April 16 - Larry and Dave's

One never knows what form Trail Magic may take whether it's a piece of candy carried by day hikers on the off chance they'd meet a thru hiker, a ride even though you didn't have a thumb out, or a basket of apples in the middle of nowhere. You just never know, but it's all wonderful and greatly appreciated. 

Today it was Larry and Dave's turn to wow this hiker. After fourteen mostly waterless miles there was rumored to be a water cache. And what a cache it was! Water for sure, but also a fresh basket of green apples and real chairs to sit it. While reading the log I gathered that at one time there was chocolate cake in place of apples. These guys know how to please a hiker!

On more wow for the day: Signs can be really funny, as demonstrated by the one at the wind farm that warns everyone away except for PCT hikers. I guess they're better fried!

April 15 - A Taxing Day

It's appropriate that today, Tax Day, sucked the energy out with an 18 mile "road walk" in rain, wind, and then heat. (After I wrote this I found out that it wasn't really Tax Day since Friday was a holiday - but, hey, how can one keep track on the PCT? I'm not even sure what holiday it could have been, let alone what day of the week!)

Hatchet got us off to a good start with "OMG, has anyone checked outside. It looks like Kansas in a tornado!" And sure enough, the wind was howling and the sky was black with very threatening clouds if one looked up or west. To the east the clouds tapered off and blue sky could be seen. Two hearty individuals decided to take off anyway at about 6:15. By 6:45 there seemed to be no change and radar showed no storm system so the Fullers and I started out. The boys decided to stay longer, maybe until tomorrow. 

Our path was north and then east along the LA Aqueduct so we were hopeful we would be out of the drizzle before long. Less than five miles later our wishes came true but it was still windy and cold. 

The PCT follows the LA Aqueduct as it traverses the desert into the mountains near Tehachapi. Sometimes the aqueduct is open and other times it's a pipe above or below ground. 

Along the way we stopped at a clump of Joshua Trees that held a water cache Betsy helped place the week before on her visit to Palmdale and Acton. We cooked lunch there and resupplied our water bottles. 

It wasn't until we were nearing mile 530, 20% finished with the trip to Canada, that it started to really warm up. And it really warmed up! At least for a few miles we lost jackets and gloves and started to sweat. 

Our destination loomed in the distance- a water cache near mile 535 under the windmills. We were glad to get into camp relatively early as our feet and legs hurt from the hard surface of the "trail."

My spot was under a lean-to that held another most welcome water cache. Yes, there IS a tent in that picture; actually there are two.

Pickup, one of the guys that came into HikerTown late yesterday showed up before dinner. He thought the others were probably going to zero to avoid the weather. I'm sure they'll catch up later!

April 14 - HikerTown

If Casa de Luna was magical and Hiker Heaven was comfortable, HikerTown can best be described as interesting. Of course we were earlier than most hikers so the facility was not fully prepared. One shower, one bathroom, several individual rooms in outlying buildings, an outdoor shower - not working - and a ten dollar donation sort of describe the situation. Mail is delivered, but the process for sending mail is uncertain. There's free wifi. And plenty of plugs for phones. 

The communal lounge inside of a three car garage is equipped with three couches, the bathroom, and a kitchen of sorts. Outside are washing facilities. 

The local convenience store/restaurant/souvenir shop will pick you up and take you back as a courtesy. The food is good and reasonable. They even have a huge big screen TV, although it wasn't on at the time. 

HikerTown has the feel of a work in progress. There are lots of things to be done. Bob, the caretaker, and Richard, the owner, are doing their best in this little desert oasis. 

On another note: the eyelets in my new shoes are breaking again. REI is sending a new pair along with a return label to Tehachapi. Of course I would prefer not to have to replace them after just 300 miles as the last pair waited over 900 miles to break. 

Stories abound on the PCT. One section hiker we met today described wiggly things in an upcoming water source. That elicited a story from Hatchet about the Zombie Cricket Worm that infests waterways. Crickets are their host. The worms emerge from their eye and control the cricket to force it to water where the worm lays eggs and the cricket dies. Ooooo!!!

