Trail Magic!-Day 25

Copper Canyon Trail Camp to first camp site after Mill Creek fire station

25.6 miles

This morning began with a chilly breakfast while talking to three other women who rolled into camp after we had gone into the tent. I must say, it has been so wonderful seeing more women on the trail this year. Just three years ago on the AT, I was often the only woman at a campsite or one of a few while there were many men. Now those stats are changing just a bit and it is wonderful! I hope many more women continue to find how they like to recreate outside without the general public questioning their abilities and safety.

The first few miles of trail flew by and we were hoping our day would continue that way. But after we had said this, we round a bend and saw a car at a trailhead just getting set up to do trail magic!!! We were so excited and practically danced down the trail to meet them. When we arrived and were saying hello, I had this feeling that these two people seemed very familiar and how did I know them? One of the people doing trail magic was Tip Tap, she did the PCT in 2019 and then made some amazing vlog videos on YouTube which Kevin and I consumed as we tried to get through the last few weeks before heading out in the trail! I would highly suggest her channel to anyone. Her videos are beautiful! (Her name is Elina Osborne). Also she is from New Zeeland and had just flown in the day before which is why it was wild to meet her in a random trailhead in CA.

The other person doing trail magic was a hiker named Prodigy. He did the calendar year triple crown in 2018. I have followed him on Instagram for quite some time and have learned many hiking things from him!

It was so neat to meet these two inspiring people who filled us with good food, tips for the trail, and positivity for the rest of our day!

About half way through our day, Kevin and I decided to push some miles and get within 24 miles of our resupply box pick up location. We must have been hyped from the trail magic and people interactions. This is essentially resupplying one day sooner than planned. The day ended up being our second longest mileage day so far. It ended in us carrying 5 liters of water up the last hill for a long dry stretch that will start our day tomorrow. We will start our day with a 15 mile dry stretch and one water source between us and the campground where we will get our box. Finishing off our miles walking west into the sunset was a lovely way to put a bow on an already great day!

Trail data:

-Copper canyon had a great water source.

-Camp Glenwood may not have water for hikers anymore, their tank was broken by a hiker and hasn’t been replaced.

-Hill out of mill creek is very sandy, like beach sand to walk on and the beginning of the 19 mile water carry.

-We got water at the Pony Park day use area.

-Lots of burned areas and puddle dog bush today.

Mount Baden-Powell

Day 24

Camped one mile below Baden-Powell summit-to Cooper Canyon Trail Camp

19.2 miles

Last night I thought I heard a bear investigating our food! I heard some scuffling near the tree our food bags were tied to and some rustling which sounded like our bags. Then I sat up and made some noise on my sleeping pad since it is crinkly sometimes. This made the animal run down the hill and it made a big crashing sound part way down the hill like either it or a rock was rolling down the hillside. I got my headlamp on and made sure our food was still there and the animal was gone. Kevin slept through all of this commotion!

This morning we had planned to get up and see the sunrise on top of Mount Baden Powell which is a prodominant peak in the San Gabriel mountains. However, it was kind of chilly this morning so we moved kind of slow and just watched the sunrise from our tent site. It was less windy there anyways.

After a mile climb upwards, we summited the peak. According to the sign on top, it was named after the founder of the Boy Scouts and is a part of a trail some scout groups do often. I don’t know the mountains original name before the boy scouts named it. I’m sure the scout program has been really helpful for some. In my experience, they are just not always the nicest groups to encounter in the great outdoors.

The miles this morning seemed to drag on. We had done about 7 miles by 10am which we usually have 9 to 11 miles done by then. Finally, we got over our long climb of the day and it seemed to move faster.

We had to do a three mile road walk as well today. The trail is rerouted around the nesting area of some endangered frogs. It was a short road walk and it is always so important to protect every part of an ecosystem. Even the smallest parts, such as a beetle or frogs, are vital parts of the trophic cascade of an animal ecosystem. As we hiked that part, I was thinking about how the author of “Braiding Sweetgrass”, talks about every vital organism that was made to nurture and help every other part of a system. Without the mutual support of even the smallest part, entire ecosystems fail which leads to food chain shortages and changes in the land around us. Needless to say, we were fine walking a couple extra miles for the frogs today.

