Day 25 - (5/20/12) - Solar Eclipse

Contents:  Camp Above San Andreas Fault - Wrightwood (approx. 22 miles)

First off, I want to say happy birthday to my brother, Mark, in Madison, WI.  I hope you had a great day!  Love ya!

Today was an awesome day!  We started hiking shortly after 5:00, hoping to beat some of the heat.  We had a 16 miles trek to water with a lot of climbing.  The sunrise was gorgeous.  I wanted to take some photos, but my camera batteries chose that moment to die so I didn't get any.  The sun rises fast down here!

The hiking went well and I felt pretty good today.  We got through the 16 miles by 1:30 or so and took a nice long siesta before continuing on to Wrightwood.  We also cooked hot meals which made the last miles a lot more pleasant.

The terrain was beautiful today.  We were well over 8000 feet for much of the time, mostly contouring below ridges.  We had some great views on San Jacinto Peak which we climbed after leaving Idyllwild many days/weeks? ago.  It felt good to see the rows of mountains in between which we had crossed.

We arrived at Highway 2 a little after 5.  Our timing could not have been better!  We were right on schedule for the solar eclipse.  The trail head was at an overlook about 7,000 feet, perfect for viewing the eclipse.  Many Wrightwood locals had driven up just to watch it.  Surprisingly, we were well prepared as well!  Histo, our astrophysicist, had brought along four pairs of solar glasses!  We couldn't believe our luck!  We had a blast watching it and are now eagerly anticipating Venus' transit of the sun on June 5th.  It was one of the highlights of our trip so far.  - I love Histo.  He really does brighten every day!

Nips, Wildflower, Histo, Snausage and I are splitting a hotel room in Wrightwood tonight.  We're planning to resupply and take care of town chores tomorrow and then hitch back to the trail head for a few evening miles.  I've spoken with Nugget, and he is doing a little better but heading to Santa Cruz to spend a few days with his sis while recovering.  I wish it was going to be a quicker rebound, but shin splints are tough and he's definitely making the right call.  He hooked up with Extra Credit at Cajon Pass today.  She isn't 100% but is doing much better and will be in Wrightwood tomorrow evening or Tuesday morning.  I bet she'll catch us on our next zero.  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

**CHECK OUT KRISTY'S NEW PHOTO ALBUM (See Link to Photos).  It has pictures from Warner Springs to Wrightwood.**

Day 24 (5/19/12) - I-15 to Cajon Pass

Contents:  Silverwood Lake Recreation Area to Camp Above San Andreas Fault (Ocean-side!) - Approx. 19.5 miles

Today was a pretty good day.  It was cold this morning and we all had trouble getting out of our bags.  I think we hit the trail a little before 7.  Our goal was to knock out the 13.6 miles to I-15 and Cajon Pass by lunch time.

The hiking went well.  I walked primarily with Nips and Wildflower.  We also ran into a friendly family out for their first day hike.  Just before Cajon Pass, we hiked along a stretch of the historic Route 66 which ran from Chicago to LA.  

At Cajon Pass, I made the traditional McDonalds stop.  Many hikers were there, and we all hung out on the McDonalds lawn for hours.  I also made a harrowing journey to the other side of the interstate to pick up the new pair of running shoes my mom had sent.  Thanks to the Browns and my grandparents for the great notes as well.  They made my day!

Nugget is having shin splint issues on his right side.  The pain just started a couple days ago but its already pretty severe.  Rather than continuing on from Cajon Pass, he decided to spend the night there and will probably zero tomorrow.  It's definitely the right decision, but we're missing him a lot.

I found it hard to say goodbye to him.....I felt like we kept an eye out for each other and had a very loose sort of partnership going on.  We often walked together after dinner before camping.  Anyways, I'm crossing my fingers that he feels better and manages to catch up with us soon.

No news from Extra Credit, but I'm hoping that means she's back on the trail.  I'm definitely a little injury-paranoid right now and am doing calf raises, ankle ABCs, heel walking, etc., to increase my strength.  My right knee can be a slacker, so I'm doing as much as I can to strength my right shin and ankle which are undoubtedly absorbing more than their fair shares of the impacts.

I'm camped just above the San Andreas Fault with Nips, Wildflower, and Histo.  We're in the middle of a dry stretch, and we each left Cajon Pass with 5-6 liters of water.  The good news is that our food weight is pretty low right now.  I think we're about 16 miles from water, and we're planning to get up early to knock it out before the heat of the day tomorrow.  We're heading up into the San Gabriel Mountains, so it might be a tough one!

Day 23 (5/18/12) - Pinky Toe Gets a Window Seat

Contents:  Staging Area Before Highway 173 - PCT Detour - Silverwood Lake Recreation Area (approx. 22 miles)

Today was a great day!  We finished off the detour and found trail magic at the Highway 173/PCT junction where we rejoined the trail.  Shepherd was there with a grill, hot dogs, sodas, macaroni salad, and other treats.  Thanks Shepherd!

Several miles later, we stopped for lunch and siestas.  My left foot is in pretty good shape at the moment, but the pinky toe on my right foot is completely hammered.  It has been super painful the past couple of days.  During our break, I cut a huge chunk out of the side of my right shoe.  I'd been thinking about doing this for a while but was hesitant to take such a drastic measure.  However, the pain finally got severe enough that I felt I didn't have anything to lose.  Also, I'm planning to pick up a new pair of (identical) shoes tomorrow that my mom mailed to the Best Western at Cajon Pass, so I knew I wouldn't have to deal with it too long if the hole somehow made things worse.  Fortunately, cutting my shoe made a HUGE difference and my toe feels so much better.  It was singing and dancing all the way to dinner.  It really hangs over the edge of my shoe now....It was definitely trapped before.  Maybe I need bigger shoes?  I'm not sure....I'm worried bigger shoes would cause my heel to slip, creating a whole new set of problems.  Anyways, I'm so relieved it is feeling better now.  I'm definitely going to cut my new pair tomorrow.