Eight hikers came in late in the day. Most were together in a group but three came in alone. One 18 year old carried full mountain attack gear with crampons, ice axe, and helmet all the way from Campo. I think we're looking at a future marine! 

It will be good to get back on the trail! Tehachapi will be the next stop. The real desert is waiting. Sage, Joshua Trees, and cactus come next. 

April 13 - Another Work Day

Up early in preparation for departure and with oatmeal in my belly I headed for the potty. On the way Deb and I stopped to talk about the arrangements for leaving when we learned that we would be staying for another day. It seemed several of the group had packages coming to HikerTown on Thursday and Friday and there had been some discussion about the security of staying at Casa de Luna vs HikerTown. So it was decided we'd stay another day and do some more work in preparation for the herd. Good thing I hadn't packed up my tent!

Over the course of the day I raked some of the trails and tent sites, helped put out a hiker wardrobe of Hawaiian shirts and dresses, and did whatever to help with preparations. I also unsuccessfully attempted a repair of my sleeping pad, which has a slow leak. And I did a little reading of Edward Abbey's book "The Monkey Wrench Gang."

Other people set up The Lounge, an outdoor living room with couches and a table. 

At the end of the day Terrie gathered us together for a group picture along with Tony, a section hiker who came in this afternoon. Rick, Deb, Hatchet a.k.a. Danger, a.k.a. Jeff, Snapchat a.k.a. Ryan, tony, Justin, and yours truly. 

I've included a few more pictures of this eclectic Trail Angel home, including one of Terrie, the owner, and another of Jackass, a friend helping out. 

Can you pick out the wild cucumber???

The last pic is of the girl outside my tent. Kinda creepy!

April 12 - Casa de Luna Work Day

The day started with a mid-morning wake up visit from Justin. Mid-morning being 5:45!  By 6:05 we were on our way with the Fullers to the local coffee shop for a shot of energy. Then it was back to Casa de Luna for a chance to giveback to a Trail Angel by helping to clean up some of the facilities. 

Deb took on the spider infested port-a-potty, cleaning it to inviting splendor (as much as can be done for such a facility).  Snapchat and I worked on the dormant coolers filled with stagnant water and debris that will later hold cold drinks and food for hungry hikers. Hatchet and Justin tackled yard cleanup. Rick helped blow away all the leaves. Rick and I also got the shower set up and running. 

The shower is the bomb. A wooden frame with fencing for walls and a tarp to cover the opening, the shower is awesome. It has an on-demand water heater powered by LP gas and water supplied by a hose strung out across the yard. The base is a wooden pallet. Hot water! OMG it feels so good!

A minor crisis occurred after we finished our chores when Justin discovered ants marching across the campsite. He, Snapchat, and Hatchet quickly moved their stuff to a new location. Not hard in the Magical Manzanita Forest. 

Tonight we enjoyed an impromptu taco salad dinner provided by Terrie in thanks for our help with the yard. We'll all go to bed happy tonight after filling our bellies with fuel for the trail. 

I failed to mention a highlight from yesterday when Betsy was with the grandkids all day. We texted a few times and then Emily, age nine, came on in video with an impassioned plea for me to take her on the trail. Brought a tear to my rate. Thanks Betsy for making it happen! Sweet girl!

Tomorrow we may have a ride down the trail. It will be a hot day, so a road walk around the fire closure isn't exactly appealing. We'll see what happens to the morning. 

Hikingsolo

April 11 - Arrived at Casa de Luna

Teri and Joe Anderson graciously host PCT hikers on their property in Green Valley, California.  Their modest home hides a very large section of land affectionately called The Magical Manzanita Forest where at least a hundred campsites lay hidden in the trees and manzanita bushes. Paths wind their way through a maze, maybe more magical by headlamp at night after a few beers. Signs point the way along paths and to campsites. 

