Scott's Pacific Crest Trail Adventure - 2002

Greetings! If you've found your way here, you're obviously looking for the gory details of my trip. Journal entries start from newest to oldest. This is from '02 and '03.

Journal section from my 2003 trip

Date: 8/11/03
Miles: 12.1
Ascent: 700
Descent: 2630
Well then. Today was my last day on the trail. The morning consisted of a mainly downhill jaunt to the High Bridge Ranger Station where a bus, an old school bus, makes several trips a day to Stehekin. The bus also made 2 stops, the first at spectacular 300 foot Rainbow Falls and the second at a local bakery. Yum! Brownies and milk for me. Stehekin is a resort accessible only by foot, boat or seaplane. As opposed to immediately getting on the boat to Chelan I decide to stay a night to decompress. It’s a beautiful area. Tomorrow, back to reality. With a 1,984 mile hike and this 564 mile hike, it leaves 82 miles to Canada. Maybe next year or maybe when I’m 70. What’s the rush?

Date: 8/10/03
Miles: 30.1
Ascent: 6430
Descent: 8410
I didn’t set up my tarp last night. The dew was incredibly heavy for a pass. Everything was wet including me in my soggy sleeping bag. Big t-storm rain drops began to fall with thunder in the distance. I packed up my soggy stuff and was on the trail at 5:15am. AT 5:30am lightning struck a tree on a ridge ¼ mile west of me. The thunder was LOUD. The tree it hit went up like a roman candle. No lasting fire ensued. Then it was a 1500 foot descent, then a 2000 foot ascent, then a 2500 foot descent. All this before lunch. After lunch the pace was a bit more relaxed. A 3000 foot ascent followed by a 2000 foot descent by 8:30pm. 12 miles to Stehekin!

Date: 8/9/03
Miles: 31.3
Ascent: 7320
Descent: 6220
It didn’t rain last night, yea! Lost of climbing and descending today, as promised, by the guide book. I went over to passes, Reds and I’ve camped just on the north side of Fire Creek Pass by Mica Lake. Tons of people on the trail including a group of boy scouts out for their 50 mile badge. Better them than me, walking 50 miles would suck. ;) It’s a bit chilly and windy, but no bugs. Nite.

Date: 8/8/03
Miles: 24.3
Ascent: 5170
Descent: 4970
I left the comforts of Skykomish and hitched a ride to Stevens Pass, thanks Trey! I was on the trail by 8:30am. Lots of ups and downs with great views to the north. Glacier Peak has been revealing itself periodically all day. Tonight, I’m camped just uphill from Cady Pass. I also set up my tarp as it looks like it might rain.

Date: 8/7/03
Miles: 0
Ascent: 0
Descent: 0
I spent the day relaxing here at Skykomish at the Sky River Inn. A decision has been made. In light of the fact I left my drivers license at home, I’m getting off the trail at Stehekin. I don’t want to deal with the immigration hassles without a photo ID. 82 miles short. No worries. The leaves me with 4 hiking days left.

Date: 8/6/03
Miles: 14.6
Ascent: 3060
Descent: 4090
Well, I made it through the storm last night without getting a bit wet. However, my tarp condensated quite a bit during the night and got the top of my bag wet. It’s my fault, I should’ve readjusted it my tarp after the rain stopped. This morning walking was different. The plants, the plants overgrowing across the trail were soaked from the rain, in return keeping me soaked below the waist for about 4 hours. I was generating enough heat so I didn’t get too chilled. I made to Stevens Pass by 11:30am. It took only 20 minutes to hitch a ride to Skykomish. Thanks Jack! Apparently the lightning last night sparked over 50 fires keeping the fire crews very busy.

Date: 8/5/03
Miles: 30.1
Ascent: 5080
Descent: 5350
I just made it down from Pieper Pass. I’m in a canyon at 5000 feet. It rained lightly today after lunch & it looked like rain here at Glacier Lake. So I set up my tarp. No sooner than I did, the skies ripped open. A fierce T-Storm is in progress. The thunder is booming almost on top of the purple flashes. It’s pouring, it’s intense and I’m diggin’ it. Enough drama. I’m 14 miles from Stevens Pass. The trail was the same today, either up or down, but generally well graded with fantastic views. Time to brush my teeth.

Date: 8/4/03
Miles: 30.3
Ascent: 7730
Descent: 5870
Huge climbs today, the nature of things to come. The trail was so well graded, it was a pleasure! I’m in Alpine Lakes Wilderness and it’s fantastic. No wonder it’s so popular. I like it better than Goat Rocks. I met 15-20 people today. I didn’t stop walking till 8:45pm, the martyrs are out.

Date: 8/3/03
Miles: 0
Ascent: 0
Descent: 0
Ok, clean, rested, fed, I’m kickin’ it here with my feet up. Snoqualmie is a ski resort next to the I-90 freeway with a few businesses. Tomorrow I’ll start my 3 day leg to Stevens Pass (Skykomish).

Date: 8/2/03
Miles: 34.4
Ascent: 5820
Descent: 7400
98.6 miles in 3 days. My feet hurt. Today was the most brutal day yet on this trip. Given the roller coaster ride through clear-cuts it’s also ugly. On a high note the absence of bugs did not go unnoticed. Last night I didn’t even need a head net. Oh yeah, I arrived in Snoqualmie at 8pm. The last 40 miles has been the ugliest of the trip. We all need the resources the forest provides, but you think it could be managed much better.

Date: 8/1/03
Miles: 31.2
Ascent: 4400
Descent: 5560
Last night I actually used my sleeping bag as designed, it was cool enough. Since this trip began it’s been warm & clear. I’ve been extremely fortunate. The morning started with a ridge or crest walk for 10 miles or so. I met 5 hunters out for bear or cats. It’s that season. I had lunch at Arch Rock Spring. By early afternoon I was at government meadows. By 5 I was at the last spring before a 14 mile waterless stretch. I met 4 ladies on a 10 day hike to Snoqualmie. Tonight I’m camped in the middle of that 14 mile stretch. Guess What? No martyrs! With any luck I’ll be at Snoqualmie late tomorrow. Nite.

Date: 7/31/03
Miles: 32.9
Ascent: 5580
Descent: 4040
I left the comfort of my condo at 6am. The trail began up & the martyrs were waiting, not too bad though. The first 17 miles or so is very popular with the equestrians. I won’t rant about it, but I actually had a rider ask me what I thought of the trail. “Frankly?” I asked. I said the horses tear it up. The trail is wide, dusty and I’ve seen stables that are cleaner. She said, “I know, but what about the maintenance of it?” I’m thinking, “duh”. Apparently, she and her friends are from northern Washington and she was appalled at the trail maintenance. Whatever. The trail was destroyed. Anyway, I had fantastic views of Mt. Rainier off to the west. Many hikers are out. This seems to be a popular section. Tonight I’m camped smack dab on Crown Point with fantastic views of a glacial valley below. Nite.

Date: 7/30/03
Miles: 0
Ascent: 0
Descent: 0
Last zero day at White Pass. Back on the trail tomorrow. It’s the 99 mile leg to Snoqualmie.

Date: 7/29/03
Miles: 12.5
Ascent: 2120
Descent: 2630
Ah yes, back in civilization again. I’m reporting to you clean & fed from a condo at Village Inn at White Pass. There’s nothing here except a ski resort, above mentioned condo’s & a small but nice store called the Kracker Barrel. It has 1 gas pump & the store doubles at the Post Office. I would have never made it here last night at a decent hour. It took 4.5 hours to get here from Lutz Lake (pond). It was a nice walk here, excepting the throngs of martyrs between 5000-6000 feet. Upon arriving I had a quick snack of Twinkies & Gatorade, got a room, retrieved my mail drop, took a shower, did laundry, prepared my gear for the next leg, ate again (pizza) and here I sit. No bugs! I’ll be hangin' out here tomorrow as well. The view of the ski runs from my room are awesome. Outdoor wilderness tip #157: If you’re not sure of the name of a lake, call it Sheep Lake, you’re probably right. Outdoor wilderness tip #158, if you’re not sure of the name of a peaked mountain, call it ‘Black Butte’, you’re probably right.

Date: 7/28/03
Miles: 22.0
Ascent: 4030
Descent: 4340
That’s right, 22 miles! But first last night. So, as I drift off to sleep, I hear this loud snap of a breaking branch. Ok, I make a mental note. Again, less than a minute later, but much closer. Turn adrenaline on. I sit up with flashlight & hiking poles ready. On que I hear it again, this time with the crunching of all twigs under foot, I’m sure it’s a bear. I turn on the light in its direction & there it is, 20 feet away leering in my direction over a fallen tree. I yell, ‘hey bear’ & clank my poles together. It bolts. I hear it crunching off in the distance, I wait for a return, but it doesn’t. Good. The food in my food bag is safe, it’s also my pillow. If that’s not enough, some time later while I’m sound asleep, I’m woken abruptly by the sound of large hooves running by. As I’m becoming coherent, I yell ‘HEY!’ real loud. It was a group of elk. After I yelled they stood off in the distance and squeaked at each other. What a Marlin Perkins night. That was a stealth camp, a couple miles from any established camp site. If it wasn’t dark I would’ve split. Anyway, I spent the day hiking through Goat Rocks Wilderness. It’s fantastic and reminds me of the Sierras. It’s way over-billed for what it is. It takes less than 6 hours to walk through the dramatic portion of it. It was a tough, but beautiful walk, though. Traversing Packwood Glacier was a complete non-event. If you’ve done the Sierra passes in the snow, Packwood is nothing. I’d heard the hype and had been concerned about it. By 5pm I was 13 miles from White Pass and would need to kill myself to get there before dark, so I called it a day by Lutz Lake saving the last 13 miles for the morning.

