.
I ran into a huge black rattlesnake in strike position and ran, he was not a happy camper.
By 6 p.m., we had hiked 12 miles and made it to Camp Glenwood, where 360 and Tasha were staying.
Ellie and I had 6 more miles to our desired campsite with only 2 hours of light left.
We filled up water, ate a snack and left at 6:15 p.m.
The evening sunset hike is always my favorite.
Listened to music.
“None but ourselves can free our minds” - Bob Marley, Redemption Song
Perspective weighs nothing but matters most.
At the junction of Silver Moccasin Trail and the PCT, I saw a similar red motorcycle parked by a picnic table.
“I saw you coming when I was driving down the road, need some more fruit?” Papa Bear asked.
You don’t turn down fresh fruit, and asked for an apple.
The orange he was eating went down the
wrong pipe and he started coughing.
Accidentally called him Papa Smurf as I was leaving😂
2 Papa Bear sightings in a day, what a treat.
Got to camp after the sun went down
I had to put on my headlamp for the last bit
But completed my longest day yet, 21 miles (with 4000 ft of elevation and a mountain summit)
After Ellie and I set up our tents, we ate dinner under the red glow of our head lamps and talked about our favorite recipes to make back home
We both Italian cuisine, her favorite dish being Lasagna, mine being chicken parm
Went back to tent for tiger balm, my calves were cooked, hoped sleep would cure them.
Went to be at 10:30pm.
Day 31 - 6/6/25 - to Messenger Flat Campground
Distance: 20 miles
Weather: Sunny with intermittent clouds
End Location: campground on dirt road (mile 427)
Lessons Learned: playing 2-player mode is fun
Woke up at 6:30 a.m.
Ate breakfast
It’s nice hiking with someone else. Ellie gave me some of her pop-tarts, apricots, and banana chips.
Left at 8:30 a.m.
Going to be a hot one.
Saw a jackrabbit.
With thru-hiking, you always go forward. You never revisit the path behind you, only learn from it and take the most important lessons.
Life should be like that too.
Listened to TBOY Briskness podcast
Hard power vs. soft power in business
Direct advertising vs. using influence (Pizza Hut book club)
Listened to TED Talk on Ukraine’s drone attack on Russian nuclear bombers, unprecedented
Could prompt a tactical nuclear attack from Putin
Stopped at Fountainhead Springs at 10:30 a.m., filled up water, ate granola
Also soaked my shirt, buff, and hat to mitigate heat
Hiked 7.6 miles to Mill Creek Fire Station
The edge of the Angeles Forest was beautiful
The hills were scattered with tall pines that were slightly charred from a previous fire and the yellow blossoms of balsam roots were beginning to poke out
As I turned a corner, I saw the town of Acton and the vast desert I’d have to cross in the coming days
It looked daunting and hot
Arrived at Mill Creek Fire Station around 1:45 p.m.
Filled up water from a spigot and went down to the picnic area where there was more opportunity for shade
As I walked down, I ate a pack of watermelon sour patch kids
Once Ellie made it down to the picnic area, we moved one of the picnic tables into some shade
It took a lot less effort with two people. I’m not even sure if I would’ve moved it if I was alone
We ate lunch, both had tuna tortillas but I used a packet of ranch, basil, and parsley, and some chips on mine
Ellie let me use her peanut butter as a dip for my dried mango (one of my favorite snacks)
She also gave me one of her cinnamon pop-tarts, which reminded me of my childhood
We both did some stretching and relaxing to let the heat of the day pass a bit.
With a plan to meet back up to camp together, we left separately around 3:45 p.m.
The plan was to hike 7 miles to a small stream, fill up water, and find camp from there.
I listened to my playlist “Lighthouse” (Dirty Heads, Wood Brothers, Dispatch).
Lovely after the tough incline in the heat.
Passed through oak groves and saw butterflies.
A squirrel stood in the middle of the trail looking towards the mountains in the distance, pondering.
Switched to Khruangbin playlist.
Hiking in the evening is unmatched, easily my favorite time to hike.
The trail was mainly uphill but not too bad.
I reached the small stream around 7 p.m. and saw Ellie filling up water.
I filled up 2 L and we hiked another 0.5 miles to a dirt road we’re FarOut comments said there was a campsite.
The sunset during the end section of the hike was gorgeous.
We stopped several times to take pictures and videos.
We made it to the campsite around 7:40 p.m., set up camp, and grabbed our food bags to watch the sunset while we ate.
We both had ramen for dinner, but Ellie put a little instant potato in hers (good idea - not the whole packet like a ramen bomb).
As the colors of the sky faded to dark, we talked about the past, old friends, favorite holidays (Christmas), traveling, and music (turns out we both played the piano, and yes, she fulfills the stereotype of a German liking techno).
Instead of just conversing with my own thoughts (and eating my own food), I realized playing 2-player mode can be a lot of fun (lesson learned).
Although we still mainly hike alone during the day, meeting up at breaks and camping together is delightful.
Went to bed around 10 p.m.
Day 32 - 6/7/25 - to the Santa Clara River
Distance: 20 miles
Weather: sunny, very hot
End Location: mile 447.5
Lessons Learned:
Woke up at 5 a.m. from birds chirping and morning light
Packed up
Ate breakfast, coffee, and honeybun (I’m addicted)
Wrote a 1-month reflection
Ellie joined me to eat
Stretched
Left at 6:45 a.m. (earlier than planned)
Hiked 5 miles to water at a stream
Listened to my Australian rock playlist “West Winds” (Mako Road, the Strokes, Sticky Fingers)
Stopped at Messenger Flats Campground for a break at a picnic table at 8:30 a.m.