I'm not sure if I was staying in Rocket Jackass or Garbelly, but it was a beautiful spot nonetheless. The Fullers stayed at Bearclaw while Justin, Snapchat, and Hatchet stayed at Work Sucks (the unemployed hiker site).

After setting up camp we gathered around the single picnic table in the middle of the back yard for dinner and storytelling. Teri's granddaughter, Faith, brought extra chairs for the tired hikers. She returned later to pick up our trash and to say goodbye before heading back to Washington with her parents. Sweet kid!

The decision to stay another day was immediate as Teri could use some help cleaning up in preparation for the Herd coming in a few weeks. We all retired early after sunset. 

Other notes from the day: The hills were incredibly green and covered in vines. Trail signs had some interesting variations. It rained - a quick thunderstorm - to let us know that we were indeed in high desert territory. 

A sign left by the boy scouts!

Church anyone?

Green Valley! Not Tucson's Green Valley for sure!

Just in case you run into one of the 'others' on the trail. No conflicts allowed!



April 9 - Rain at Hiker Heaven

Another zero day, but an unusually productive one. The snow came down at 4:30 am to be followed by rain every few hours after. Around 8:00 am the power suddenly went out and shouting started outside the single wide wobbly box we were staying in at Hiker Heaven. The hot water heater had blown the relief valve and water was pouring out. The heater was about to hit the ground through the floor!

About that time the Fullers, Justin,  Hatchetand I decided that our best option was to chill for another day and hopefully avoid the rain. 

I decided to help Mike (Refrigerator) and Doug (Country Gold) work on fixing the problem. While Mike headed for supplies Doug and I tore out and replaced the floor where the water heater needed to be installed. Later Mike installed a fire wall and the plumber showed up to put in a new water heater. As Donna said later, "The Trail Provides" in reference to the fact that I was on hand and able to help install the new floor while Mike was away getting supplies, making the work go faster. It seems that the Trail Provides in many ways. Every time I've needed something someone comes through with help. It's a bit surreal. 

By sunset the water was back on and we all felt relieved. A common mall dinner orchestrated by Deb brought us all together. The PCT community is awesome!

Donna Saufley - Hiker Heaven Momma!

Country Gold !!!

At the end of the day we enjoyed a campfire. 

Tomorrow it's back on the trail. 

Hikingsolo

April 8 - Back on the Trail Again (Almost on Time)

Betsy and I woke up early at the Red Roof Inn ready to hit our respective trails; for me the PCT, for her the geocaching power trail. As I loaded up I noticed the handle on the truck's tonneau cover was in the open position. Odd. When Betsy came out it was apparent that we'd been broken into and several items were missing including her backpack with several GPSes and about $200 in cash, a plastic organizer, the cord to the cooler, and the kitty litter. Of course the motel cameras caught nothing and the police never showed up. After a call to USAA we felt a little better. Our insurance will cover most of the loss, but the delay was annoying. Our friend, Hatchet, said that methheads use the kitty litter to make a form of the drug. The things you learn on the PCT! So, we were a little late getting started. 

Betsy dropped me off with a promise to meet in a few weeks and a hug and kiss. I'll miss her, and Sissy too. 

I passed the PCT completion monument at the start of the trail just outside of the KOA Kampground and next to the MetroLink train tracks. 

About an hour down the trail I spotted someone a ways ahead. Another fifteen minutes and I saw two people at the top of a switchback. A quick, "Yodel-e-ohh-ho-ho" was greeted with a, "Hey, that's Allen" and a wave. Justin and Hatchet had just decided to take a break so I caught up! 

Not too long later we caught up to Deb and Rick as we walked through the tunnel under route 14. 

On the other side of the tunnel we entered Vasquez Rocks for the last mile or so. Interesting area. 

A short time later we were in Agua Dulce where we stopped for lunch before heading into Hiker Heaven, Donna Saufley's contribution to the PCT family. She hosts hikers throughout the summer at her property and offers free clothes washing, showers, kitchen, and a bed or place to camp. 

A warm room with a cot awaits! Tomorrow we'll hit the trail again barring torrential rain. 

Hikingsolo