Date:7/27/03
Miles: 29.5
Ascent: 4700
Descent: 2730
Got up this morning with Mt. Adams in my sights. It’s been looming large in the windshield. Most of the day had been in the trees, but about lunchtime I was walking on the western flank of Adams. By afternoon it was behind me. During the afternoon, the martyrs got bad, real bad, as in Lake Benson bad, as in South Sisters Wilderness bad. So bad in fact I walked till 9pm to get out of them, with some success. Nite.

Date:7/26/03
Miles: 29.4
Ascent: 4010
Descent: 4100
The miles keep ticking by! Today was spent sneaking up to Mt. Adams. Tomorrow I’ll traverse its western flank. Not many grand views today, most shaded by trees, which suits me! A few picturesque ponds and lakes dotted the trailside. It’s getting dark & the martyrs are out, must brush teeth. Nite!

Date: 7/25/03
Miles: 32.1
Ascent: 5350
Descent: 1530
Well I was on the road, literally, at 6am. The guidebook suggested an alternate route that includes a 14+ mile road walk, yuk. However, the official PCT had over 7000 feet of climbing with a net gain of 700 feet to Panther Creek over 35 miles. It was a nice walk today though mostly climbing. Cascade Locks is at 200 feet above sea level. I had a good view of, I believe, Mt. Adams off in the distance. Tonight I’m next to Sheep Lake (looks like a pond to me). Martyrs are out but not real aggressive. Nite.

Date: 7/24/03
Miles: 0
Ascent: 0
Descent: 0
Well, my last read day. Tomorrow I start for White Pass. Today was lazy, just sittin’ around watching the tube. I did manage to make it out for breakfast. Maybe I’ll make it out for dinner, too. J

Date: 7/23/03
Miles: 0
Ascent: 0
Descent: 0
It was great to sleep in till 8am. I never have trouble sleeping in the sticks, but it’s nice to be clean & sleep in a clean bed. When laundry gets done at a town stop, I always run stuff through the was twice. After laundry I went to the marker & picked up supplies for the next leg, 6 days to White Pass. This morning I woke up to a small surprise. My left ankle is swollen & bruised. It was bothering me a bit yesterday after I had rolled it. Anyway, no worries, it doesn’t cause any major discomfort & it won’t slow me down at all. After watching the news it appears I’ve been staying ahead of fires to the south & the lightning storms that sparked them. After much thought I’ve renamed mosquitoes again. Instead of “Little Bastards”, they shall herein be named “martyrs”; they terrorize warm blooded creatures at the expense of their own lives.

Date: 7/22/03
Miles: 32.0
Ascent: 3950
Descent: 7950
The glassy eyed, comatose stare fixed in my eyes is not because of the 32 mile day or the 8000 feet of descent even. I’m looking at a real shower & toilet in my room at the Best Western in Cascade Locks, OR, the Oregon-Washington border. It was a long day with 12,000 feet of elevation change. Brutal. I made it to Cascade Locks a tad after 9pm & starting at 5:45am. Quite the dangling carrot for the day. The walk was great again today and I had lunch at a large beautiful turquoise lade called Wahtum. None was there, I had it all to myself. The weather had remained warm & clear for the 6th day. No one needs to remind me how lucky I am for that in this part of the world. With my arrival at Cascade Locks, that ends this leg of the trip. I’ll take 2 rest days here, since I made it here a half day early. My feet need it. Also, I have several very impressive blisters and calluses.

Date: 7/21/03
Miles: 29.2
Ascent: 4480
Descent: 6660
Today was a roller coaster, big ups and downs. Also a water source I was counting on had no water (Barlow Pass). I did 13 miles without, ugh! The milestone today was beautiful Timberline Lodge. Many skiers & snowboarders were running down the Glacier. I had a burger, fries, cookie, Gatorade & soda for a mere $18. What a deal! The scenery was fantastic around Mt. Hood with lots of fast creeks running off Mt. Hood.

Date: 7/20/03
Miles: 36.4
Ascent: 3190
Descent: 4080
Big miles today! The trail was flat and I felt spastic. The big news is I had lunch today at Warm Springs River with NO BUGS! Actually, the ‘river’ was a very modest creek, with refreshingly cold water. It was the best lunch yet. I also have 2 new very impressive blisters on my feet…oh yea. Tonight I’m sleeping a few miles south of Mt. Hood and it’s looming large in front of me. Nite.

Date: 7/19/03
Miles: 27.4
Ascent: 3930
Descent: 4420
Today was a great day, but first last night. Sometime late a buck wandered close to where I was sleeping. It was stomping & snorting & coming closer each time I yelled for it to go away. I clanked my hiking poles together and it immediately left. Anyway, I crossed Russel & Milky creeks, not just clever names. The sediment running off Mt. Jefferson gives it that quality, being a volcano and all. Also I crossed through very popular Jefferson Park that sits west & at the base of Mt. Jefferson. It has a spectacular view of Mt. Jefferson. Next I encountered significant amounts of snow on the north side of Park Ridge. The trail was heavily marked with cairns that made things downright easy. Then it was off to Ollalie Lake, where I stopped at the store for a Gatorade, OJ & ice cream. Tonight I’m parked on a northwest-facing hill where the mossie’s aren’t too bad. Oh, I also had my first views of Mt. Hood, Nite’.

Date: 7/18/03
Miles: 26.6
Ascent: 3790
Descent: 3010
Today was a great day! I received some badly needed sleep and was up at 5:50. The sun was up at 6:10 so I’ll get up a tad earlier tomorrow. The scenery is fantastic. Today I passed 3 Finger Jack and I’m at Cathedral Rocks with Mt. Jefferson towering over me. It’s still clear & warm but water is very abundant. Many small patches of snow are still present, keeping many seasonal supplies running. That must explain the mosquito, aka, “Little Bastards”. I don’t use DEET so I wore my wind suit bottoms most of the day with my long sleeve shirt. Some places I need a head net when I stop. Last night and tonight I’ll be sleeping in that attire as well. My feet are holding up better than expected, only one tiny blister today. It’s now exactly 9:00pm still light, but I’m ready for bed.

Date: 7/17/03
Miles: 14.4
Ascent: 1740
Descent: 2230
I'm baaaack!
11 hours on Greyhound and I made it to Sisters, OR. Once at Sisters I still needed to get to the trailhead at McKenzie Pass. This was the first random act of kindness encountered on this trip. Patty Morgan had drove by once and said herself, "if he's still there when I come back, I'll give him a ride". I was and she did, so it only took 45 minutes to hitch a ride to the trailhead. After being up for 24+ hours I was really tired. The temp is in the 80's & 90's with clear skies. It was a scorcher crossing the Belknap lava fields at noon. I was on the trail at 11:08. I had spectacular views of Mt. Washington. Tonight I'm camped a couple miles south of Santiam Pass lulled to sleep by ATV's in the distance.

Journal section from my 2002 trip

Date : 8/4/02
Miles : 24.8
Ascent : Unk
Descent: Unk
Well. Today I made it to Highway 242 in McKenzie Pass. This seemed like the ideal place to get off the trail. I managed to hitch a ride into Sisters, Oregon, where I've acquired a room at the Comfort Inn. I've decided to end my thru-hike attempt after 1,984.2 miles and will head home in a day or two. I choose not to get up in the morning and force myself to walk 25-30 miles. My epilogue will contain more elaborate thoughts on the matter. I'm headed home, yeeaaaa!

Date : 8/3/02
Miles : 26.0
Ascent : 3370
Descent: 3170
The mosquito chronicles continue. Folks said the bugs in the Sisters Wilderness were a bummer and they were right. At 6500 feet this morning it was a chilly 36 F. The day stayed chilly as well. Members of an Oregon equestrian club were out clearing blow downs. Also, I ran into Smokey who was a day ahead. In the afternoon I detoured a mile off the trail to Elk Lake Resort for a burger and ice cream, oh, and cookies too. Tonight I'm camped north of 2 very lakes and it's very cool...nite.

Date : 8/2/02
Miles : 26.3
Ascent : 3850
Descent: 2080
The first landmark this morning was highway 58 in Willamette Pass. Next it was on to the inspirational Rosary Lakes. After having lunch at Charlton Lake I traversed a large 2 mile burn area just south of the 3 Sisters Wilderness. Tonight I'm in that wilderness area. Never in my life have I seen so many bodies of water so close together. Never have I seen so many mosquitoes in my life.

Date : 8/1/02
Miles : 20.4
Ascent : 1580
Descent: 2370
The destination today was Shelter Cove Resort, over 20 miles away. By 2pm or so I arrived at the store and began the ritual binge. Along the way I passed Diamond View Lake with spectacular views of Diamond Peak. I also stopped by Crescent Lake at White Fish Horse Camp and ate a quick breakfast of Special K. Now, I'm just sitting here waiting for my laundry to finish then I'll head back into the woods for a good nights sleep.

Date : 7/31/02
Miles : 31.9
Ascent : 4110
Descent: 4280
I'm writing this journal entry the day after. To be quite honest I know I started at highway 138 and the day ended just past forest road 60. Besides that, it's just a blur in my memory. I think I walked a lot too.

Date : 7/30/02
Miles : 22.1
Ascent : 2190
Descent: 2440
Welp, I got a late start and took the wrong trail for an hour. Besides that it was a great day. The trail was very flat, the flattest I've seen since the desert. Water has been very scarce. Tonight I'm camped in the middle of a 21-mile dry stretch, with 1.5 liters of water and 8 miles to go. There have been no fabulous views to speak of, but the many pines shading the trail are ideal walking in my opinion. The mosquitoes want to feed so I must go...

Date : 7/29/02
Miles : 19.8
Ascent : 2010
Descent: 1730
Welcome to Crater Lake. A hurried morning on the trail got me here about 12:30pm. I've stopped at the Post Office to raid my drift box for the next leg. I'm staying the night and will hit the trail again in the morning. It's very smoky here due to the fires in the area. I think I'll go eat again....