Filled up at a creek, soaked shirts, left at 9:30 a.m.
Plan is to have early lunch at the ranger station 4 miles away
Listened to Kill Tony podcast
“Drugs and alcohol are a proxy for the joy you get from life” - Jimmy Carr
Listened to a different podcast (Philosophy This) on the work of Albert Camus
“A Happy Death”
Happiness lies in three things:
Money
Time
Solitude
“What is happiness but a certain kind of harmony between yourself and the life you lead?”
Talked about the book “The Stranger”
Commit to lucidity of life
Seeing the world for what it truly is
Religion is a way to create unity in the absurd
The sun as another character and overseer
Ellie and I stopped at North Fork Ranger Station at around 11:15 a.m.
We took our shoes off and made lunch, tuna tortillas again
I added ranch, mayo, and Tapatio for flavor
A man walked out of the station, and I waved
From a hundred feet away, he shouted, “Y’all want some coke?”
“Yes, please!” I shouted back
I had just finished rolling up my tuna burrito so took a bite and continued eating it as I walked over to retrieve the cokes
The man handed me two Cokes and two Rice Krispies.
His name was Todd.
He had a long grey beard and a round belly, and was the caretaker for the Ranger Station.
I thanked him and he told me it was going to get hotter in the next couple of days as he walked back to the station.
Relaxed and lounged, the breeze was nice.
Put on my desert hat and left at 1 p.m.
Plan was to hike 8 miles and meet at the Santa Clara River or the Los Angeles RV Camp (for a beer) if the river was lackluster.
Excruciating heat.
Wind blew on occasion.
Made it to parking lot around 4 p.m.
Ellie was there with Trail Angel Santo.
He gave us watermelon and soda.
Other Trail Angel Ray pulled up in his truck and gave us a ride to KOA Campground.
Bought frozen pizza, ice cream, and Gatorade.
There was a hiker outside crying.
Uncomfortable with the sadness, I tried offering her some of the ice cream I was eating, but she kept weeping.
I guess I screamed, you screamed, we all screamed for ice cream😂
I moved to a nicer spot with more wind and finished my ice cream while the pizza cooked.
Ate the pizza without a slicer, folded it (still a little raw in the middle) and washed it down with lime cucumber Gatorade.
Then ate another ice cream (caramel) and a chocolate milk, stuffed.
Left 6:15 p.m.
Hard hike up 750 ft elevation gain.
Sunny and hot still.
Sedimentary rock and tall spires.
“Big ass rock” - Ellie pointed out one looked like a butt😂
Hiked 3 miles to mile 447.5 where there were 3 tent sites.
Set up camp and still made dinner even though I was still pretty much full.
Ate as the moon swapped shifts with the sun.
Chatted about how tonight would’ve been perfect for cowboy camping.
Talked about crossing the desert shortly, explained my idea about crossing the aqueduct under the full moon.
Ellie pointed out some reasonable logistical flaws.
Went to bed 9:35 p.m., long day.
Day 33 - 06/08/25 - to Agua Dulce
Distance: 7 miles
Weather: Sunny, very hot
End Location: Serenity Oasis
Lesson in practice: if you like a spot, stay longer.
Woke up at 5:15 a.m.
Packed up, ate breakfast, cheese Danish, and coffee with collagen.
“Life” by Cherub stuck in my head, so I played it.
Left at 6:30 a.m. as the sun poked over the mountains.
Listened to the Snarky Puppy album (Hiker Rattlesnake recommended it).
Really liked “Sleeper” with its muted trumpet.
The prickly pears and yuccas became abundant again… desert.
Hiked 4 miles and reached Highway 14 Tunnel at 8 a.m.
Ate the last of my food, a granola burrito.
Yelled in the tunnel, “You’re an idiot.”
The echo yelled back at me… asshole.
Hiked 3 miles through the riparian canyon.
Entered Vasquez Rock County Park, an amazing area.
Veered off the PCT and did the Bobcat Trail and part of Apwinga Loop to see the famous rocks and more of the park.
If you like a spot, stay longer (lesson in action).
“I shall pass this way but once.”
Exited through the road past cooler rocks.
While walking through the gulley, a man and woman passed me by on horseback.
“This is so cool, I feel like I’m in a spaghetti western!” I said.
Wearing a trucker hat, he replied, “I guess I should’ve worn my cowboy hat then.”
I went to the interpretive center and learned about the history of the area, geology, and local flora and fauna.
They had reptilian and insect enclosures - it was nice to give a name to the animals and plants I was seeing on the trail:
Rosy Boa, Gopher Snake, Rattlesnake (this one didn’t rattle at me), Tarantula, and a Scorpion.
Turns out that more jagged sedimentary rocks are younger (18 million years old) compared to the smoother ones (25 million years old).
They’ve filmed a ton of movies at Vasquez.
(Blazing Saddles, Lone Ranger, Star Trek, etc.)
Walked in the town of Agua Dulce and stopped by the Rustic Mercantile.
Then went to the Cowboy Tavern around 11 a.m.
Ellie met me there and we had breakfast together.
I ordered the homemade omelette (avocado, mushrooms, bacon) with hash browns and biscuits and gravy.
Ellie and I split banana pancakes as well.
Scarfed down the food.
Went to the store for resupply (honey buns, mac and cheese, mango, banana, strawberries, turmeric, dried peas, piña colada mix).
Cute cashier Julie brightened my day with her smile.
Walked to the liquor store for beer, got mango carts.
Walked to Serenity Oasis to camp for the night.
Saw Tiny and Cheech and met a few other hikers new to me.
End of Section D
