Day 26 and 27 - Road Walking

May 22, 2012

Day 26 and 27

Miles: 47 (over 2 days)

Total Miles: 431

Rattler poised to strike!

Did some good miles these last two days!  Yesterday, May 21st, I did 23 miles to Sulphur Springs CG - an old abandoned campground with no water but a flat space and a big shade tree.  I was only one camping.  Other than running across Ben T. back at the boy scout campground at mile 401, this was a solo day of hiking.  A hiker named Bear, who is not hiking the trail this year, left a nice cache of bananas and apples on the trail.  I ate two bananas and took an apple to go.  What a great suprise and really helped me feel like things are starting to look up.  Thanks Bear!

Many of the miles today and yesterday were road walking due to an Endangered Species detour put into effect a few years ago to bypass the breeding area of the Mountain Yellow-Legged frog, and because of the Poodle Dog Bush Detour.  The endangered species detour added an extra mile of walking and a 2.7 mile road walk on Highway 2.  The highway was not busy so this was not a bad road walk.  The PDB detour, however, resulted in dirt and/or paved road walking for 18 miles.  This plant is apparently all over trail in places and there is no way to avoid it unless you walk an old mountain road that parallels the trail.

I hiked mostly alone today as well but met up with Eddie at Messanger Flats CG.  He is section hiking through to Tehachapi I believe.  He carries a bible and holy water and blesses the ground each night before sleeping.  He is also a Boy Scout (Eagle perhaps) and is an active leader with his troop.  Nice guy!

Burned trees from the Old Station Fire in 2009

Day 25 - Mt. Baden-Powell

May 20, 2012

Day 25

Miles: 19

Total Miles: 384

Feeling almost 100% today!  Made it nineteen miles, up and over Mt. Baden-Powell, named after one of the founders of the modern boy scout organization.  Mt. Baden-Powell reaches 9,399 feet and has some great views in all directions.

Also was able to catch the partial solar eclipse tonight on my way to the Little Jimmy CG.  My Canon compact camera did an ok job of capturing the eclipse but ultimately I was let down by the event.

This is the best I could do with my Canon S100

Little Jimmy Spring - one of the better springs I have come across

Day 23 - The Big "D"! - Part 2

May 19, 2012

Day 24

Miles: 2

Total Miles: 365

I passed several hikers on the way up to the Acorn Trail which is a 2.5 miles side trail descending 2,500 feet down into the town.  I kept my distance from all of them.  The two German girls offered to carry pieces of my gear into town to take the weight off but I declined.  As I came within a few miles of the side trail, my hiking was getting less sure-footed and I decided to take a nap in a shady area beneath a few trees.  I had hiked almost 17 miles that morning and had skipped breakfast and dinner the night before.  I knew the down-hill side trail would be no problem - I was almost home.  

A mile later I found the trail and quickly staggered down the trail and through a private neighborhood to the center of town near Highway 2.  The first hotel I tried, the Pines Hotel, was full.  I was panicking as it was a Friday and hotels book up on weekends.  Across the street I found the small - 4 room - Canyon Inn.      I called and the owner had a room for $79/night.  "I'll take it!"  I needed the private room and took a long shower before taking a nap and sleeping in a lush bed.  What relief!  

Later that night a group went to the Mexican restaurant for dinner.  I joined them and ordered the Carne-Asada dinner but was only able to stomach about one-third of the food.  I took the rest to go and crashed early that night.

The next day, May 19th, I took some Immodium A.D. and it worked like a charm to kill the Big "D".  Still recovering, I hung out as long as possible at the hotel and then crossed the street to the other hotel's common picnic area and lounged for most of the afternoon with other hikers.  The PO was right down the street so I spent a couple hours updating blogs and emails.  At breakfast that morning I was able to stomach a full meal for the first time in several days at the Evergreen Cafe.  At 4 I prepared for the long hike back up the Acorn Trail and made camp just a couple miles past the trailhead at the Guffy Campground - needing a slow start back on the trail.

Day 23 - The Big "D"! - Part 1

May 18, 2012

Day 23

Miles: 16

Total Miles: 363

Sick, dirty and generally feeling like sh*t!

This was easily my worst day of the hike so far.  Food poisoning at McDonalds yesterday caused diarrhea last night in the middle of the night.  I decided on a plan of action at three am - to pack up and hike all morning and get to Wrightwood by lunch so I can check into a room and take care of myself until this passes.  I wanted to be alone for obvious reasons, so I packed up the tent and sleeping bag in the dark after crouching in the bushes and started making my way up 5000 feet of elevation to the town of Wrightwood about 17 trail miles away.

