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Apr 21, 2011
First serious commitment to PCT hike: mailed 4 days of ziplock-bagged meals to:
Sam Edwards
Warner Springs Post Office
31650 California 79
Warner Springs, CA 92086
Plan as of right now: train to Carlsbad on Wed, April 27 (acquired iPhone earlier the same day). Hmm - maybe better if I leave the 28th)
Apr 27, 2011
Early drive to start of hike. Nicki waits for me at lake.
Fri night: ADZPCTKO2011, Nicki at motel
Sat: all day at kickoff. Nicki drives home.
Sun: start hiking with 5 meals (get Nicki to deliver them)
Woman at P.O. counter talked about car club group journey she saw in Mazatlan. Yeah, same thing. Wanted to know if I was going alone.
Denatured alcohol only
Other box for iPhone
Batteries: all lithium
SPOT: 3 AAA
Headlamp: 3 AAA
keyboard: 2 AAA
Caren pick me up for Edie's memorial service: best May 15, next 14, etc. (Caren back from Mexico on 11th)
Birthdays:
- Chase: May 16
- Wedding: June 3
- Erik: June 9
- Lisa: June 11
- Irv: July 3
- Che: July 7
- Ted: July 13
- Dana: July 27
- Will: Aug 30
- Sue: Oct 18
Apr 28, 2011
packed everything. 21 lbs base weight. Added 5 meals, some water & fuel: 35 lbs! Oh My God. Walked to station with pack, a garbage bag full of plastic pots for Nicki, and her birthday present (popsicle maker). Adjusting at station, a guy nearby offered me an empty can (thinking I was collecting them).
Apr 29, 2011
Nicki drove me to El Cajon bus station. 45 min drive, 1 hr early. Three hikers at bus stop: SPOCK, PATCH, TWIGGY. $5 bus to Campo. Eggs, toast, yoghurt for breakfast, coffee w/ Nicki at El Cajon. Apple & peanut butter sandwich & pea pods (thanks Nicki) on bus. The three hikers all have TINY packs compared to mine. Anxiety level: HIGH.
At the start (above); camping at Lake Morena (below)
This is Billy Goat, a legend among hikers for doing the PCT many times. He's the one who turned me on to the Israel National Trail.
Apr 30, 2011: Group of all the hikers before we take off. I'm in the yellow shirt on the right.
Apr 30, 2011
6:15: start. Everything wet. Search and Rescue last night - TIM missing. Helicopter lulled me to sleep.
Normal time to leave Kennedy Meadows: June 15.
Scary talk on ice & snow at kickoff weekend.
History of equipment talk: first ultralight stuff in 50's.
Early Kelty: no hip support.
Two guys dehydrated first day.
Water report
Got Topo Map app, waypoints for PCT.
3 guys did Triple Crown in 1 year!
One hiker who did the PCT last year had 35 consecutive days of rain in WA.
May 1
Free breakfast, then trail by 8:30. Put in hiker's box 3 meals, carrying only 3 liters water: down to about 30 lb. SO much easier! Met LIL' STEPS: sister of TALL PAUL. Hiked until noon, with charger upside down on backpack! Flipped it over, started to work, but then "Charger not supported..." msg. Oh-oh.
2 PM: First trail angels: CONNIE and TERRY (TROUBLE MAKER) and dog ROVER; free iced tea.
2:45: Big rattlesnake on trail. 7 of us blocked.
5 PM: Camped by river with about 15 hikers. Phone 95% charged from very low in 3 hours. But intermittently needed to be unplugged and replugged.
One guy had cut out the top of his shoes, exposing his toes, because his shoes were too small.
Met TIM (fellow who got dehydrated on trailhead).
Split dinner with LIL' STEPS.
This hiker's shoes had to be adjusted
First night on the trail
May 2
Up at 6, on trail by 7:30. Lost 1 tent peg (very windy early morning). Hiking alone. Gave sweets to TIM on trail.11:45: Water faucet on Desert View trail; I did this trail during my southern Cal road trip a few weeks ago!
Mt. Laguna store: 2 cokes, off at 1:45 PM. No idea where I'll spend the night.
3:30 PM: Back on trail, after considerable time sending first PCT email.
PINKIE said she sent her ice axe to Paradise Inn.
Spent around $10 at Mt. Laguna.
5:30 PM: Angel JACKRABBIT gave us cokes (me, STICKS, and ANDREW). Another 5 min up the trail and camping in a beautiful grassy meadow. Lost another titanium spike putting up tent. Fortunately I bought 6 heavy aluminum ones at Mt. Laguna (thinking I had left me stakes behind at last camp site - but I hadn't).
May 2: Pretty gorgeous scenery
May 3.
Up at 6, away by 6:40. Grits and coffee (Via).
7:49 - passed trail to Garnet Peak - did this trail few weeks ago, then spent the night in a howling wind, losing two tent stakes, and sleeping cowboy style sans tent as a result.
8:55 - Water cache. Love those angels! (mile 53)
10:08 - my first horned toad.
10:21 - California Lilac (ceanothos) everywhere.
10:56 - big rattler on trail
11:20 - Oriflamme Canyon (61 m)
12:20 - Turnoff to Sunrise Highway
5:13 - 68.4 m, Rodriquez Spur Truck Trail. Two more liters, total 5.
6:45 - Camp on side of trail (71 m). Total food today: coffee, 2 instant grits, 6 energy bars (1 every 2 hours), instant lasagne.
Rattlesnake! Saw a lot, especially in the southern part of the trail.
Ir was very hot...
May 4
On the trail at 6:17.
9:00 - Truck full of angels (trail crew) with goodies.
Trying to hitchhike to Julian. ROBERT LEE picked me and three femaled hikers up. Navajo living by Salton Sea, delivering boat to Canada.
9:10 - Julian! Apple pie and vanilla ice cream and coffee for 7 bucks. Later learned that Mama's across the street gives free apple pie to hikers. Groceries $23.
6:50 - Stopped for night. Close to Third Gate, but too tired. Down to 1.5 l (forgot to fill Platypus in Julian - Bad Boy!) Feels SO GOOD to lie down. Need to lighten load. Walked straight since around 11:30, 95 degrees all day, lots of hikers crashed under bushes or tarps. Heat didn't seem to get me, but should have eaten more on trail (2 apples, lots of carrots, energy bar). Guide recommends doing this 13 m stretch in early morning. Now I can see why.
Can you see the trail?
You gotta love the trail angels...
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