March 29 - Cajon Pass

The day started cold with ice on the rain fly and frost on everything. Departure was delayed to allow things to dry out. At 8:50 under bright skies I departed Cleghorn Campground to resume the PCT. 

Just a few feet onto the trail I passed a hiker taking on his phone. "Hey, Good morning!" I called, but he was totally engaged. A half mile later I heard a shout from down the trail, "Hey! Are you a thru hiker?" In just a minute Justin appeared behind me and we reacquainted each other after a week apart. He stayed four days in Big Bear and then hit the trail behind me. Didn't take long to catch up! 

We continued together down the trail toward Cajon Pass where there was a warm motel room and a McDonalds. Junk food. Mmmmm! About half way there we met up with Rick and Deb Fuller who started earlier in the day. They had the same destination. 

A few miles down the trail we walked, no, ran the ridges. Justin doesn't really walk. Former military scout I think he's learned to move fast. I was happy to try to keep up as we traversed some scary terrain. 

It wasn't long before the clouds started to close in and rain turned to sleet just as we approached McDonalds. 

We stopped for lunch in the middle of a downpour and I invited Justin to hang out at the motel. He was planning on spending the night under the railroad trestle. It's a good a thing as snow was predicted for the next two days. 

Funny thing, as we were washing clothes I pulled out a cloth 'tube' that I found at mile 91. I asked Justin if he knew what it was and he said that he'd lost a Buff like that back near Scissors Crossing, close to mile 91. Here we were at mile 342 and Justin had his Buff back!

Now I know that a Buff is a multipurpose cloth thingy that can be a hairdo thingy, a warm mask, a scarf, or a zillion other things. 

We'll stay here an extra day to avoid 5 inches of snow on the trail tomorrow. I'm beginning to think that the desert section of the PCT is only in name, as it's been more snow and cold weather than hot and dry like I expected.