Besides alleviating my foot pain, dinner was a big highlight of the day.  We stopped at a beach on a gigantic water reservoir.  It is refreshing to see so much water in the desert.  As soon as we arrived, "Team Straight Edge" immediately stripped down for our first skinny dipping of the summer.  We had a blast and the water felt amazing.  Dinner was really fun too, and I was definitely feeling pretty euphoric as I stumbled the last few miles to camp.

I'm now hunkered down for the night at a picnic area along the lake.  We'll hit I-15 and the famous Cajon Pass tomorrow (McDonalds, here I come!) and we should arrive in Wrightwood for our next resupply the following night or early the next morning.

Day 22 - (5/17/12) - The Odds Are Good, But the Goods Are Odd!

Contents:  Little Bear Springs Trail Camp to Staging Area Before Highway 173 - PCT Detour (approx. 20 miles)

Today was another good day with fairly mellow terrain.  The breakfast cookies Extra Credit and I had made back at the hostel were fabulous and got my day off to an excellent start! Water was plentiful, and I only carried a liter at a time most of the day.  Speaking of water, I am loving the "dip and drop" bleach treatment system.  Water filtration has always been (and will forever remain) my least favorite back country chore, and I definitely appreciated the simplicity and quickness of using bleach.

I left camp hiking with Nips and Wildflower, and we put in about 6 miles before stopping at a lovely stream.  The terrain was mostly open and we walked through some huge burn areas, but it was early and the sun wasn't too hot.  After our break, I knocked off another 7 miles with Nugget and another guy named Ninja.  Our plan was to get to Deep Creek, a fairly substantial river where we would eat lunch and siesta.  

Deep Creek totally delivered and we had a big gathering there for most of the afternoon.  The creek was deep enough for real swimming (well, sort of) and there was a beautiful little waterfall.  There were beaches on both sides and Wildflowers, Smiles, Action Packed, and I wound up getting together for some quality girl 

time on the far shore......We are a small minority and sometimes need a break from all the boys out here, wonderful as they may be!  It was a great afternoon!

We finally tore ourselves away from Deep Creek and hiked another 5.5 miles before dinner.  This stretch was part of the detour which we elected to follow.  The travel was quick, but it was less than spectacular.  We were predominately on jeep roads,   We stopped for dinner at a creek and then put in a couple more miles to bring our daily total to about 20.  We're currently camped in a wash near some sort of jeep four-wheeler staging area.  We'll be back on the real PCT tomorrow.

I've decided to lighten my load and am planning to send a few things home from Wrightwood, my next town stop.  I think I'm going to ditch the dress, my long-sleeve shirt, and my hiking pants.  As much I enjoy wearing the dress in towns, I can't justify carrying it for five days only to wear it for a single day.  It just isn't worth it.  As far as the long-sleeve shirt and hiking pants are concerned, I'm not wearing them very often and I have my rain pants and rain coat to fall back on when I'm cold.  I may miss them some but I'm not going to freeze.  I'm definitely getting lazy out here!

Day 21 - (5/16/12) - Back At It

Contents:  Big Bear Lake to Little Bear Spring Trail Camp (19.9 miles)

We're back on the trail with full packs.  This is a 5.5 day leg.  We got up and made eggs and sweet potato fries for breakfast before the hostel gave us a ride to the trail head around 8:30.  It was nice not having to hitch.

The terrain today was super moderate.  We were mostly in the forest, and for one of the first times ever, I really enjoyed the trees.  I'm usually pretty antsy to break out into the open and find forest hiking a bit monotonous.  I think this comes from growing up in Alaska where most hikes start above treeline.  However, the woods suited me today and i found that the miles went quickly.  In some ways, it was refreshing not being able to see what was ahead all the time.

Tomorrow should be another moderate day.  We're actually going to run into a section of trail that is closed but there's a detour in place.  The trail is closed due to a rock slide and bridge damage.  However, we've heard that it is still passable.  Causing erosion is the biggest concern, I think.  There has been much debate as to whether or not to follow the detour.  The closed section of the trail passes some hot springs.  I don't have a strong preference either way and am going with the group decision.  I think we're leaning toward taking the detour.

I forgot to mention yesterday that I called BD about my damaged trekking pole.  They were somewhat helpful, but it didn't go quite as well as I would have liked.  BD is selling me a new style pole at wholesale.  Apparently, once a tip is lost, it's only a matter of time before the shock cord system fails.  The tip and shock cord are somehow connected.  This seems like a design flaw to me, as hikers break and lose tips all the time.  Anyways, since I'd lost the tip, it wasn't considered a warranty issue and wholesale was the best BD could offer me.  They are sending the new pole to some trail angels' house in Agua Dulce.  I'm going to give it another shot but will definitely switch to different type of pole if I have problems in the future.

Regarding water treatment, I've temporarily switched to using bleach.  My parents picked up a new Sawyer Squeeze for me in Anchorage and shipped it out last night.  I'll pick it up in Agua Dulce as well.  I mailed my broken one home from Big Bear Lake and I think they're going to take it back to REI for me once they receive it.