I was worried constantly about finding a place to jump off trail.  When switch-backing up a mountain this can be particularly challenging as more often than not one side of the trail is a cliff sheering up above you and on the other side is a cliff sheering down steeply, so that there is no place to hide.  Without going into too much detail - my supply of tissues disappeared quickly and I resorted to pouring water over me to clean up after the big "D" strikes.  I only had a couple liters of water left so it was urgent that I make it to town ASAP.  In addition to this, I was light-headed and felt I was running a slight fever which made climbing in the heat difficult.  

The morning was cool and nice so I put in as many miles as possible before the sun came up.  I caught some beautiful pictures as the sun came up and the layer of fog rolled in over the desert below me.  I also took a picture of myself in the early morning light thinking I would capture this low point on film.  The picture captures me looking weak and dirty and some of the desperation in my face.

Beautiful sunrise over the San Gabriel Mountains

Day 22 - McDonalds (!?)

May 17, 2012
Day 22
Miles: 11
Total Miles: 347

Justin, 3-Bears, Matt, Ben and Christina enjoying lunch 

In the "normal" world I avoid McDonalds as much as possible.  I'm a health nut and prefer almost anything to eating at a fast food restaurant.  However, on trail, these notions change quickly.  The McDonalds at the I-15 crossing in Southern California is a beacon for all thru-hikers.  The thought of an Egg Mc-Muffin spurs many hikers to great mileages.  In my case, the big miles came yesterday (28 miles) and I was left with only a six mile hike to reach I-15 and McDonalds for breakfast!

First came the double Sausage McMuffin w/ Egg meal with a large coffee and hashbrowns.  Two hours later came lunch:  a grilled chicken salad and large strawberry milkshake.  Two hours later came the...indigestion, ill-feelings and general desire to lock myself in a dark, quiet room and sleep!  The food was not settling but I had already spent 5-6 hours here and needed to move on lest they decide to put me to work!

It turns out that ill-feeling was not just a case of greasy food shock to the system.  I had contracted food poisoning!  Two miles out from I-15 and it hit fast with the big "D".  I had no time to dig a cat-hole - I barely had to time to run off trail behind a bush.  I SHOULD have turned around and run back to the freeway and stayed at the Best Western down the road, but I convinced myself that it would pass quickly. Big Mistake!  I went another mile and had the urge to lay down and take a nap.  After the nap I hiked on another 2-3 miles to a wonderful water cache by a dirt road - complete with lounge chairs and Calistoga water.  Here I made camp and after a few words with some other hikers, turned in early to try and sleep it out.

Unfortunate Graffiti on a trail sign looking down on Deep Creek

Day 21 - Deep Creek Hot Springs

May 15, 2012
Day 21
Miles:  23
Total Miles:  308

I took my time this morning with breakfast and coffee - the last one to depart from the camp site.  I started walking at about 7:45, at least an hour past my preferred starting time.  I passed Desert Fox and Masa again.  Masa is a Japanese hiker who I've been skipping around the past week or so on the trail.  He is easily identified with his bright pink shorts and tall gaiters up to his knees.  He is short and carries a 60+ lb pack under his small frame.  Somehow, through, he is always ahead of me on the trail.  I've learned to recognize his footprints in the dirt and everyday I seem to catch him in the afternoon (after my late start) and pass him a few hours before camping.  I usually pass him on the uphill sections and I pass him with a smile  as he says to me "I'm tired" with his strong Japanese accent and usually big smile.  He speaks just a little english but his facial expression says it all for me.

I had lunch at the bridge at the deep creek - a nice scenic spot with shade, sand and a shallow, cool creek to wade into where the knats are not so ferocious.  By evening I made it to the Deep Creek Hot Springs - a clothing optional hot springs that has several springs forming hot pools that flow into the creek.  Sand bags have been used to block the flow so that pools of several feet deep form to soak in and relax.  I caught up to Three Bears, Ben, Justin and the Three Gay Caballieros here.

Hikers lounging at the hot springs

Day 20 - Burned Forest

May 14, 2012
Day 20
Miles:  19
Total Miles:  285




Ten people riding to the trail - with gear!


Got a late start today after the ride from the hostel was running late.  We managed to fit 9 people + the driver into the station wagon that served as the ride to/from the trail!  I started walking at about 10:30 AM and punched out nineteen miles to get to the camp site ("something" Trail Camp).

The area I hiked through was burned from a recent fire that left miles and miles of land scarred and blackened.  The views were still stunning and there was plenty of evidence of life coming back as the wild flowers were blooming! 

At the hostel I met the Three Gay Caballieros - a trio of gay guys hiking the trail together.  They made it up to the same camp site that night along with Desert Fox and a few other hikers and we all spread out and found quiet spots to settle down. 



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Wild Flowers blooming beneath burned trees