Date : 7/28/02
Miles : 29.5
Ascent : 3960
Descent: 2980
After a restful night next to a raging creek, I departed once again. I ran into a section hiker I met 2 days earlier, Silver Fox, this time with his girlfriend Glacier. They were southbound which was an opportunity to get info about the trail ahead. 2 blow downs were up ahead, oh joy. The day was other wise uneventful and the trail was pleasant until I hit the first blow down; trees everywhere, it looked like a battlefield. What’s worse, I missed the turn-off to my water source. I arrived at my NEXT water source without any water but not dehydrated. It's 20 miles to Crater Lake. Nite.

Date : 7/27/02
Miles : 30.4
Ascent : 3370
Descent: 3050
After sadly departing Hyatt Lake Resort I was back on the trail by 6:15am. The trail climbed about 1700 feet in the morning, but it was graded so well it was a pleasure. For the rest of the day it descended or stayed flat. In the afternoon the trail passed through some lava fields on the eastern flank of Mt. McLoughlin. The smoke from the fires in Oregon has made breathing nasty business as well as very, very hazy skies.

Date : 7/26/02
Miles : 5.8
Ascent : unk
Descent: unk
The destination this morning was Hyatt Lake Resort. By 8:30am I had arrived. The first order of business was breakfast at a homey little place called campers cove. Next it was a shower, then laundry. It was time to leave after the chores and as I walking down the road back to the trail, I decided I didn't feel like hiking. Sooo, I turned around and rented a cabin for the night. I had dinner at campers cove and fell asleep at 7pm.

Date : 7/25/02
Miles : 28.0
Ascent : 3320
Descent: 5400
When I woke up this morning, the smoke was thick around Mt. Ashland. Apparently the fire was some distance away but the smoke decided to settle in this area. Anyways, the day’s first destination was Interstate 5. After crossing under that noisy, obtrusive icon of civilization, it was off to the east. I had a late lunch east of pilot rock at a nice fenced in spring. Tonight I'm camped at a reservoir near Green Springs Summit.

Date : 7/24/02
Miles : 25.9
Ascent : 4190
Descent: 3590
Good-bye California, Hellooo Oregon! At 9:20am I crossed into Oregon, 85 days after starting this, um, adventure. The day was spent traveling the forests among the cows and their manure. Heck, I was even lucky enough to get water from a spring with cow poop in it. Thank you Department of Agriculture! Anyways, my body was wiped out today so I called it a day at about 7pm. This is my first night in Oregon, yea!

Date : 7/23/02
Miles : 27.9
Ascent : 7950
Descent: 2570
Well, the trail certainly went vertical today with huge climbs. The most memorable started at 5:10am and lasted till 8:30am with 4500 feet gained. The weather was nice and it didn't get to hot. The terrain went from exposed ridge to forest with a roller coaster trail. I've encountered many signs of cattle, including manure in one spring; not cool. Tonight I'm camped 10 miles south of the Oregon-California border, yea!

Date : 7/22/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
Not much going on today. Most of the day was spent eating or lounging on the front porch chatting with fellow hikers Lady Leaper, Bushwacker, Gotta Go and Brandt. Rick and Margie, the owners of Mid-River RV Park are absolutely fabulous! Tomorrow it's back to the trail.

Date : 7/21/02
Miles : 40.7
Ascent : 3220
Descent: 8540
Welcome to Seiad Valley! I woke up this morning with no intentions of doing 40 miles today, much less making it all the way to Seiad. Regardless, this is my first 40+-mile day. The day started with some brutal climbing out of the Marble Valley within the Marble Mountain Wilderness. The trail descended again, then climbed among very thick bushes. By 12:15pm I had stopped for lunch with 19 miles under my feet. The long descent into Seiad began. The area reminds me very much of Crescent City, CA. By 9pm, just before dark, I arrived at Mid-River RV Park owned and operated by Rick and Margie. They provide a bunkhouse, laundry, showers and free movies to wayward hikers. It's a fabulous little place. The bunkhouse sleeps 4, has a TV\VCR, fridge, microwave, fans, toaster. Also, it's right next door to the town’s only store and restaurant. It's just 37.4 miles left to the Oregon border. It'll be nice to begin a new state. Welp, it's time to eat again.

Date : 7/20/02
Miles : 26.9
Ascent : 5050
Descent: 3680
It was an uneventful night sleeping on the trail and I made an early start. The behavior of the trail picked up where it left off yesterday with lots of ups and downs. Unfortunately, the trail included a 15-mile waterless stretch across Etna Summit. After that water was plentiful. I met a guy named R.T. at Etna summit who lives in Running Springs, CA. I donated an orange to the cause. He and his wife were on summer vacation doing section hikes. Besides mules fouling a water source in a so-called 'wilderness' area, nothing else memorable today. Oh, I'm in the Marble Mountain Wilderness tonight.

Date : 7/19/02
Miles : 29.9
Ascent : 5190
Descent: 4900
Today the trail began with a climb, then a descent. Repeat. That was the theme of the day. I met this guy on the trail while having lunch. He was wearing a small daypack and carrying his sleeping bag under his arm. For navigation he was using a Rand-McNally road atlas. He had been on the trail for 5 days. I don't believe he was the sharpest tack in the drawer, but he's my new hero. Tonight, due to poor timing, I'm camped smack in the middle of the trail with steep granite on both sides. Oh, well.

Date : 7/18/02
Miles : 31.1
Ascent : 2270
Descent: 2710
Section P is in a mountainous area, but it's incredible how flat the designers of this section have kept the trail. With that said, today was a very nice walk. It changed from exposed ridges to tree cover with a fair amount of water, some from seasonal sources. This afternoon I wasn't paying attention and took the wrong trail at a junction, oops! That cost me an unnecessary 1.5 miles. Tomorrow I should cross into the Trinity Wilderness . . . Nite!

Date : 7/17/02
Miles : 28.0
Ascent : 6580
Descent: 1550
Well the day began with my departure from Dunsmuir and the proprietor was kind enough to give me a ride the 4.5 miles to the trailhead. The trail began at Castle Crags State Park with a 2500-foot climb, ouch. It then headed west towards the Trinity Divide with magnificent views East and North. Tonight, I'm camped on a low saddle under a half full moon. If I lay on my right side I have a full view of Mt. Shasta. Nite.

Date : 7/16/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
The last day of rest is here; tomorrow it's back to the trail. Breakfast was at the River Cafe again and I even got my haircut. Now, it's TV and ice cream, resting for tomorrow.

Date : 7/15/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
Today was a typical town day. Sleeping in, post office, showers, laundry, etc. Breakfast was at the River Cafe and lunch was at the Burger Barn. Yes, the burger barn.

Date : 7/14/02
Miles : 16.9
Ascent : 2220
Descent: 2560
Welcome to Dunsmuir! Section 'O' is thankfully done. The first 10 miles and the last 17 miles are the only tolerable parts of the trail section due to poor trail maintenance. Immediately upon departing this morning the trail began to climb. After 2000 vertical feet the grade eased and started it's decent to I-5. Upon arriving, I headed for Dunsmuir. This was a 4.5-mile walk along railroad tracks and back roads. For 2 glorious days I'll be staying at the Travel Lodge, resting and preparing resupply packages for Oregon and Washington. 192 miles till the Oregon border.

Date : 7/13/02
Miles : 29.2
Ascent : 2430
Descent: 4160
After sleeping in very tight quarters, due to my inability to find a flat spot, I began the day hiking towards Ash Camp. This is a major waypoint on this section of trail. The McCloud River is a Mecca for fisherman. After lunching next to Fitzhugh creek, I continued towards Squaw Valley Creek, my destination for tonight. This creek is located next to a well-traveled dirt road and looks like a very popular swimming hole. Nite.

Date : 7/12/02
Miles : 27.7
Ascent : 4340
Descent: 2640
Welcome to the Amazon! Section 'O' of the PCT is absolutely the worst maintained section on the trail. I say this with 45 miles still left to do. If I was the maintainer for this section I'd be embarrassed to show my face. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, its the severely overgrown plants on the trail. Hell, the rampant logging and clear cuts make it look good. Rant over. Anyway, the highlight of the day besides bloody shins from the plants was a daytime bear encounter. I was walking down the trail and I startled a bear to my right. It bolted up the hill about 50 feet and stood looking at me. I was downwind and it couldn't figure me out. It stood up on its hind legs for a better look. Very cool. I continued down the trail. That’s it for now.

Date : 7/11/02
Miles : 22.5
Ascent : 2590
Descent: 710
Today's first destination was Burney Falls State Park, complete with a store, showers and small food concession. Record high temperatures were forecast, so this justified a 5-hour layover in the shade :) While sitting in the shade an older fellow named Len approached with a soda and asked if I was a thru-hiker. We talked trail for a while until his wife showed up. Thanks for the soda Len! Anyways, the next stop will be Dunsmuir in about 3 days.

Date : 7/10/02
Miles : 33.5
Ascent : 1790
Descent: 3110
Hat Creek Rim lived up to its notorious reputation. Known as a long, hot, dry, shadeless stretch of trail, it delivered. The temp at 2:30pm hovered around 98F in the shade. The 29-mile waterless stretch was broken up by Amigo's water cache (Cache 22, you rock Amigo!) that turned it into a 16mile and 13 mile stretches. The trail however was fairly flat that allowed me to get this section over with in 1 day. Tonight I'm camped next to water which is nice. Tomorrow it's 14 miles to Burney Falls, my next resupply. Oh, on another note, 3 days ago I broke the halfway mark to Canada at 1325 miles. 'Nite.

Date : 7/8/02
Miles : 22.8
Ascent : 1260
Descent: 2890
Welcome to Hat Creek Resort! I managed to make it here in 8 hours, rolling in about 1:50pm. After leaving camp this morning the trail continued to climb, leveling out among some lakes in Lassen Park, then the long descent out of the park and into the Hat Creek area. The owner of the resort arranged a ride for the 9 hikers staying here to a local restaurant down the road. It wasn't great, but different. I'll be taking a '0' day tomorrow and give my feet a rest.