Hasta manana!

Day 20 - (5/15/12) - Zero in Big Bear Lake

Contents:  0.00 miles

Today was an excellent town day, our best one yet.  Nugget, Extra Credit, and I went back to the diner for breakfast.  It was so good.  After breakfast, we returned to the hostel to reconvene with Histo who had hit a different diner that was a little farther away.

Later the four of us caught a bus for the mile and a half journey to the grocery.  Our goal was to walk as little as possible today.  Grocery shopping has become so much fun.  When else in my life will I return a delicious looking box of bear claw pastries to the shelf because they're less than 400 calories a pop?  Let me tell you - it is awesome!

I'm eating so much crap, but I rarely actually feel full.  BTW, I'm definitely starting to figure out the quantity of food I need.  I arrived in Big Bear after the 5 day stretch with a tuna packet in my bag, but I wasn't hungry.

Once shopping was taken care of, we had an eventful bus ride back to the hostel.  The driver on the inbound bus picking us up had some sort of altercation with one of the passengers about the A/C, and things got very heated.  Needless to say, we had to wait for the bus supervisor to come to address the situation.  In the meantime, both the driver and the offending passenger disappeared so we had to explain some of the situation to the supervisor who was furious at the driver for abandoning a bus full of passengers.  Lots of drama indeed!

Back at the hostel, we ate lunch and organized our food.  Extra Credit and I prepared an insane concoction for trail breakfasts.....It is a no-bake cookie glop containing peanut butter, oatmeal, butter, chocolate chips, walnuts, coconut, flour, and sugar.  It's going to be phenomenal......There were many envious hikers oogling our creation in the hostel kitchen.  I can't wait to get back on the trail to dive in.

After a relaxing afternoon of siestas and Hearts, a group of us made an epic lasagna dinner.  It was so great to cook together, and I have no doubt it was the best meal I'll eat this summer.  Tomorrow, we're back to the trail.  Unfortunately, Extra Credit's ankle is still really sore and I think she's going to take another zero.  We're all having a really hard time with the probable separation.  We're definitely a family out here and it's difficult to split up even if it's just for a few days.  Sometimes that's just the way it goes though.  Please keep her in our thoughts and prayers!

Day 19 - (5/14/12) - Down in Big Bear Lake

Contents:  Mile 252 (camp near Onyx Summit) to Big Bear Lake - 13.3 miles

I'm in Big Bear Lake tonight with 10% of the trail behind me.  Although I am truly having the time of my life and am hoping for an endless summer, the trail is too much work not to celebrate progress!  We're currently directly east of LA.

The 13 mile hike this morning was quick.  The terrain was predominately flat or gradual downhill.  Histo and I made it to Highway 18 at about 12:30 and got a hitch into Big Bear Lake (maybe 10 miles from the trail?)  Within minutes, Extra Credit and Nugget arrived at the highway just as we were getting picked up and were able to get a ride quickly as well.  The four of us are sharing a room at the hostel in Big Bear Lake.  The hostel is great....I haven't stayed at one in a while and had almost forgotten how much fun they are.  There are many other hikers here as well.

After showering and starting laundry, we headed to the diner about a block away where I enjoyed a spinach salad and chocolate milk shake.  We then returned to the hostel for some relaxation and icy foot baths before deciding it was dinner time.  Dinner was fun - Nugget, Histo, Extra Credit, Nips, Wildflower, and I went out for Mexican.  We''re now back at the hostel winding down after some foosball and ping pong.  Sadly, I am champion of neither.  Histo and Nugget are currently serenading Extra Credit and me with a guitar found at the hostel.  It is wonderful.  Extra Credit and I are trying to figure out whether we can break the guitar in half and each carry part so that they can play for us every night.  Histo often gives us a bedtime story, and a lullaby would just top it off.  I feel so luck to have found these friends.

Resupplying and taking care of town chores tomorrow.  I think we're going to hit another diner for breakfast and then pick up ingredients to make lasagna for dinner.  Hoping to walk as little as possible!  Have a great night!

Day 18 - (5/13/12) - Happy Mother's Day!

Contents:  Mile 232 (camp near Mission Creek) to Mile 252 (camp near Onyx Summit) - 20 miles

First and foremost, I want to say Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mom in Anchorage and my awesome grandma in West Lafayette, IN.  I enjoyed many fond memories of the annual Merrell-Kleedehn Mother's Day hikes in search of the elusive Calpyso orchid today.  Those were some great times.

Today was a long day but we got the job done.  We left camp around 6 and put in about 7 miles before stopping at the final Mission Creek crossing which was our last water for the day.  I was starving and pounded a box of mac and cheese, a peanut butter bagel sandwich, a candy bar, and about half a cup of straight peanut butter even though it was only 9:30.  I hung out at the creek until about 11:30 before deciding it was time to put in a few more miles.  We were up high today, so the heat was a little more manageable.  In addition, we were in more treed terrain, making the shade easier to come by.

After leaving the creek, my approach was slow and steady.  I was weighed down with 5 liters of water, but my pack didn't feel too bad as I've burned through most of my food.  I took shorter but more frequent breaks.  Histo and Extra Credit were on the same schedule.....Unfortunately, Extra Credit's ankle is quite sore, but she really toughed it out today.

I'm now camped near the Onyx Summit with Histo and Extra Credit.  About two miles before camp, we passed by this massive compound with huge animals (lions, tigers, bears, etc.)  It was right next to the trail.  It turns out they are film stunt animals.  A lion was roaring as we approached.  They definitely added a little spice to the evening....glad we didn't stumble upon them night hiking.

