PCT Days 19-21 and GLITTER

No miles!

First, please excuse these next few blog posts. I haven't had cell reception for a while so my ability to keep up has been limited. Also, don't forget that I write these posts on an iPhone after walking 20-25 miles in the sun, so ignore the autocorrect mistakes that I miss. :)

After making it out of Big Bear the first order of business was food. Food. Food. Food.

Then we drove from Big Bear to my dad's house in Yucaipa.

I got a new tent! It's freestanding, tiny, and amazing. It fits my sleeping pad perfectly, so I won't roll off of it at night. See ya later Tarp Tent Contrail!

After a night eating, drinking, and soaking  in the hot tub, we drove from Yucaipa to the kick off in Mt Laguna. It took us two and a half hours to drive back to PCT mile 20. I can't believe I've hiked so far!

The kick off event was pretty interesting (check out the official website for more info http://adzpctko.org). We arrived on Saturday and perused the vendor stalls. T-Rose bought a bigger pack, Rocket found a bunch of old friends and Jolly and I just walked around checking out everyone's tents and gear. It started to rain in the early evening so I decided to sleep in the car. 

There was a big storm in the middle of the night and I woke up to hordes of flattened tents and people crowded in the bathroom trying to dry out their sleeping bags. 

Glitter is my name, my name is Glitter. Sugar Pine came up with the trail name in Idyllwild, but it didn't really stick until the explosion of glitter in my backpack this weekend. I've been carrying this glitter with me since Campo (it's very special glitter) for no specific reason and it finally exploded all over my things. I've washed everything in my toiletries bag, but it's really difficult to remove glitter from, well, anything.

More food!

Hot sauce packets are like gold on trail.

After returning to my dad's house after kickoff, we had a day to spread out our things and resupply for the next section.

 

We got distracted...

We ended our PCT mini-vacation with more hot tub time, more naps, and MORE FOOD. 

PCT Day 18

Miles 246-266

Today we saw animal cages for Hollywood stunt animals!

We also found a couch and a dumpster full of soda.

At mile 266, outside of Big Bear, my dad dropped off my brothers car so we could drive to the kickoff event this weekend. 

PCT Day 17

Miles 226-246

Today I was one of the first people out of camp, only two 20-mile days to Big Bear and three days off-trail for the PCT Kickoff event. 

It's always nice hiking in the morning before the sun comes out. The guidebook says that many hikers skip this section of the trail (Mission Creek) because its hot, dry, and has a lot if elevation gain. In order to get the 20 miles to camp tonight, we climb 6,341 feet out of Mission Creek and into the mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest.

There's a burn zone near Mission Creek where I saw these awesome zombie plants.

As I've mentioned before, I've been having trouble eating a sufficient amount of calories for the past few weeks. I'm down to 174 pounds after starting the trail at 185. I know a lot of the weight loss is a normal adjustment to this amount if excersize, but I'd like to slow down

 the weight loss if I can.

On the advise of my brother's friend, who hiked the PCT previously, I've started eating my dinners for lunch. The extra calories in the afternoon combined with forcing myself to snack more regularly has helped to ramp up my appetite. Today I ate overcooked mac n' cheese with hot sauce.

While climbing out of Mission Creek we caught up with a couple named Purple and Carnivore. They hiked the AT a few years ago and tried to finish the PCT last year, but Purple developed a stress fracture around mile 500 which forced them to leave the trail. They pointed out the very first Poodle-Dog Bush we've seen.

According to the PCTA, Poodle-Dog Bush is common in parts of Southern California and touching it can cause a significant allergic reaction. It is a fire follower that thrives in disturbed soils and does especially well along the PCT. Touching the plant can cause anything from a mild rash and blistering to severe respiratory distress. It is a contact dermatitis and can be transmitted in the same way that poison oak is transmitted. For many people, symptoms are worse than a reaction to poison oak. Symptoms generally appear hours or days after touching the plant. All contact should be avoided."

After 14 miles and 4,500 feet of elevation gain we took a rest break and watched a search and rescue helicopter flying around. I tried to remember the hand signal for "I'm OK" but I couldn't so I just shook my head when they flew really low above me. We eventually saw a sheriff truck drive up a nearby road and pick up an injured hiker. Someone going south on the PCT told us that the hiker had been vomiting and not feeling well, called her parents, and her parents called search and rescue. I hope she's feeling better now!

After six more beautiful, flat miles we reached Coon Creek Campground. A few hikers were already setting up camp on the porch of an old cabin, so T-Rose, Rocket, Zeb, Jolly and I decided to escape the cold by packing all 5 of us into one small room.