Date : 7/7/02
Miles : 29.5
Ascent : unknown
Descent: unknown
Well after departing the shallow gully, I continued towards Lassen Park. I passed through land owned by lumber companies that didn't look to much worse for wear. After crossing the busy highway near Chester, I began walking a section of trail sponsored by the PCT Association, be highly critical of it's condition; it was in prety good shape. Finally I entered Lassen National Park. I took a quick side trip to Terminal Geyser where steam and hot sulfur water boil from the ground constantly; Lassen Peak is a dormant volcano. By the end of the day I ended up at a ritzy place called Drakesbad Ranch. I ran into Team Blackcat (Artie & Sheri) and dinner with them. The ranch actually let stinky hikers eat there, albeit outside. My day ended 1 mile up the trail from the ranch, tomorrow it's a resupply stop, Hat Creek Rim (Old Station)

Date : 7/6/02
Miles : 29.5
Ascent :
Descent:
I began the day by getting slightly lost, but 45 minutes later I was back on track. The trail climbed through forest mixed with volcanic outcrops. Mt Lassen is looming ever closer. I had an encounter with 2 equestrians out for a ride and a woman counting goshawk nets in the forest using GPS. Kinda cool. Tonight I'm camped just past a landmark the guidebook called a shallow gully. I think it’s so simple it’s funny.

Date : 7/5/02
Miles : 21.9
Ascent : 3440
Descent: 5360
Well the initial destination today was Belden, at 11 miles. It was a long descent into Belden and it turned out that services actually existed there, contrary to yesterday’s report. Upon arriving, I had 4 ice cream bars, 4 peanut butter cookies and 2 cheeseburgers with fries. After taking a shower, I headed to the post office. I resupplyed for 4 days and off I went. It was hot and the trail climbed. A avalanche had CCC rerouting the trail, but it was easy to find.

Date : 7/4/02
Miles : 26.5
Ascent : 5910
Descent: 1600
The morning started with the long climb from the middle fork of the Feather River. Did I say long climb? For the most part it was shaded with Oaks at the lower elevations and pine at the higher. Things peaked after Bucks Summit and the night was spent there. I ran into a southbound section hiker who told me Belden is a virtual ghost town and the post office is the only thing open. This is crushing news. Tomorrow I'll find out.

Date : 7/3/02
Miles : 30.7
Ascent : 3200
Descent: 6960
The day started with a climb through thick trees providing lots of shade. Next a decent. That was the tone for today. Eventually I descended to the middle for of the Feather River, a huge descent of 3000 feet. Tomorrow morning, commences with a climb to regain that elevation...oh joy. I need my sleep, g'nite.

Date : 7/2/02
Miles : 23.2
Ascent : 4260
Descent: 2520
Let the climbing begin. After a breakfast of 9 eggs, half a pound of bacon and some potatoes, it was time to hit the trail. The climb up Sierra Buttes was torturous. The rest of the day the trail was quite enjoyable with lots of trees and easy grades. I didn't get started till 9:15am, thus the low mileage. Many day hikers were on the trail for a Tuesday. It must be the 4th of July week.

Date : 7/1/02
Miles : 17.8
Ascent : 1160
Descent: 4750
Welcome to Sierra City! The carrot was dangling as I started the mornings sprint to my next town stop. The trail was by far some of the most enjoyable of the trip so far; lots of trees, no snow and well groomed trail. I made it into town by 1pm. Other hikers were congregated outside the store and post office. I joined them there for some junk food before getting a room at the Buttes Resort. What a fabulous place! The rooms had full kitchens, complete with cookware and dishes. This allowed for a steak dinner in the room. Sierra City is nothing more than a small wayside, but a place I'd like to visit again.

Date : 6/30/02
Miles : 29.0
Ascent : 4700
Descent: 4350
Donner Summit was today’s first destination. After an uneventful arrival, I had the usual breakfast of cornflakes. The trail most of the day was good walking. Just before reaching Peter Grub Ski Hut I ran into a guy named Adam. He's an aspiring commercial pilot and we chatted for a bit. He was on his way out of the wilderness after a weekend trip. He gave me his Jiffy Pop popcorn, which he didn't use. He has achieved god status. The high points on the trail keep getting lower. Nothing above 8000 feet for the rest of central California. Tomorrow it's Sierra City, 16 miles to go.

Date : 6/29/02
Miles : 33.9
Ascent : 5700
Descent: 6110
Bugs from hell. Can't wait till summer progresses a bit; the mossie's are bad. The trail conditions reflect the mileage, both are good. Today I passed out of Desolation Wilderness and Entered Granite Chief Wilderness. After lunch, I left that one too. The trail passed through 2 ski areas: Squaw Valley and Alpine. They look naked without any snow. Also, the headwaters for the American river are located right under a ski lift at Squaw. 46 miles left to Sierra City.

Date : 6/28/02
Miles : 22.0
Ascent : 3850
Descent: 3240
My recreation ended at 10am this morning as I picked up the trail at Echo Lake Resort. The trail soon entered the Desolation Wilderness, so named for the few trees growing out of the granite. What it lacked in trees, it made up for in people. For the first time on the trip I was asked by a ranger to show my hiking permit. I guess it was inevitable. The objective today was Dick’s Pass. The south side was clear but the north side had a fair amount of snow. With the footprints from all the people, it was easy to follow. Anyways, the trail was in good shape, thus the mileage with a late start. Nite.

Date : 6/27/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
Well. Today is the last day of my Tahoe sabbatical. After 2+ days away from the trail, I've gotten bored and I'm ready to walk-on again. This morning was a breakfast at McDonalds, followed by a quart of ice cream for lunch and Taco Bell for dinner. Other than a quick trip to Kmart, I spent the day lying on the bed watching TV. A real tough day.

Date : 6/26/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
I rolled out of bed at 9am. What a good feeling to sleep. After breakfast at Bert's again, I went down to do laundry. To my surprise, Mailboxes Etc had a computer with Internet access for public use. For the first time in almost 2 months, I sat at a computer. That's a 13-year record. The first thing I did was look at my website to see how the journal entries look. Darcy is doing a PHAT job, thanks Darcy! Next stop was Raley's again. I picked up food for my next 4-day leg. I spent the afternoon paying bills by phone, oh joy.

Date : 6/25/02
Miles : 6.8
Ascent : 1240
Descent: 3470
On the trail at 5:45am, I reached my next re-supply stop, Echo Lake Resort, by 8:20am. Inside the general store I chatted with Luke and Gravedigger, fellow hikers. To my dismay, my drift box had not arrived from Tuolumne yet. With the intent of a 2+ layover in Tahoe, I'm not too concerned. I'll check back before I hit the trail again. Luke and I split a cab to South Lake Tahoe. After getting a room at the Budget Inn (that's right, BUDGET) I went down to Raley’s for soap and a razor. After a shower, I then pigged out at Bert's Cafe, then at Tahoe Pizza. At 4:00pm I lay down to watch TV and woke up to find it was midnight.Damn, I was tired.

Date : 6/24/02
Miles : 29.1
Ascent : 5250
Descent: 5000
It was a warm morning and the trail started down. Most of the morning was spent in Mokelumne with rolling hills among pines. By noon my attention was on Carson Pass, the days major waypoint. The trail climbed steadily and by the time it neared the top, large patches of snow required navigating. BY 2:30pm I was over the top with the western sun shining and decided to take lunch. After that it was down hill to the highway at Carson Pass. Upon reaching the Forest Information Building, I signed the PCT register and chatted with the 2 women running the place. They offered m a Pepsi, which was like gold. Setting off again to the northern side of Carson Pass, I'd have to compare the area to a swamp. With snowmelt underway and many small patches of snow melting, it's a mess. Tonight I'm camped 6.8 miles from Echo Lake Resort, my next re-supply stop. It's been a long 5 days.

Date : 6/23/02
Miles : 29.7
Ascent : 5820
Descent: 5710
A solid day. The mileage reflects the trail conditions. I did 2 passes today. An unnamed one that had a fair amount of snow on the North side that resulted in a downhill bonsai to find the trail next to a small lake. The second pass had virtually no snow on its west side that made for an easy descent. I passed 4 thru hikers today that I hadn't met yet. I'm about 1.5 days from Echo Lake Resort, my next re-supply stop.

Date : 6/22/02
Miles : 24.1
Ascent : 4400
Descent: 4030
The mosquitoes were getting thick as I left this morning. The destination was 10,800-foot Sonora Pass. After reaching the top of the pass, the trail stayed at or above 10,000 feet. Patches of snow slowed progress somewhat and the north side was stifling. Once the trail cleared the trail was a long gentle downgrade. Tonight I'm camped along that grade. While at highway 108, I ran into PCT hikers Mark, Megan, Happy Joe, Yogi and Lady Leaper. While climbing the north side I ran into day hikers Paul, who works at Bridgeport’s PCT hiker friendly High Sierra Bakery and Jamie who hiked the PCT in 99. Milestones today, I've hiked more than a 1000 miles and I've started section J.

Date : 6/21/02
Miles : 22.4
Ascent : 3880
Descent: 3210
The morning had a creek ford waiting. It was cold, but uneventful. The trail began to climb and the mosquitoes thickened. By the second ford of the day, the mosquitoes were almost unbearable. I spent most of the day in my shell clothes and headset; these are the only things that kept my sanity. Late this afternoon I entered Toyabi National Forest via Dorothy Lake Pass. Tonight I'm camped several miles north of the pass. The mosquitoes are here with me.