It's about 13 miles into Big Bear Lake tomorrow.  We're all tired and ready for a break.  This has been a tough stretch.  I'm hanging in there, but my feet are definitely sore.  While it's very common to lose toe nails from all the hiking, my trail family is a bit concerned that I may be losing an entire toe!  At this point, I'm just hoping for the best and counting down the miles to a day off!

Day 17 - (5/12/12) - Lots of Streams

Contents:  Ziggy and Bear's House to Mile 232 (Camp near Mission Creek) - 21.2 miles

Today was another long and hot day.  After a breakfast of cereal and fresh fruit, we hit the trail.  We walked along the Mesa Wind Farm before heading up into the San Bernardino Mountains.  We cruised through the first 10 miles fairly quickly before stopping for a break at Whitewater Creek.  Whitewater Creek was amazing!  I could have stayed there all day.  We're still in the desert environment, and it was so nice to see a real stream with running water.  The water was much warmer than I expected and just deep enough for bathing.  

I finally tore myself away from the water in order to crank out 10 more miles before the next stream crossing.  This stretch was pretty miserable....super hot, no shade, and a lot of climbing.  I was moving slowly.  Nobody liked this stretch and I think we were all just glad to get through it.

I arrived at the second stream crossing during the heat of the day and was definitely content to wait out the afternoon and put in the rest of my miles after dinner.  There was a great tree near the water, and we alternated between napping in the shade, soaking our feet, and eating.  As you can see, it really is a rough life out here!

After dinner, I jumped in behind my friends, Nip and Wildflower, and let them pull me along for about 5 miles.  Nips and Wildflower are a lot of fun and we were hiking though a beautiful canyon with lots of stream crossings.  The miles ticked by pleasantly.

Nips and Wildflower stopped about a mile back, and I'm camped with Histo and Extra Credit who we caught.  Histo, Extra Credit, and I saw two rattle snakes who appeared to be mating on the trail about a quarter mile from camp.

Quick gear update......The shock cord in one of my BD trekking poles broke yesterday.  The poles are collapsible and work similarly to an avy probe.  Nugget was kind enough to superglue the sections together so that I can still use the pole.  I guess I'll call BD from Big Bear ...... I don't think I can easily send the pole back now that it's been superglued, but I'm hoping they'll help me out.  I also managed to strip the threads on the Sawyer, so I'm going to be borrowing filters until I get to town.  Argh!  I'm not sure if I'll stick with the Sawyer or try something else.  

One more long day tomorrow, and then we should have a coast into Big Bear on Monday.  Have a great night!

Day 16 - (5/11/12) - Day of the Foot Bath!

Contents:  Fuller Ridge trail head to Ziggy and the Bear's house (20.6 miles)

Today was a great, albeit strenuous day.  We kicked the morning off with a 6,040 feet descent down to Snow Canyon Road.  As the crow flies, it's 4.3 miles from the Fuller Ridge trail head where we had camped to this road but via the PCT, it's 15.2 miles.  Snow Canyon Road (and I-10 which is just beyond) are visible for virtually the entire shadeless and scorching 15.2 miles.  It seriously went on forever.  I can say with certainty that I will never EVER complain again about the seemingly endless descent from Snow Creek Wall out to Icicle Canyon Road after today!  It could be so much worse!

In spite of my complaining, we made good time and knocked out 10 miles before 10 AM, a highly desired but seldom achieved milestone.  It was brutally hot and none of us carried enough water.  I left camp with two liters and was quite dehydrated (though not completely empty) by the time we reached the fountain at the road.  I would guess the temperature was well into the 90s.

Once at the road, Extra Credit and I took off for a trail angel's house in the nearby Snow Creek Village while Histo waited for Nugget who was a bit behind.  The angel was listed on our water report as a place to get water and find shade.  We were no longer in need of water, but we were desperate for a shady spot to have lunch and siesta.  When we got to their home, we found a lovely yard with trees, a hummingbird feeder (and lots of birds), lawn furniture, and a cooler full of ice and oranges.  To top it off, we had the whole place to ourselves.  It couldn't have been more relaxing.

Extra Credit and I finally tore ourselves away from the oasis in order to tackle a few more miles of desert.  While the terrain was flatter, it still wasn't easy going.  We had deep sand, a massive headwind (lots of wind farms in the area), and the hot temperature to contend with.  Since Histo and Nugget hadn't shown up at the angel's house, we figured we'd find them either seeking shelter at the I-10 underpass or at some other angel's house a couple of miles beyond the interstate where Extra Credit needed to pick up a package.  Sure enough, we found Histo and Nugget at the house along with many other hikers and some totally awesome angels!!  We'd been planning to just make a quick stop, but within minutes of arriving were whisked away to chairs, hot foot baths, and fresh fruit.  It was completely unexpected.  There were salads for everyone at dinner and heaps of ice cream for dessert.  Extra Credit, Histo, Nugget and I had been planning to eek out a few more miles after dinner but the vortex sucked us in and we're all camped in the back yard.  The miles can wait!

Day 15 - (May 10, 2012) - San Jacinto Peak -10,834 feet

Contents:  Idyllwild to Fuller Ridge trail head - 13.5 miles (plus 2.5 miles for Devil's Slide)

Today was a fun day in spite of a lot of elevation gain and some minor gear failures.  Extra Credit, Nugget, Karl (now Histogram or Histo for short, and yes, he has been creating a histogram of his daily miles!), and I peeled out of the campground early.  We wanted to allow plenty of time for our climb of San Jacinto Peak and we thought it might take a while to get a hitch up to the Devil's Slide trail head.  However, after only about 10 minutes of road walking, a super nice guy named Larry picked us all up, and we were dropped off at the trail head in no time.  I think we started hiking a little before 6:30.  