We chose the Anti Climax room, of course. Doesn't this look clean and welcoming?

While I ate my lunch for dinner, a snickers bar and a bag of cheese-its, T-Rose ate a fine dinner of potato chips and mayonnaise. She is hiking the trail without a stove so she gets pretty creative with her meals.

I'm feeling fantastic and ready to hike 20 more miles tomorrow into Big Bear. Hopefully my dad and brother will meet us there and loan me a car to use for the weekend. If it all works out, five of us will pack in the car and drive back down to Lake Morena (mile 20) for the kickoff event this weekend. Life is goooooood.

PCT Day 16

Miles 211-226

We left my dad and Amanda's house this morning after a night of showering, eating, and resting our sore muscles. The amount of dirt I track around is pretty incredible and that became even more apparent on the clean wood floors of the house.

Getting back on trail we hiked into section "C" of California. This starts a 135 mile section of the trail that runs from Cabazon on I-10 to Cajon Pass on I-15.

We started the day at Ziggy & The Bears and hiked through the valley between the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains. This picture is looking back at Mt San Jacinto.

Moving up into the foothills we were blown around by hard winds as we slowly ascended.

Eventually the trail led us to the Whitewater River where we saw new plants, sat by the creek and soaked our feet. The cold water was refreshing and the wind blew sand into our eyes, ears and lunches.

I try to be careful and scan the trail ahead to avoid snakes. I've always felt pretty successful. Then again, I've never actually seen a snake without someone pointing it out to me. Today I saw a snake; in fact, I almost stepped on a mean looking rattle snake. The snake noticed my foot only a few seconds before I stepped on it's face. It jumped, I jumped and I lept up trail past it's biting range and cursed for a few minutes.

There is so much life out here in the desert besides snakes. There are these caterpillars EVERYWHERE on trail today. They are fat, round, and adorable. Does this mean there will be a butterfly explosion in the next few weeks?

The San Bernardino mountains are treating us well. Look at this view to the west over the mountain range.

Tonight I'm camping in a low creek bed near Mission Creek. There are tons of other hikers around and I'm hoping that it won't get too cold during the night. I'm happy.

PCT Day 15

Miles 190-211

I've written blog entries for days 16 and 17, but I can't post them because I have a total mental block on writing an entry for day 15. Pictures and brief descriptions will have to do!

Today we hiked the dreaded Fuller Ridge. In order to get out of the San Jacintos onto the valley floor, we had to descend over 6,000 feet. The distance is only four miles as the crow flies, but whoever designed the trail turned 4 miles into 15 miles of long, sweaty switchbacks.

We hit the 200 mile mark today!

I saw lots of lizards and almost stepped on a non-rattle snake.

At the bottom of the ridge looking back at Mt San Jacinto.

In the last, grueling 5 miles across the valley floor to Ziggy and the Bear's (a trail angel house) we stumbled upon some trail magic. Free beer and shade!

Can you see the two horny toads in this picture? It looks like they're wrestling or maybe one is trying to jump over the other...

Going under I-10

Here's a view of Mt San Jacinto from Ziggy and the Bear's.

At Ziggy and the Bear's, we met a bunch of new hikers including Jolly and a few women who call themselves "Amazonias." After a soda, my brother picked us up and drove us 15 minutes into town where Amanda and my dad had put out TONS of food to eat and drop cloth paths that led to the kitchen and the bathroom. We got to shower, eat, do laundry, eat, and relax in the hot tub. Great day. Thank you dad and Amanda!

PCT Day 14

Miles 179-190
(plus 2.5 Devil's Slide and Mount San Jacinto Alternate)

Today we got up bright and early to get back on the trail and I was so ready to be back on the trail. It's sort of funny, but I already feel more comfortable on trail than in town- no rules, more nap time, and I can pee (almost) anywhere I want! 

In order to get back up to the PCT, we had to hike out of Idyllwild on the Devils Slide Trail. 

This is how one of the mountains looked from the bottom of Devil's Slide.

...and from the top.

Right before I got off the PCT again to summit Mt San Jacinto, I saw the first snow on my PCT journey. Snowman time!

Mt San Jacinto was incredible.

The hike today through the San Jacintos was picturesque. What a change from the dry, barren landscapes before and after this mountain range.

At one point I stumbled onto this odd, extremely heavy, cylindrical metal container in the middle of the trail. How did it get up here? What is it?

I hiked over a crest as the sun set and got some great pictures. Man, this was a long day!

I camped at the top of Fuller Ridge, ready to make the long descent tomorrow. Look what my Halfmile app says about my day tomorrow. Yikes!