Date : 6/20/02
Miles : 21.6
Ascent : 5350
Descent: 5640
The day began at 5:50am. The scenery has been the most inspiring of the trip so far. Yosemite is absolutely gorgeous, never mind the mosquitoes, snow on the trail or constant ups and downs. Every time you turn a corner you're greeted by a granite monolith, meadow or maybe a small but charming lake. Today I saw all of these things more than once. I had my first encounter with a ranger in Yosemite today. We chatted for a few, the she asked THE QUESTION. What kind of container I was using for food. I'm using an Ursack, which is not an approved container in Yosemite and neighboring parks. She reminded me of that fact and said, "if she wrote a ticket for every PCT'er that didn't have a bear canister, we'd all get tickets." I appreciated her humor and her easygoing attitude toward PCT hikers. Given the mode in which we operate and the distances from the mainstream areas, she didn't view it as a major problem. Tonight I'm camped a few miles down Kerrick canyon.

Date : 6/19/02
Miles : 15.1
Ascent : 1670
Descent: 1740
After departing the comforts of civilization and a 2 hour bus ride back to Tuolumne Meadows from Curry Village in Yosemite Valley, once again I was on the trail, late, at around noon. This small piece of trail was very nice, but crowded with weekend backpackers and day hikers. Its proximity to Yosemite Valley makes it popular. The further I went the less crowded it got. It was very nice hiking today, some of the best so far. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same. It's no secret why Yosemite is so popular, it's fantastic. The major destination tomorrow is Benson Lake.

Date : 6/18/02
Miles : 5.6
Ascent : 370
Descent: 610
Tuolumne Meadows is the goal today. But first, we had the first bear encounter last night. It was after dark when you could hear the snapping of twigs and branches. When I looked in that direction I could see a large outline of a bear in the moonlight about 20feet away. Immediately I jumped up and started yelling loudly and beating my ice ax against a rock. It was the typical Yosemite bear. It did not run or show any intimidation. It made a wide circle around the camp before heading off to other campsites. The reason for the encounter was our presence in an established camping area. These places are like drive-thrus for Yosemite bears; they know where the food is. We did enough miles yesterday to put us close to Tuolumne, unfortunately it put us in a bad camping situation. The plot thickens. When we arrived in Tuolumne we ran into Liz & Simon, who were actually camped near us. A bear (same one?) actually got its teeth around their food bag (an Ursack) complete with teeth holes. Now Simon wasn't about give in, he began to throw rocks at the bear, but it wouldn't give it up. Finally, he got within 6 feet of the bear, and threw a large rock at the bear’s head; it let go and left. At 2am in the morning Liz and Simon also left and didn't get much sleep. Anyways, enough bear stories. Section H is now history. Also, a small milestone: I'm over 1/3 of the way done, over 900 miles.

Date : 6/17/02
Miles : 21.2
Ascent : 4040
Descent: 3520
The day started from an overnight perch above Agnew Meadow. From there the ascent began to Island Pass at 10,200 feet. The major attraction in this area is 1000 Island Lake, a lake with many, well, islands. Snow covered Banner Peak looms large in the background. Next waypoint was Donahue Pass at 11,056. We got lost. Lost for a whole hour in the pervasive snow leading up to the pass. Eventually we got back on track and made the ascent. After cresting the top we began the descent, again in snow. We had lunch by a small lake fed by snowmelt and then continued the descent to Tuolumne. Tonight we're camped in Tuolumne Valley with 5.6 miles to the P.O. and store. Anticipation of town days is so exciting!

Date : 6/16/02
Miles : 23.7
Ascent : 2120
Descent: 4530
The day started with a climb from Virginia Lake to Purple Lake followed by a cold, early morning ford of a creek. Next a long descent to Reds Meadow where we arrived about 1pm. The restaurant was closed, but the store was open. After making a pig of myself, I was finally able to send 12 days of journal entries at the pay phone. An hour and a half later we were back on the trail. After traversing the Devils Post Pile Park South to North, we began the climb to Agnew Meadow. We continued a bit longer and are camped on a ridge high above the meadow and bloodthirsty mosquitoes.

Date : 6/14/02
Miles : 6.2
Ascent : 1210
Descent: 2460
Welcome to VVR! After 10 days trekking through the rugged and beautiful Sierra’s we strolled up to the landing for a boat ride across Lake Edison to Vermilion Valley Resort. I don't recall being so happy to see civilization. First things first. For breakfast I devoured steak, eggs, hash browns and 2 huge pancakes. Yesterday I had corn flakes. We arrived about 10:15am. I had my first shower in TEN DAYS. After spending the early afternoon lounging around, I did laundry; it was a bit overdue. A quick recap of the passes crossed: Forester Pass, the highest at 13,180 feet, loaded heavily with snow on the north side with a steep descent. Glen Pass, at 11,798 was not easy, but not bad for a 12K. Ascending this pass early in the morning, the sun shaded the snow colors of red. This contrasted with the glacier blue water of the frozen tarns. My favorite pass. Pinchot Pass, at 12,130 feet was my private little hell. With so much snow on the ascent, this is where I abandoned the idea of following a trail. Clomp through the snow to the pass in the most direct manner. Mather Pass, at 12,100 was exhausting, climbing around snow choked switchbacks to reach the summit and then a descent down the snow covered north side. Muir Pass, at 11,955 feet this was the absolute worst pass. Walking up and down steep hills, long grades for 6 to 7 miles all covered in SNOW. The worst of the passes. Selden Pass, at 10900 feet it was the easiest. Although covered with snow it was a cakewalk compared to the others. This will be a quick layover and I'll be back on the trail tomorrow by 11am. The next destination is Tuolumne in Yosemite, in 3 days.

Date : 6/13/02
Miles : 27.1
Ascent : 3540
Descent: 4170
11,000 foot Selden Pass was the objective today. The morning started with a ford of Evolution Creek. A bad-fording location on my part made a section waist deep rather than knee deep. Most of the day was spent traveling towards Selden Pass. Given the lower altitude I was conservatively optimistic about crossing it. It was an easy cross with minimal snow crossings, unlike the nightmare of Muir Pass yesterday. We pushed hard for extra miles today.....tonight we're just 6 miles from Vermilion Valley Resort!!! Our first contact with civilization and ice cream in 10 days. Can't wait till morning. Zzzzz...

Date : 6/12/02
Miles : 21.8
Ascent : 4650
Descent: 2980
Muir Pass was our main goal today. The snow began around 10,000 feet and pervasive at 11,000 feet. Muir is a 12,000-foot pass so this meant, once again, no trail. The object was to climb and descend in the most direct route. That translates to 6 miles of climbing and descending on snow. The coverage was staggering and we were not happy. We made it to Muir Hut at the top of the pass by 1:00pm. Muir Hut is made of stone and was built to shelter hikers caught in inclement weather. Eventually by 4:00pm we made it to Evolution Lake for a quick dinner. Tonight we are camped at Evolution Valley. Today was the most physically demanding of the trip so far. Next destination, Selden Pass.

Date : 6/11/02
Miles : 19.1
Ascent : 3520
Descent: 6100
Well all went well today and was by far one of the most demanding days. The ascent of Pinchot Pass went well as did the decent, Lots of snow above 11,000 feet though. After Pinchot the next objective was Mather Pass. It proved its own set of challenges. Again, a significant part of the trail was obscured by snow. This part was bypassed by climbing the steep and rocky hillside adjacent to the snow clogged switchbacks. All went well with a very long and snow descent. After lunch we took off for Muir Pass. Tonight we're still 13 miles away. I'm beat.

Date : 6/10/02
Miles : 15.1
Ascent : 4170
Descent: 4120
This morning was cold, camped 1.5 miles from Glen Pass. The ascent was snowy but simple. From there the descent was snowy to about 11,000 feet. Through this part of the Sierra's the John Muir Trail (JMT) and the PCT are the same. The afternoon was spent climbing to Pinchot Pass. The snow became so pervasive the trail became impossible to find. Utterly frustrating. Camp was made about 6:30pm. The new plan of attack was this: I don’t know where the trail is, but I know where the pass is, so just walk/climb there. Tomorrow morning I'll try this.

Date : 6/9/02
Miles : 20.8
Ascent : 4340
Descent: 4370
Today was a definite milestone with the crossing of Forrester Pass. This pass is the highest point on the PCT at 13,200 feet. We started the morning with a VERY cold ford of Wallace Creek; a real toe freezer. After descending into a valley we began the ascent of Forester Pass. Plenty of wide snow patches covered the south approach making trail finding very interesting. After making it to the base of the pass, so much snow covered the base we scrambled up the side until we found the trail. The trail switched-backed up and up with the lower parts obscured by snow. As we climbed the trail became clear. The view from the top was magnificent and the obligatory photos were snapped. It was time to descend the north side of the pass that was COMPLETELY covered with snow. Finding the trail wasn't an issue; it was just a matter of descending the steep snowy slope about 1000 feet to where the ground was visible. It was a bit hairy at times. As the saying goes, "I was doing it, but I wasn't digging it". Eventually we came down and began the hike down Center Basin. The snow is in full melt and water was EVERYWHERE. We had lunch by one of the many creeks and headed off towards Glen Pass. That's where we are tonight, about a mile from the summit on the south side. We called it quits early not wanting to get caught in the dark near the top. Tomorrow it's Glen Pass at 12,000 feet.

Date : 6/8/02
Miles : 4.1
Ascent : unknown
Descent: unknown
Today was the day of the big side trip, Mt. Whitney. We started about 6am for the ascent. It was a cold morning. We soon crossed above the tree line and past many streams and alpine lakes, some still frozen over. The ascent was made on narrow, steep switchbacks, with several snow crossings. The wind added to the ambience. About 2\3 of the way up we stashed any unnecessary gear. With lighter loads we continued. By 10:30am we had reached the summit and the shelter of the Smithsonian Hut. The wind was howling and it was cold. Being a Saturday, about a dozen other day hikers were also there. After signing the register and taking the obligatory pictures, we bolted down the mountain back to our gear. Upon finding our gear all was not well, it appeared that someone had gotten into Lady Leaper's pack. 2 Top Ramens and half a dozen cookies were missing. We believe the culprit was a marmot. Sneaky critter. By 2:00pm we were back down the mountain having lunch just north of Crabtree Meadow. A side story. The first meal on the first day of the current leg, I broke my Lexan (plastic) spoon way down near the spoon. I've been using it as a scoop. Well on our way down on a snow patch, Cheryl found a fork. This means I ate with a real utensil for the first time in 4 days! Trail magic. Anyways, after the Whitney trip we were anxious to put in some PCT miles. We were a bit tired (ok, real tired) but managed to make it just past Wallace Creek for the night. Tomorrow it's off to Forrester Pass. Oh, We started section H today section G is now history.