We made great time going up the Devil's Slide Trail.  Even though we gained a lot of elevation, it seemed much quicker than it had on our way into Idyllwild.  Once we reached the top of the Devil's Slide, we rejoined the PCT for a short distance before veering off for the San Jacinto climb.  The trek up San Jacinto was beautiful, and the summit was airy.  We were really glad we took the time to do it.  We encountered a fair amount of snow but were still able to move efficiently on the way up.  We had a few route finding issues on the way down (we weren't retracing our steps but were instead trying to rejoin the PCT farther along), but we eventually located the trail.  I found the off-trail travel to be a welcome change of pace from the usually cruiser PCT.

I had two annoying gear malfunctions today but luckily neither are too serious. First, my Sawyer Squeeze pouch burst when I accidentally dropped it while it was full of water.  Fortunately, I'm also carrying a 32 ounce Platypus bladder that Histo gave me a while back when I was looking to increase my capacity, and it's also compatible with the filter.  The Platypus is half the size of the pouch I'd been using so it isn't quite as convenient, but it will definitely get me through until my resupply stop in Big Bear.  I also broke the tip and basket off one of my trekking poles when I had a minor fall on a slabby rock covered with some loose pebbles.  I'm still able to use the pole, it definitely isn't as effective on soft ground or snow now.  Hopefully there'll be a good gear shop in Big Bear!

Big descent ahead tomorrow....I think we're going to drop well over 6,000 feet before heading up into the San Bernardino Mountains. 

Day 14 - 5/09/12) - Idle in Idylllwild

Contents:  0.0 miles

I had a great day in Idyllwild!  I love this place!  It is adorable and the whole town including the campground is located within a quarter mile radius.  There's even a fantastic climbing shop.  In fact, I think I might move here, work at the shop, and become a 5.14 climber as soon as I'm done with the trail!  it is definitely one of those idyllic mountain towns.

I had a productive day.  We went out for breakfast at a restaurant called the Red Kettle and then hit the laundromat.  After laundry, I moseyed over to the gear shop and was happy to find Super Feet.  The pair I wound up buying is slightly different from the pair I've been using, but they feel good and I'm just glad to have a little more support.  Insoles underfoot, I stopped by the visitor's center to pick up a postcard and then made my way to the post office and grocery.  After leaving the grocery, I grabbed some HEET for my stove at the Chevron station and then wandered back to camp for some hang out time before dinner.  Karl and I also made a quick trip to the library to print out updated water reports.

In camp, some serious food organization went down along with a little strategizing about the upcoming section.  We are planning to climb San Jacinto Peak at 10,834 feet tomorrow.  The 6.2 mile alternate route bypasses 4.5 miles of the PCT and climbs 1869 feet to the summit.  It is supposed to be really awesome but we expect it to take some additional time.  There was some discussion about hiking to the top of Devil's Slide this evening, but we ultimately decided that taking a full day off was more important than the head start.  The only potential drawback to this plan is that hitching to the Devil's Slide trail head may be more difficult early tomorrow morning, but I was definitely in favor of the additional rest.

Most of us have a 5 day stretch ahead, as our next resupply is in Big Bear.  Smiles and Extra Credit sent mail drops to an angel located in between but the rest of us are going straight through.  I'm still figuring out exactly how much food I need.  I think I've probably been carrying a little too much (and at times forcing myself to eat extra to avoid carrying it), but I'd rather err on the side of too much food than too little.  As long as I have plenty of fuel, I'm usually good to go for as long as necessary, but I tend to hit the wall pretty fast once I'm hungry.  Given that most of our days are fairly long and strenuous, that's definitely something I'm trying to avoid.  We're definitely going to have heavy packs tomorrow and lots of elevation gain, but I think we're all antsy to get back on the trail.

Day 13 - (5/8/12) - The Idyllwild Shuffle

Contents:  Forbes Ranch Trail Junction to Idyllwild (11.9 miles + 2.5 to access Idyllwild via Devil's Slide Trail)

We made it to Idyllwild!  I had prepared myself for a tough day but wound up feeling way better than expected.  I started the morning with my blisters well cleaned and thoroughly taped and that made a big difference.  We did a lot of climbing and were well above 8000 feet but the scenery was spectacular.  We spent much of our time traversing below a long ridge where we enjoyed great views of the Palm Springs/Desert Springs areas.  The mountains were very craggy with beautiful granite.  We also encountered our first snow of the trip.  I was definitely reminded of the mountains on Icicle Canyon and the Lower Enchantments at home.

I ate a ton today and I think that's what got me through the day so easily.  I had food leftover due to the Cinco de Mayo party and the restaurant stop, so I was able to refuel whenever I started to feel fatigued.  The interesting terrain also helped.  After the long traverse, we descended into a valley with huge trees, lots of snow patches, more granite, and soft, sandy trail.  It was pretty perfect.  Extra Credit, Karl, Snausage, Wildflower, Nips, Portrait, and I gathered for lunch at a stream before the final push to Idyllwild.  We had to descend a 2.5 mile side trail called the Devil's Slide in order to get to the road.  The Devil's Slide was steep, but not nearly as heinous as we'd anticipated, and it was there that I perfected the Idyllwild Shuffle, a highly efficient run-skip-slide combination that virtually eliminates foot pain.  It looked like there were a ton of great climbing routes as well, almost like a little Yosemite.  We were all in high spirits heading down the trail.