One section of the reroute took us through a campground and on some national forest trails. One of the day hikers here stopped us to ask if we were PCT hikers. Then she gave us two bags of fresh strawberries that she brings on her hikes for PCT hikers. She tries to hike three times a week to give fruit to the PCTers. She asked if we were married and hiking together. Then she told us about how she and her late husband loved doing similar things together and now she treasures the memories she has of their adventures. I loved meeting this woman and her kindness but also her reminder to treasure every moment we have to make memories with those we love.

We are camping tonight in one of the trail camps that have been spaced throughout the San Gabriel National Forest. There are usually picnic tables, pit toilets, and a spiket or stream. I have enjoyed the convenience of the pit toilets and having a table to make dinner on was fantastic!

I think this is in the Mount Phlox family

Resupply in Wrightwood

Day 23

12.5 miles

Guffy campsite to tent site one mile from top of Baden Powell

I didn’t want to get up this morning. I was so cozy in my sleeping bag and it was chilly outside. Usually each thousand feet you go up is about ten degrees difference (roughly) in temperature.

Our camp was at around 8200 feet this morning and tonight it is at 8,500 feet.

Even though our camp sites are roughly the same elevation, we went down 3,000 feet and up 3,200 feet today while hiking. Our campsite was on a ridge, then we came to the first road in the morning and hitched into town. There were very few cars on the road we were trying to hitch on. Partly because it had just opened for the season a day ago and I think partly because there had just been a fire down the road from us. But within a few minutes of us getting to the road, a dayhiker offered to drive us into town. He told us about how he is retired now and has taken up hiking but also loves shuttling PCT hikers into town too. He wouldn’t accept any gas money but just liked to help out.

Once in town, we got right to doing our chores. Collected our box from the post office and got our new shoes! Then we went to the hardware store in town that has hiker supplies. They had built a deck out back for hikers to leave their packs at while in town. I got some new socks from them because I am shifting my blister strategy. I am going to wear my thin liner socks that are toe socks, then I will wear some normal socks over those. Hopefully this will reduce the friction causing my blisters. At this point I just mainly have two sore blister callus’ and maybe one new blister a day that goes away quickly. Some hikers in town today were saying they have not gotten any blisters……..I wonder what that life is like.

While in town, we saw a bunch of groups of friends we have hung out with along the trail and enjoyed so it was fun reconnecting with them. Everyone was staying a night or two in town though so we will probably be ahead of them on the trail for awhile until we decide to take a rest day in town.

We headed back to the trail around 3pm. A local from Wrightwood offered us a ride. He said he had begun hiking in 2020 but had to get off trail that year before finishing. He also refused gas money but said he has had a lot of people help him and that we should continue to pay it forward and help others. Perhaps it is easier to see how we are helped by others in day to day life since some parts of life are simpler out here. But I am often reminded by trail angels and others out here that there are simple ways to help others and pay it forward with kindness in day to day life.

I can feel the wind in my leg hair

Day 22

Cajon Pass to Guffy Campground

22.5 miles -6917 feet elevation gain

That line along the hill is the trail we just came up!

Today we began the climb out of Cajon pass and up towards Mount Baden Powell. The trail takes its time across many switchbacks to get up the hill. This meant we were steadily going up for about 19 of today’s miles. Thank goodness there was a cool breeze since there was little to no shade during most of the miles. Near the end of the hike today, we got up into the pine trees at the top of the mountain. I was very glad to see them again!

I finished listening to my book today since listening to something always makes the uphill miles go easier!

We are back hiking with a few people we know and a few we have just met.

Trail notes:

-the cache five miles out of town was well stocked and maintained.

-the Cajon Pass Inn was a good stop if you want a cheaper option than stopping in Wrightwood.