Date : 6/7/02
Miles : 18.7
Ascent : 4010
Descent: 3650
We spent the day making our way to Crabtree Meadow via Cottonwood Pass and Rock Creek. Anticipating a low miles day, we spent several hours at Rock Creek rinsing out clothes, eating and generally relaxing. Then off to Crabtree Meadow. We arrived there a bit early and continued up toward Mt. Whitney. Tonight we're camped around 11,500 feet. Tomorrow we rise early and summit Mt. Whitney.

Date : 5/6/02
Miles : 19.7
Ascent : 3840
Descent: 2150
Up with the mosquitoes at 5am not too much worse for wear, we started the day. We began with a climb that had striking views of the valley east of the Sierras. You could actually see traffic on 395. Next we made a water stop and I had a quick breakfast. We hiked on to the next spring for lunch. Most of our hiking was done above or near 10,000 feet. We had about 40 miles to Crabtree Meadow so we'll split the mileage between today and tomorrow. That's why we had low miles today. We called it a day at 5pm. Very early. Oh, Crabtree Meadows is the jump-off to summit Mt. Whitney. This is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. While not part of the PCT it's a very alluring side trip. Tonight we're camped about 2 miles south of Cottonwood Pass.

Date : 6/5/02
Miles : 23.9
Ascent : 5240
Descent: 2530
We departed Kennedy Meadows campground around 6am and soon after entered the South Sierra Wilderness. After crossing the South Kern River on a footbridge we began a climb into Monache Meadows. It's a beautiful several mile long mountain meadow. We skimmed the edge then crossed a small hill and descended to the South Kern river again. This is where we met Jeff and Ken fly-fishing. After we told Jeff and Ken what we were doing, they gave us carrots and a bell pepper. Jeff and Ken are gods. Next we began to climb. For the first time the PCT climbed above 10,000 feet. During that climb we saw 2 marmots. That's the first time I've seen one. Tomorrow it will be higher. Tonight I'm camped in the middle of a mosquito convention. It sounds like the Indy 500. The only part of my body that is exposed is my fingertips. I must remedy that now.

Date : 6/4/02
Miles : 4.3
Ascent : 960
Descent: 570
The morning was early and cold with a mere 4.3 miles to Kennedy Meadows Store. At 7am we were there a full 2 hours before they opened...bummer. We sat out on the deck with the 2 cats and waited. At 9am the owners arrived and turned on the generator. The place started to come to life. Breakfast consisted of ice cream, orange juice and Twinkies. Next, a nice hot shower in an outdoor stall. All this luxury capped off by washing my clothes in a washing machine! We spent the day lounging on the deck, sorting re-supply packages and taking care of business as other hikers began to straggle in. In the evening we caught a ride from Grumpy to the local restaurant “Grumpys”. 5 of us had dinner together, then off to Kennedy Meadows Campground. Lady Leaper (Cheryl) and I will head off into the Sierras tomorrow for a 9 day stretch. The packs are loaded with food and are fairly heavy. Cheryl's is 27lbs, mine is 41lbs. Let the adventure begin...

Date : 6/3/02
Miles : 27.7
Ascent : 4850
Descent: 4540
We left our campsite to the gobble-gobble of the turkey who thought he was a rooster. Let the climbing commence. 1000 feet later we began our decent to chimney creek campground where you can actually get water with traces of uranium. It's tough to find in stores. The water is harmless and tastes great. Lady Leaper was a bit suspicious of it though. During the heat of the day we began another climb that dropped us into Rock House Basin where we fixed dinner at the creek. Tonight we're stealth camped near the south fork of the Kern River, complete with beavers. No more deserts. Today we are decidedly in the sierras, with no more water alerts. 4.7 miles to Kennedy Meadows, have my breakfast ready!

Date : 6/2/02
Miles : 25.3
Ascent : 4430
Descent: 4750
Skunks on the trail. Cheryl, Matt and I left the shelter at McIvers Spring just before 6am. A few moments later we encountered 2 skunks on the trail headed our way. Given the presence of 3 dignified humans they turned and ran the other way. We were following them down the trail and they wouldn't get off. The lead skunk figured it out and turned back to charge at us. The 3 humans scattered in 3 different directions in the most undignified manner. Alas, I broke out my whistle and started blowing like a madman. This seemed to work. They kept running down the trail and eventually turned off. On to other business. Today section F became history as we crossed highway 178 at Walker Pass. We spent the day climbing and ascending mountains that are actually appealing. We had breakfast at Walker Pass campground and dinner at Joshua Tree Springs. This was a fabulous spot. Tonight we're stealth camped by the 3rd water crossing of Nettle Creek listening to the wild turkey gobble. It's amusing. 31.8 miles remain to Kennedy Meadows.

Date : 6/1/02
Miles : 26.0
Ascent : 5520
Descent: 3200
Well, I found the water source and was not pleased. It was overrun with cattle and the water reflected that. This was the absolute worse conditions of the trip. We filtered the 'water' and head the 1.2 miles back to the trail. Still in the desert the trail began to climb. It was WINDY, but this kept the temp quite comfy. We ascended to about 7000 feet before descending to a spur trail to Yellow jacket spring. We opted to pass the source and kept moving towards McIvers Spring. This was a pleasant surprise. Not only is a nice spring here, but an old, small cabin complete with stove. A hiker named Matt had arrived earlier and invited us to sleep inside. With the wind howling outside, it's kinda nice. I just met the permanent resident, a gray and white mouse who was more curious than frightened. Hopefully my belongings will have no new holes in the morning.

Date : 5/31/02
Miles : 26.1
Ascent :
Descent:
We departed our ridge top campsite and began our journey through the trees. It was typical Sierras. The thunderstorms began to build early and by afternoon were popping. Lunch was had at Landers Creek camp, one of the more memorable stops along the PCT. After lunch and getting just a bit lost we hit the trail. Once again, like so many other times, the trail unceremoniously dumped us into the desert again. We managed to make Butterbredt Road after dark, but unable to find the water source. That will have to wait till morning. Tonight I fall asleep watching the lightning over the Sierras.

Date : 5/30/02
Miles : 22.6
Ascent : 4600
Descent: 2970
With a tear in my eye, I waved goodbye to the shower stall in my motel room. The wonderful folks at Whites motel dropped 6 of us off at the trailhead. The trail began at Tehachapi Pass, the beginning of section F. This is the geographic start of the Sierra's, but it won't feel that way for a few more days. Today began with a climb and as the day progressed it became hot as well. To make things interesting, we also had to endure a 16-mile water alert (READ: no water for 16 miles). So, reaching Golden Oaks Springs was like paradise. After making lunch and drinking water excessively, we headed out into an 18-mile water alert. I'm dry camped about 11 miles from the next spring. The terrain has alternated from desert like to pines. The evening is cool and pleasant.

Date : 5/29/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
It was nice to sleep in a real bed again. 7 of us went to a 24-hour breakfast cafe and made pigs of ourselves. After that I finished some last minute details, went to the post office and mailed my drift box on to Tuolumne in Yosemite. After all that exertion, it was time for 2 quarter pounders with cheese and a chocolate shake. Next, I paid my monthly bills and called some family and friends. In the evening there was a bar-b-que down by the pool for the hiker trash. (Thanks 'T' !!!) I'm back on the trail tomorrow.

Date : 5/28/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
The coveted 'zero day'. The day began with a trip to Burger King for French toast sticks. Next to the post office for my drift box, then to the grocery store to re-supply. Lady Leaper came into town this morning and we headed over to Carl’s Jr for some grub. Finally, I did laundry. That sums up the day. Whites Motel in Mojave caters to hikers and the crowd of hikers reflects that. One more day for some R & R then back to the trail on Thursday.

Date : 5/27/02
Miles : 27
Ascent : 1330
Descent: 1650
We were on the trail at 5:43am. About 30 minutes after we started walking a guy drives by on the dirt road we with a huge water tank on his truck. He asked us if we needed water. We didn't, but these types of events are precious. We spent the rest of the uneventful morning making our way to cottonwood creek; it was a hiker convention with 10 of us there. I talked to a guy with the directions for taking the old PCT route into Mojave. This route is longer but without significant hills; it follows the LA Aquaduct. This was my choice over the convoluted official trail laid down after intense legal battles with forestry lawyers against Tejon ranch lawyers. The private landowners did not want the PCT to run through their property. The courts agreed with Tejon Ranch (as it should be) and the result was a piece of crap trail section that's inflicted on hikers, 22 miles, no water, lots of hills. I'd opted for the old route. Lady Leaper wanted to stay with the official route. So, off I went on the biggest boondoggle of the hike so far. I did not end up where I expected AT ALL. I spent several hours road walking on a not so busy 2-lane road. At about 5:30pm I hit a paved crossroad that was familiar. I stuck my thumb out for the first and only car I'd seen on this road. The truck was driven by a guy name Dave who was returning from a weekend convention for pack animal handlers. Dave leads pack animals in the Sierras as a profession. Couldn't have got a better ride. He hauled me the last 4 miles to the Whites Motel in Mojave. These folks cater to PCT hikers. I arrived about 7pm. I'll spend 2 days here getting my act together, making preparations for my entry into the Sierras.