Once we made it to the trail head, we started walking down the road and were picked within a mile by a guy named Herc.  Herc was awesome. He let us pile into the bed of his truck and even gave us a tour of town before dropping us off at the campground.

After showers, we hit the local pizza pub where we spent the duration of the evening, with the exception of a quick trip across the street to the grocery for Ben and Jerry's ice cream which we brought back to the pub.  Many, many pizzas and pictures later, the aches and pains of the trail have become distant memories.  It's amazing what a good meal can do!

We're staying in Idyllwild tomorrow.  I plan to hit the grocery to resupply, visit the gear shop in search of Super Feet, take another shower (Yes, it was pointed out that I still have dirt caked into my arms at dinner!), do a real load of laundry, visit the post office, and relax as much as possible.  The town is great and it is going to be tempting to wander, but I want to give my feet a chance to recover as much as possible.

Day 12 - (5/07/12) - Oh, my achin' feet

Contents:  Mile 147 to Fobes Ranch Trail Junction (19.3 miles + 2 miles round trip for Paradise Valley Cafe)

The miles are starting to take their toll, and my feet hurt!  You know that throbbing, aching feeling you get in your feet during the last few miles before the car after a super long day in the mountains?  I'm thinking along the lines of a 15 hour alpine climbing adventure.  Well, that's the wonderful sensation I have pretty much all the time right now....While my legs feel strong, I don't think my feet are able to recover enough during the night, so after about 30 minutes of walking, my feet feel like they've been on the go for hours and hours.  To make matters worse, I've developed many blisters between my toes, probably caused by friction from all the dirt.  I've never been a big fan of gaiters, but I'm thinking about picking up a pair of light weight Dirty Girls in Idyllwild to see if they help.  Enough whining....I know this will all get better soon and we're all going through it out here!  Life is still good!

Overall, it was a pleasant, albeit tough day.  My morning started out with a 5 mile stroll to the Paradise Valley Cafe where I enjoyed an omelet, homemade hash browns, and an English muffin.  It was definitely a treat to be at a real restaurant, and the food was great.

After leaving the cafe, we headed into the most rugged terrain we've encountered so far.  We are currently in the San Jacinto mountains, near Palm Springs.  The scenery today was beautiful, and I wish I had taken more pictures.  We spent a lot of time walking along a high ridge, overlooking the town of Palm Desert and the outskirts of Palm Springs, which I have fond memories of visiting as a child.

I'm tired and off to bed now. We have another big day with lots of climbing ahead tomorrow, but then we'll be in Idyllwild.  I'm planning to zero there on Wednesday and am really looking forward to a day off.

Day 11 - (5/06/12) - Occupy the Trail

Contents:  High Ridge Near Combs Peak to Mile 147 (18 miles)

Afternoon Edition:  Today was hot!  After a huge bowl of granola and a Carnation nutrition drink, I hit the trail.  I am definitely eating a lot better on this stretch having received a mail drop rather than resupplying at a convenience store.  I feel better!

After leaving the saddle and dropping down the other side, we started gradually losing elevation in the general direction of Anza (I think), the town we'd seen from the ridge.  By 8:00, it was toasty.  After 8 miles, I made it to Tule Spring where Karl, Nugget, Extra Credit, Kayla (now Smiles, totally fitting:  you hear the girl laughing long before you see her!) and I reconvened.  We ate our first lunch, collected enough water to get us to the restaurant tomorrow and with the exception of Smiles, rapidly lost motivation to walk.  Smiles took off and the rest of us did some serious procrastinating.  Finally, as the day was really heating up, we decided to put in a few more miles to the next potential but unverified water source, intending to hunker down there until after dinner.  

I'm currently sitting in the middle of the trail in the shade with no intention of moving until this evening.  I'm feeling better....I was pretty wilted when I first arrived but a slight breeze is kicking up and a few clouds are building.  An old lady in Warner Springs told Extra Credit that her bones were telling her it would rain in 3 days.  We remain a bit skeptical but ever hopeful that she might be right.  There is a slight trickle of water, and I just washed a pair of socks and underwear and rinsed my feet.

Evening Edition:  Karl, Nugget, Extra Credit and I finally folded to peer pressure and hit the trail late this afternoon.  As we were ascending out of the canyon we'd been resting in, thunder started rolling.  It was really neato.  Having spent most of my life in Alaska and Washington, where thunderstorms are quite rare, they still get me excited.  We only saw a flash of lightning, so we weren't too concerned safety-wise. Shortly after the thunder started we felt our first rain drops.  That old lady got it right!  The rain quickly increased in intensity and it wasn't long before we were also getting pelted by hail.  Naturally, my rain coat was packed in the very bottom of my sleeping bag stuff sack which was located in the bottom of the Green Bean.  I made a bee line for the largest tumbleweed like shrub in the area and proceeded to explode my pack under it in order to retrieve my jacket.  Lesson Learned!  Luckily, Karl came upon me in the less than ideal state and was kind enough to shelter me (and my yard sale) as much as possible with his Golite umbrella.

The rain soon abated and it turned into a wonderful evening.  We stopped walking around 5:00 in order to make dinner and then put in a few more miles before establishing camp.  I love the evening hiking and it felt extra special tonight because of the freshness from the storm.