-the guffy spring has a steep access trail but good water

McDonalds on trail

Day 21

Six miles into town- I15 – Cajon Pass

We started out hiking at a fast clip this morning around 7am. The goal was to get to McDonalds along I15 while they were still serving breakfast. Kevin created his order as we hiked along and then changed it several times as he grew hungrier on the walk to town. I was most excited for the famed fresh fruit cart that sets up shop outside the gas station. Ten dollars for a ton of fresh fruit! The local taco cart was also my breakfast and dinner!

While we were lounging on the lawn outside McDonalds, a former hiker drove past and let us know he was setting up some trail magic just down the road! We walked over for lunch and he served us chips and veggie burgers. It happened that he had a mug from a restaurant we live near in CO so it was fun to make a connection there.

After getting the scoop on the next few miles from the former hiker, we went down to the underpass to rest in the shade and plan our next section. Soon we discovered the hostel we were going to stay at and use for rides in the next town is closed. For some reason, that town is also very expensive to stay in. So we came back into Cajon Pass to stay the night at the hotel and have a rest before the big climb the next couple of days. We needed some rest for my blisters, bath tub laundry, and some planning time.

The next few days have some big climbs ahead of us which we want to be prepared and rested for.

Day 20

Seasonal stream to campsite outside of Cajon Pass

19.9 miles

Sometimes when journaling and looking back at the day, even the morning feels like a long time ago.

We kind of slept in today since we didn’t get into camp til dark last night. Hiker midnight is at 9pm and we were out a bit later than that so we needed some more sleep this morning.

When we did get started, we cruised through the morning miles. Up some elevation, got water at a still flowing seasonal stream, went past a giant dam, then looked down on the pristine Silverwood Lake. The lake was much larger than I had expected and quite beautiful nestled in the mountains. We could see the clouds coming over the mountains like a veil then disappearing into thin air. There was a stark difference between the lush green mountains where the clouds came over and the brown hills that don’t get as much moisture or rain. The air when hiking around the lake felt fresh and moist. I could feel my skin soaking up the moisture and it helped my eczema. There was a lot cell service around the lake so it was fun calling family and sending some messages while hiking.

We took our longer afternoon break at a state park picnic area near the lake. They had bathrooms, a spicket, and shade shelters! We are beginning to catch up to a new group of hikers since the ones we were with stopped for longer in Big Bear than we did. So there were lots of hellos and what is your name, when did you start?

Then we hiked 7 miles out of the park to be close to Cajon Pass in the morning. I am most excited for the fruit cart that sells local fresh fruit by the highway! Kevin is excited for the McDonalds breakfast!

300 miles!

300 miles

Waterfall in Holcomb creek to seasonal stream

22.6 miles

Today began with a kind of bushwack scramble out of the Holcomb creek valley. Once we got to Deep Creek, we sidelined the canyon hill for nearly all the miles today. The trail felt like a roller coaster careening down the hill because it was sidelining a canyon and sandy while sometimes being eroded. You had to watch your step at all times.

During this roller coaster, we came upon the monument for 300 miles! I didn’t even realize that we would hit this mile marker today! Kevin’s quote at this marker was “okay let’s keep going, we still have thousands more miles to go”. Well. Yes. He is right.

We wanted to get to the Deep Creek Hot springs to have our siesta today. That was 15 miles into the day. By 11:30 am it felt blistering hot. We had to stop by a pool of water from a seasonal spring to cool down, then continue on to the famed destination of the day!

Finally we made it, and we could hear the day hikers music blaring about a quarter mile off. Kevin and I often play games to see if we can guess how many dayhikers we will see on the weekends. Today I won the bet. It felt sooooo good to swim in the cold creek and dunk our feet in the hot spring.

We waited out the heat and sunshine for a few hours then started hiking again.

Our intended campsite was under a bridge about two miles from the hot springs but it was on a trail that gets a lot of use from the nearby town. So we went four more miles than planned to get away from some sketchy vibes including a van that was being lived in, a smashed and abandoned car, and old clothes strewn about.

Both our feet hurt and we were really tired and grumpy in our last couple of miles. However, we did get to see the sunset over the mountains from a ridge and it was absolutely beautiful! This helped remind us why we are out here and make the last few miles more enjoyable.