Date : 5/26/02
Miles : 37.5
Ascent : 5230
Descent: 5190
Mile slaves. Joe delivered Lady Leaper and I at the trailhead by 6:15. A bit late, but we didn't mind. The day started with a climb out of a chaparral canyon past several old graphite mines and placed us near the ridge. Cheryl was feeling her oats and spent a good part of the day way out front. By 2:30 in the afternoon we were both on the same page. I talked to an older guy who said that Joe from Casa de Luna had stocked an ice chest in a creek bed near the Pines Highway. When LL caught up I gave her the good news and we were off on a mission. We soaked our dirty, nasty feet in the cold water it was great. As we were eating dinner 'T' showed up who had been well behind us the previous day. Apparently, he had been hiking since MIDNIGHT. He was hammered and stayed to make dinner. LL and I were off to get more miles before dark. I turned LL on to the Scott cocktail, 2 Excedrin and 2 Ibuprofen. Feel no pain. LL felt so good she suggested we do some night hiking. I'd never done it before, but the moon was raging full and it was a good night for it. Our first dark stop was highway 138. We crossed without incident and easily found the trail on the other side of the road. I was navigator and took extra precaution not to get us lost, at the expense of a little more time. Our next stop was for water in the dark. A 16-mile waterless stretch was upon us. A small elementary school was the only choice; the sprinklers were running. The school was surrounded by a high chain link fence. I climbed over. LL opened the gate and handed me the water bottles. :) A water fountain was found behind the school and filled up. It was 11:30pm when we stopped for the night. We'd spent the last 2 hours occasionally hiding in the bushes from pickups marauding the open desert. It seemed the prudent thing to do. It was a long day but put us within 31 miles of Mojave.

Date : 5/25/02
Miles : 30.3
Ascent : 5050
Descent: 4270
Well, even good things must come to end. 4 of us departed the Saufleys at 5:45am and hit the trail T and Megan stopped by the store waiting for it to open; coffee, ya know. Lady Leaper(Cheryl) took off into the hills North of Agua Dulce. Cheryl set the pace with my sorry ass in tow. She's a retired RN and lives with her husband Tom and 2 boys in Birmingham, Alabama. Our pace was fast through the chaparral choked hills. By 4:15 we were at the ranger station 22 miles from our start. As we were making dinner, at the ranger station some guy (Joe Anderson) came by and asked us if we wanted to stay at the Casa del Luna. It's a hiker haven run out of Joe and Terri Andersons home, just like the Saufleys. I was a bit skeptical at first, not knowing about the situation. But the promise of hot showers and burgers was just too great. Joe said he'd meet us at 8:00pm in the next canyon over. This left us with 8 miles to cover in a short period of time. We made it there with 10 minutes to spare. Joe showed up at 8:15. With a promise to have us back at the trail at 5:30am, we jumped in. It was great! The 'good' crowd was there, not the rowdy's. What seemed questionable turned out fabulous!

Date : 5/24/02
Miles : 15.9
Ascent : 2240
Descent: 2820
Out and on the trail at 5am, the final march into Agua Dulce commenced. It was a hot and dry walk through the barren hills and eventually and lastly through the rocks of Vasquez county park. At this point I became mildly lost on all the horse trails. Not to worry, find the high spot and look for the park entrance. With that done I headed off to the HQ and got directions to “The Saufleys”. Fortunately the route headed through town by one tiny store where I loaded up on Gatorade, milk and Oreo's; life is good. About “The Saufleys”. They are THE trail angels of the PCT. They invite hikers to stay over at their house here in Agua Dulce. They have 2 trailers, several large tents, and lawn space, provide the use of a car to hikers, showers and laundry. Get the picture? Simply, they rock. I'll probably stay the night here, then hit the trail; on to Mojave. With my arrival here, that marks the end of section D.

Date : 5/23/02
Miles : 27.6
Ascent : 3190
Descent: 6450
The day began cold and early again. In the mornings when it's cold (20's or 30's) getting packed up and started walking is the only thing to do. I made my first 8 miles before 8:30 and arrived at Mill Creek ranger station where I made breakfast and chatted with the employees as the came in. I asked for and received a weather report. The ranger gave me status on water stops along the way before I left. Great folks. As I was leaving I ran into 'Happy Joe' who I met yesterday. I pointed him in the direction of the ranger station. He asked me if I'd seen Lady Leaper, but I hadn't. I crossed the road by a picnic area and ran into Lady Leaper. She couldn't find water so I sent her to the ranger station as well. All day long the 3 of us played leapfrog on the trail and it was a lot of fun. Lady Leaper has run more than a dozen marathons and can hike my butt into the ground. She's in her 40's and amazing. Joe is a post grad student doing cancer research and he too is a long distance runner with hiking abilities greater than mine. Near the end of the day I ended up at North Fork Ranger station. About 9 hikers were there. The caretaker was allowing hikers to take a shower! I passed on the shower to get another hour of hiking in. I made dinner there and enjoyed the chatter of the other hikers. Anyways, I'm perched here on a ridge this evening over looking Acton and about 17 miles from Agua Dulce. I should be there at a reasonable hour tomorrow.

Date : 5/22/02
Miles : 25.5
Ascent : 5030
Descent: 5950
It was another chilly morning when I hit the trail at 6am. Still in the mountains, Angeles National Forest, the grade was down then up. One thing I found peculiar about the trail, it would descend to a turnout on Angeles Crest highway then ascend up the other side. It became my running joke that hikers should visit all the turnouts on the highway, as it repeated this 5 times. Tonight I climbed my last major hill. Tomorrow, back to the desert.

Date : 5/21/02
Miles : 20.0
Ascent : 4520
Descent: 5290
Everything was frozen as I left my motel room at 5:45am. I had 4.5 miles of the 'Acorn Trail' to cover to reach the PCT and begin the day’s official hiking. It was 26 degrees with 20 mph winds as I climbed the 2000 feet to the PCT. It caused me to actually put on my thermal top for additional warmth. Other than the cold, it was a spectacular morning, everything covered in the previous days snow. It's May 21, right? I quit hiking about 5:30pm. This is 2 hours sooner than normal, thus I didn't get my 'big' miles today. Right now I'm under my blanket in my tarp tent, nice and warm. The temp should be in the 20's here at 7500 feet. Did I mention I climbed to 9200 feet today on Mt. Baden-Powell? Tomorrow I'll continue heading west downrange.

Date : 5/20/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
As I watch the snowfall from the temporary security of my motel room I thank the trail gods for their timing. Wrightwood is at 6000 feet. Call me a wimp, but I'm glad I'm not on the trail at over 8000 feet. Weather bullet dodged...this time. Tomorrow morning I'll hit the trail. A days rest, donuts, burgers, pizza and hot showers have prepared me for the next leg to Agua Dulce. See you then!

Date : 5/19/02
Miles : 28.5
Ascent : 6540
Descent: 1810
Sometime during the night an intense onshore flow developed complete with wind, fog and mist. I didn't set up my tarp so it was an interesting night. I stayed very warm but my face was kinda wet. 5:30 marked the beginning of the day with my first waypoint McD's. By 7:30 I arrived and it sure hit the spot. Loaded up with 4.5 quarts of water and 2 packages of mini-donuts I set out for the long anticipated ascent to Wrightwood from Cajon Pass. The trail gods smiled big time today. Remember that fog and mist? Well, it provided cloud cover and low temps; perfect hiking weather. I passed only three other hikers today on the way up. Again, it was the desert to trees scenario. At 6:00pm and 28.5 miles I arrived at the “Acorn Trail”, which is the 4.5-mile side trail into Wrightwood. Counting the side trail that's a 33-mile day. Battered but relieved, I'm sitting here at “Sky Lodge” with a Bar-b-que beef sub, quart of Dryers vanilla ice cream and a box of Entenmanns donuts. (You can never have too many donuts). Also, upon my arrival at Cajon Pass this morning that marked the end of section C of the PCT. Whoo whoo!

Date : 5/18/02
Miles : 27.0
Ascent : 3090
Descent: 2300
It was about desert hiking again. The trail left Deep Creek Canyon and wrapped around the West-Northwest side of Lake Silverwood, then a haul up Horse Thief Canyon. Tonight I'm camped 6.5 miles from Cajon Pass. It looks like Egg McMuffins for breakfast!! Today I encountered more hikers than I have on any other day, so I'm not going to recite names. Most of them are behind me now with the exception of Polly and Esther (Get it?) with whom we're neighbors in the same creek bed. (It's the only flat spot around) It was nice being at Lake Silverwood again. I spent 90 minutes there waning nostalgically from my many visits in my early and mid 20's. Tomorrow begins the 22-mile uphill, no water, and no shade stretch into Wrightwood. Maybe I should have 3 egg McMuffins? :)

Date : 5/17/02
Miles : 34.9
Ascent : 2380
Descent: 6200
My first 30 miler! I left Motel 6 at 5:15 this morning not expecting to get a ride the 4 miles to the PCT trailhead. Just as I crossed the street, Rose and Brad came driving around the corner. I had met Rose while doing my laundry the day before. She was not hiking with Brad, but chasing for him. That bit of trail magic set the tone for the day. The trail was mostly downhill and well graded, which made for optimal walking. The only bad thing to report is, I'm now in the desert again, ugh! Tomorrow I should make it close to I15 in Cajon Pass. I had planned on camping at Deep Creek Hot Springs, but the gaggle of nudists and kids getting high discouraged that. Instead I'm camped *right* next to a foot bridge a couple miles downstream on the only flat spot I could find (I'm in a canyon) It's pitch dark right now and I'm going to turn out the light. I don't even wanna know what kind of bugs are crawling across my ground sheet. ;)

Date : 5/16/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
Today was a 0 mile day today as I veg here at Motel 6. I've spent the day with my feet up, but did manage to crawl over to BJ's market for a food re-supply. I had the breakfast special at Thelma's, highly recommended, then dinner at Firehouse Rib's. It was kinda yucky. Tomorrow I begin the haul to Wrightwood.