I forget to mention that I saw my first scorpion this morning.  It was hanging out in the middle of the trail.  

In other news, we left San Diego County and entered Riverside County today, and I picked up my first LA radio station.  As rusty as my CA geography is, I think we might be making some progress!

I am still loving the trail.  I feel like it gets better every day.  The sense of community is truly magical, and I can't remember many other times in my life where I have laughed so much.

Day 10 - (5/05/12) - Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Contents: Warner Springs to High Ridge Near Combs Peak (19.5 miles)

The Cinco de Mayo Party delivered!  But for some reason, we decided to get an early start and walk there even though it was about 18 miles away.  Fortunately, the walking today felt good.  It's amazing what a single rest day can do.  I wound up hiking most of the day with Sniper, Bladder Pillow, and Ladelle.  I usually tend to walk alone (and rest with others) but we were all moving at about the same speed and it was nice to have the company.  Mellow Yellow also joined us for the last stretch before the party.

The terrain today was varied.  We started out crossing more pasture land.  It was beautiful with the morning light and a little fog.  After leaving the pastures, we walked through lovely forest with huge oak trees.  We passed by a ropes course and even a tire swing and then made our way over to a stream which we crossed several times.  Eventually, we started gaining elevation and climbed back into the dry desert environment we've grown accustomed to.  It definitely felt like home, with the exception of one stretch which totally looked like the moon.

The Cinco de Mayo Party was great.  It was hosted by Mike Herrera at an off the grid house on Chihuahua Valley Road which the PCT crosses.  I seriously considered spending the night there but wound up hiking a couple miles farther mostly by moonlight.  I'm currently camped at a saddle with Karl and Bryce (actually, Nugget now).  It is gorgeous up here on the ridge in the moonlight.  We can also see some city lights off in the distance.  I'll try to figure out which city we're looking at in the morning.

There is a highly recommended restaurant called the Paradise Valley Cafe located about 23 miles away.  It is a classic PCT stop.  I think the plan for tomorrow is to get ourselves in position to hit it for breakfast on Monday.  

Have a great night!

Day 9 - (5/04/12) - Zero in Warner Springs

Contents:  0.0 miles

I am definitely going to love town stops.  Today was a much appreciated day of rest.  We all slept in and then wandered over to the community center for breakfast around 8:30.  I wore my dress, a very welcome change from my hiking outfit.  Breakfast was delicious - eggs and sausage from chicken and pigs raised by the local FFA as well as pancakes, all for just $5.00.  I seriously considered ordering two meals.  After breakfast I did some laundry using a hose and bucket out back.  Once laundry was done, I was able to catch a ride to the post office with some other hikers from a woman making a trip over there from the community center.  Then it was a short hitch back.  Picking up our packages was great.  We all agreed it felt like Christmas and tore into our boxes right there in the parking lot.  Thanks to my Mom for the awesome homemade scotcheroos.  I shared a few with my trail friends and they were a huge hit.

I spent most of the afternoon lounging in the grass outside the community center.  I was definitely a slacker with the sunscreen and got quite burnt.  Peels is definitely going to be peeling.  BTW, the name Peels is really working for me.  People love it, and I think I've even started a new orange peel trend on the trail.  Who would have thought?!

At 5:30, we were able to take showers at the school across the street.  While I've certainly gone longer without bathing in the past, I can say with total certainty that I have never been anywhere close to this dirty in my life.  It is impossible to stay clean in this desert environment.  I've been carrying baby wipes, but I don't think one would even make a dent on my pinky toe.  First and foremost, it is super dusty out here.  Add a little sunscreen and wind, and you have a recipe for grime.  Take away the water or make it so scarce you can't justify using it for bathing and you're approaching a state of filth.  Sit directly on the ground when taking breaks in order to give you feet the small but much deserved luxury of being propped up on your pack, and things pretty much spiral out of control.  This was definitely where I was at, but fortunately, I chose to fully embrace it.  Nevertheless, the shower was unbelievable, and I feel like a new person tonight.  I just ate tri tip steak for dinner at the community center.  I know I'm going to sleep well tonight.

Tomorrow, the plan is to cruise 17 or 18 miles up the trail, where there are rumors of a Cinco de Mayo party.  There's also talk of night hiking to take advantage of the full moon, but I have a feeling these conversations will be forgotten if the party comes to fruition.  Either way, it should be another good day.

Day 8 - (5/03/12) - Trail Magic!

Contents:  Third Gate to Warner Springs (18.8 miles)

Today was way more fun than yesterday!  I left camp just after 6.  As I was wondering around hunting for the trail, I stumbled into Bryce.  I couldn't believe it!  He had arrived at Third Gate well after dark the night before.  I was glad to see him!

I was definitely tired and moving pretty slow this morning.  Fortunately, the terrain was moderate and my pack felt much lighter than it had the day before when I had started with about 13 pounds of water.  However, I was quite hungry and my feet and legs were sore.  When Extra Credit caught up to me after leaving camp, she found me holed up in a nook besides the trail eating peanut better by the spoonful!  I downed all that I had left, probably about a 1/5 of a jar, and it was wonderful.  I think I was a pretty pathetic (and hilarious!) sight, but felt way better after the binge.  

Today was definitely defined by a lot of fantastic breaks.  Extra Credit and I were chilling around mile 98 when a bunch of other folks walked up, so we turned it into the Mile 100 pre-party.  Then there was the obligatory mile 100 party, followed by the after party at Barrel Spring (mile 101-ish).  