Waterfall!

Day 18

Doble Spring Campsite to campsite with a waterfall in Holcomb Creek

24.6 miles

6 am was our time goal of getting out of camp and we accomplished it. This was also the first morning I left camp still wearing my puffy warm jacket. Soon into our first climb of the day we warmed up though. Thankfully there wasn’t a ton of climbing in our day as my legs felt heavy and old.

Kevin and I always start our day off with checking in with each other, how we are feeling physically, spiritually, and emotionally etc. Today we also talked through our pace and rest days for the next couple hundred miles. We shared our expectations and hopes, then we will be aware of what we want to do in some situations. For example, having a Nero into a certain town to rest for Kevin but going to the big grocery store for me! We are hoping our friends who rested in town will catch up to us again soon!

Today wasn’t too hot, weather wise. We did take a longer break in the afternoon near water but then finished up our miles by 6pm. We were super proud of ourselves that we got our miles done and also rested along the way. We had time when we got to camp to take a dip in a pool in the creek which was fed by a waterfall! So beautiful and what a treat to have so much water to swim in!

I started listening to the book “The Doctors Blackwell” today. It is about the first women who graduated as doctors and began providing health care for women. So far it is a very interesting story and sheds some light on the mindset of the day and sadly how some parts of sexism haven’t changed.

I also started using a plant identification app today that is super neat. It is called Seek by inaturalist. It needs service to identify the plants but has 80% accuracy and can use pictures saved from the phone too! I am super excited to keep learning plants as we hike through various ecosystems. Today I learned Bridges Pincushion!

Big Bear Resupply

Day 17

Camp before Big Bear to Doble Creek campsite

9.2 miles

Today was a low mileage (Nero) town resupply day! After camping close to town yesterday, we had a short 7 miles to the trailhead to finish up this morning. One hiker whom we hadn’t seen in a few miles walked up as we were leaving camp. It was fun to hike out together.

Then we met up with one of Kevin’s friends, Sam, who gave us and our friends a ride into town. We got some diner food since we had eaten all our food yesterday and were hungry coming into town. Then we went to Sam’s house to do laundry, take showers, charge our power banks, and hang out. It was a great time and so so kind of friends to take us in.

It was fantastic to resupply at a full grocery store. I got some food I am looking forward to eating and some more filling dinners, hopefully. Sometimes the rice noodle pastas don’t have as many calories as the other type of dinners. I even got some gluten free double stuff Oreos and carried sushi out for my dinner once we got to camp! It was fantastic

Day 16-crushed some miles

Day 16

Mission creek to tent site

23 miles

For all the exhaustion and demoralizing heat of yesterday, today was pretty good!

The first three miles had a pretty steep climb that made my legs feel like jello and as if they had not recovered from yesterday’s sand hiking and elevation. But once we got to our first water source we met up with our friends we have been hiking with for a few days. We hiked together most of the day with fun conversations and it made the miles fly by. We stopped for lunch with other hikers who helped Kevin fix his phone. Then we pushed the last seven miles and got to camp around 5pm. We were super pumped to get to camp the earliest we have yet on the trip so far! The cooler weather up here (around 7000 ft) made the day feel better to hike all day instead of having to take a siesta.

After dinner we played euchre (a card game) with the hikers we met from the Midwest. We love euchre and you can’t always find people who know how to play!

I am excited for town tomorrow to go to a full grocery store and hopefully find food I can actually eat. The gas station resupply in Cabazon didn’t have much so I have been eating oatmeal for dinner and a granola bar for breakfast. I definitely need more calories.

I am not excited for getting service and finding out that someone we used to work with passed away and that there was yet another shooting. Sometimes being out on the trail feels like a reminder that there are good people and good times still in the world but then immediately after turning on the phone service finding out these things feels like a slap in the face. The both/and philosophy is helpful here. Yes the trail is good, and it is not an escape from life. Yes, there is hurting all over in the world and it is okay to heal and rest on the trail. This will allow me to be a better support to all those around me and be a better counselor when these difficult things continually arise.