Date : 5/15/02
Miles : 16.5
Ascent : 2070
Descent: 3760
It was windy and cold this morning so I didn't get on the trail till 6am. This was probably the best day of hiking so far, mostly downhill in the shade. My wildlife encounters today consist of 3 lions and 2 tigers. No, really. There's this ranch *right* alongside the trail that houses wild animals for movies and stuff. It was unexpected. Mike & Tracy who are also stay here at Motel 6 said they saw a grizzly as well. I missed that one; it must have been talking to its agent when I walked by. I've taken a shower and had dinner. It's great to be human again.

Date : 5/14/02
Miles : 23.8
Ascent : 7140
Descent: 1160
Today started with a hike up to a ridge top, which the guidebook compared to Death Valley. Hmm. Beware of comparisons like that. The trail then descended from that ridge and that was all the descending to be done today. The morning was spent following Mission Creek to its source (a coyote crossed my path) then began a very impolite ascent into the eastern San Bernardino Mountains. Here I had my second encounter with a rattlesnake. It saw me first from its uphill perch and began crossing my path to the downhill side. It was 2 feet from me and locked & loaded the whole time. Judging from the difficulty it was having using its rattler, I think it was more scared than I. It finished its trek and said goodbye; I don't think it will write. This one was less than 3 feet long and really woke me up from my uphill climbing comatose state. I passed 4 other hikers today and I ran into Chris & Sue again at Mission Creek Camp. Tonight I'm camped at 8400 feet on an abandoned pine needle covered jeep road. Big Bear tomorrow.

Date : 5/12/02
Miles :20.0Ascent : 4610
Descent: 5150
Well, the 2 days rest did me good. I didn't get back on the PCT until 10am but still managed a 20-mile day. I met 7 other hikers today. I hiked with 'Hans Solo' for a while and we talked trail and computers. Right now I'm sitting here on the north side of San Jacinto overlooking Banning Pass. I can hear the trains and traffic far below. Tomorrow will be a desert day. The majority of today was forest and it was great. The wind is really starting to pick up and I'm questioning my ability to pick campsites...gotta go. :)

Date : 5/11/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
Not much to say for today. I spent this least amount of time on my feet as possible. The day was spent with my feet up watching tv; that's right, watching TV. I did manage to crawl over to Joannes restaurant for breakfast. In the afternoon I packed my pack. That's about it.

Date : 5/10/02
Miles : 4.4
Ascent : 1270
Descent: 3690
Today I'm in Idyllwild, Yahoo! I'm taking the rest of the day and tomorrow off. If I continue my current pace I'll end up in the Sierra's before June 1. Baaad. My feet will appreciate it. I stopped my Nomad Venture for some new insoles and another pair of socks. Currently, I'm doing laundry. Pizza is next.

Date : 5/9/02
Miles : 20.6
Ascent : 6490
Descent: 3450
With a breakfast of Ibuprofen and Snickers, I was on the trail before 6. My first stop of the day was Cedar Spring. Had I planned better, I wouldn't have needed to stop there. (Read: 2-mile detour) I ran into a guy named Eric from Missouri who was kind enough (ok, I revered him as a god) to donate 8 Ibuprofen to my cause. I'd forgotten to load up at Mt. Laguna. Doh! Anyways, my next stop of the day was Apache Spring. Are we getting the picture yet? After that 1-mile detour I was off to put in as many miles as I could. Idyllwild is tomorrow, you know. At about 7:30pm, I called it a day. Most of the day was spent climbing high into the San Jacinto wilderness, with spectacular views of the Palm Springs area. Many miles of trail was blasted out the side of rock, with the downhill side straight down for hundreds of feet. It was difficult finding a flat campsite, but managed to find a unique one. For example, if I laid on my right side I'd have a view of the marine layer encroaching into the western valleys. If I rolled over on my left side I had a view of the entire Palm Springs area, complete with lights after dark. This was great till the wind started gusting in excess of 60mph later in the night. Fortunately, I didn't have my tent set up. Tomorrow, on to Idyllwild. FYI, when I show daily mileages these are ONLY miles walked on the PCT. So, today was 20.6 on the PCT. But if you count deviations to water, it's a 23.6-mile day. Add 6500 feet of climbing and well, you get the idea.

Date : 5/8/02
Miles : 19.6
Ascent : 3140
Descent: 2090
The day started at 5:50 with the initial destination of Tule Spring. While there I met Chris. He's been FLYING. He did a 34-mile day yesterday. The surrounding was good ole chaparral and cactus. I had my first rattlesnake encounter today. It was about 6 feet off the trail in some old branches. It buzzed me as I walked by; for posterity I guess. It wasn't completely coiled and I'd say over 4 feet in length. After reaching the 'Palms to Pines' highway today, I split left a mile down the road to Paradise Cafe. Not just a clever name. They had the best grub of the trip, so far. I lingered there a bit because my feet are wasted. As you can tell it hurt my mileage today. Last night while was dozing off to sleep, I saw 2 satellites about 10 degrees apart playing follow the leader. Space shuttle and space station? Dunno, but it was cool. Tonight I'm in the foothills south of San Jacinto. On that note, I hear coyotes, that’s my cue, goodnight.

Date : 5/7/02
Miles : 25.2
Ascent : unknown
Descent: unknown
Another looong day. I was on the trail before sun up and the day ended 30 minutes before dark. I played hopscotch with EricPaul all day and we're camped at the same site. Also today I met Chris and Sue from Canada, eh. Good folks, we talked for about an hour at a water stop. The trail climbed for most of the day and much of it was spent in the pines. Near the end of the day it descended back into the chaparral wasteland. I'm now in Riverside County. Whoo hoo!

Date : 5/6/02
Miles : 0
Ascent : 0
Descent: 0
Today was a zero mileage day here at Warner Springs. After 12 hours of sleep my wrecked feet and I crawled over to the mini mart for OJ, cinnamon roles and tide. While doing laundry I ran into 2 other hikers Eric & Paul. Their dad was chasing them in his RV. Such the life! :) I spent the rest of the day on the porch with my feet up playing catch up on my journal. Tomorrow the first leg of section b.

Date : 5/5/02
Miles : 23.8
Ascent : 2730
Descent: 2950
The wind was blowing all night, 8.5 miles North of Scissors Crossing where I camped last night. By 5:40am I was on the trail with hopes of making it to, at least, Barrel Springs. Fortunately I made it all the way to Warner Springs Resort, with a ROOM, BED, SHOWER and LAUNDRY!!! Tomorrow (Monday) will be a 'zero' mile day as my feet are DESTROYED. With my arrival at Warner that completed section A of the PCT. The San Felipe Hills are magnificent with the variety of cactus. Walking, you get to see every one of them personally. :) Also, I ran into Max here as well. I met him in Laguna. We sat at the cantina making pigs of ourselves and talking 'trail'.

Date : 5/4/02
Miles : 20.2
Ascent : 2180
Descent: 2940
My first destination this morning was Rodriguez Spur Truck Trail. This is an important water stop. Upon arriving the spigot was locked. Water was available after removing the lid on top of the low concrete tank though. First thing I did was wash my hands with the clear, cool water. Next, I began filtering water into my water bottles. On the second bottle a dead lizard serenely floated by. I questioned sticking my hands in the tank, but the water sure hit the spot! The trail was mostly down during the morning towards Scissors Crossing. A desert environment was the general theme again today. Upon reaching scissors I ran into a trail angel named Susan just as she and her 2 kids were leaving. She had just refilled the HUGE 40+ gallon water cache found there. Susan hit me with 8 quarts of ice water from a 5-gallon jug she carried. Thanks Susan!! A note on trail angels. These folks, without glory or compensation do things like this. No one is required to drop water in the middle of nowhere, but they do it out of their own kindness. TRUE supporters of PCT travelers. After a short siesta in the shade of some Poplar trees next to POLLUTED San Felipe creek, I began the ascent into the San Felipe hills. After 8.5 miles of THAT I called it a day and camped in a nice spot among the rock and cactus. Tomorrow the long haul to Barrel Springs, maybe even Warner Springs. Oh, one other thing, I actually met DaveDaveJohn today. The makers of the wooden chairs? Real nice guys, they were doing a section of the trail southbound.

Date : 5/3/02
Miles : 19.8
Ascent : 1890
Descent: 3230
My feet vocalized how unimpressed they were with the jaunt to Laguna yesterday. Last night I arrived at Laguna campground just before dark. By the time I took a shower, it was dark. No big deal. It was a nice night and not too chilly. I hung up my wet clothes, spread out my ground sheet and crawled under my blanket. In the morning my clothes were frozen solid and everything was covered with a layer of frost, including me. Anyway, my feet kept me from doing any big miles today. Some trail angels (Dave, John and Dave) left a water cache on the side of the trail with 2 wooden chairs they made. It was rather comical to see these chairs just sitting on the trail.

Date : 5/2/02
Miles : 27.5
Ascent : 5110
Descent: 2700
A looong day. I was on the trail at 6:21 with the idea Of getting to the Mt Laguna PO before it closed.35 minutes before it closed I walked in the door. While there, I met some other thru hikers. A group of 3 from Alaska and a soloist named Max. Mt Laguna is a small hamlet on top of a mountain surrounded by desert. Love them pine trees. Tomorrow begins the 3-day leg to Warner Springs.

Date : 5/1/02
Miles : 20.2
Ascent : 3060
Descent: 2890
Well then. After 24 hours on the bus I arrived at the El Cajon transit center. Faced with 7-hour wait for the rural bus to Campo, a taxi ride was in order. 65 bucks and 45 minutes later I was at the trailhead. This meant a start time of 9:30am instead of 5pm. It's so good to be on the trail! 40 hours without significant sleep and 20 miles later I've arrived at Lake Morena; complete with hot showers! Mark, the philosopher from Minnesota is the only other hiker at the hiker campsite. Tomorrow I'm off to Mt. Laguna.