We were planning to take a long break and siesta at Barrel Spring but we weren't prepared for what we found when we arrived.....TRAIL MAGIC!!!! It was awesome.  Trail angels Princess, Bat Boy, Rifle Man, and China Doll were at the road, just a few hundred yards away with cold beer, Gatorade, fruit, salad, bagels, chili dogs, and candy.  The grill was already hot and they had brought a fire pit and plenty of chairs for us to lounge in.  It was totally revitalizing. Thank you, trail angels!

The 8 or 9 mile stumble into Warner Springs post trail magic was really pleasant.  I walked with Bryce.  We hiked across many open fields that were absolutely gorgeous.  It reminded me of Big Sky Country.  There were lots of cows next to and on the trail.  I felt like I was a character in Little House on the Prairie.  It was really amazing.....I don't think words can describe the experience properly. 

When we weren't hiking across the fields, we were usually walking through these cool little canyons with huge trees.  We could both totally imagine building a fort somewhere back there and hanging a swing from one of the trees.....It just seemed like that kind of place.

I almost forgot-we also hiked past Eagle Rock, this crazy rock formation that really does look like an eagle.  Many people including Extra Credit and Karl, are camped there tonight, but Bryce and I decided to push on to Warner Springs in hopes of arriving in time for a burger.  Unfortunately, we were too late, but we'll definitely get breakfast in the morning.

Warner Springs is a super tiny place.  There used to be a hot springs resort here that was huge with the thru-hikers but it closed at some point during the past year.  Thankfully, the community center is opening its doors to us, and we can eat and shower there tomorrow.  As for tonight, we're camped with a very lively and fun crew on the bank of a stream right outside of town.  It's been a great night.

Zero day tomorrow.....Can't wait!

**Check out Kristy's new photo album. (See Link to Photos.)  It has pictures from San Diego and Campo to Warner Springs.**

Day 7 - (5/02/12) - Long Day

Contents:  Rodriguez Spur Truck Trail to Third Gate (23.8 miles)

Today was a long day, and I'm so glad to be in camp.  I started my morning off with a hot mashed potato breakfast, anticipating that I wouldn't want to use my stove this evening.  (I don't usually cook in the morning.)  I made good time down to Scissors Crossing.  Many people who started hiking before the kick-off made it to Scissors Crossing and then hitched back to Lake Morena for the weekend.  At the kick-off, Scissors Crossing had seemed like this magical, far off land of Scissors that I would never reach.  It was funny to finally be there.  It's actually a place where a couple of highways converge (but there is a cache of scissors!)  The hiking to Scissors Crossing was mostly downhill.  Scissors Crossing is located in the middle of a wide valley-it must have been two miles across.  On the far side of the valley are some fairly rugged mountains, and I could see the trail switch backing up them as I descended toward the crossing. 

After taking a break near the water cache, I crossed the highways and headed up the switchbacks.  The switchbacks went quickly for me, but that's where any quickness ended.  After the switchbacks the trail started snaking its way along the mountains just below the ridge crest and it seemed never ending.  I kept expecting to round a corner and see the trail topping out, but all I would see was more trail rounding another corner.

I finally crested at long-awaited Mile 86 and took a break before continuing on.  I'd been tentatively planning to camp around mile 88 but it was quite desolate there.  I was also feeling a bit lonely for the first time and was in no mood to camp alone.  I knew Kayla and Bryce were quite a ways behind me, but I was pretty sure Extra Credit and Karl would be camped at the Third Gate City (mile 91.2).  Hoping to find them, I decided to push on.  Either way, I knew there would be people there.  I finally rolled into the cache around 7:30 and immediately found Extra Credit and Karl.  I think they were surprised to see me.

I'm so happy to be here.  I just ate a hodge podge dinner of a salmon packet, an orange, two English muffins with peanut butter (my 5th and 6th of the day), a couple pop tarts, and a Hershey Bar.  I plan to cook a hot meal when I get to the water tomorrow.

My water supply is in good shape.  I have roughly 2.5 liters left and only about 10 miles of hiking before the Spring.  Extra Credit, Karl, and I are planning a relaxed day tomorrow, and I'm already looking forward to being in Warner Springs on Friday.

Day 6 - 5/01/12 - I'm Peels!

Contents:  Pioneer Mail Trailhead - Rodriguez Spur Truck Trail (15.9 miles)

Today was a special day.  I got my trail name!  But more about that later.....

The hike leaving Pioneer Mail was spectacular.  We had more great views of the Anza Borrego Desert but there was a little added exposure which made it seem more dramatic.  Nothing too serious though....we were still on a wide trail.  I took some pictures, but I don't think they'll capture the vastness of the scenery.  It was another gorgeous day, but very windy along this stretch.

As the day progressed, I headed into more rolling terrain and lost the expansive views.  I also lost the breeze for awhile, and it became quite hot.  There is very little shade out here.  Later, the breeze returned with a vengeance and knocked my hat right off my head.  Fortunately, I was able to retrieve it, but then managed to break the clasp in back while attempting to get it tight enough to stay on my pin head.  I was a bit annoyed by the malfunction as I definitely need a hat out here, but I was able to tie off the strap in back to keep it on my noggin, so I'm back in business.

I'm currently camped at Rodriguez Spur Truck Trail with Kayla and Bryce.  Extra Credit and Karl were here earlier but decided to put in a few miles after dinner.  

As for my trail name, Kayla and the gang decided I should be called Peels due to the unique habit I've developed of always eating the entire orange.  I think I've eaten an orange every day so far, and all the peels have gone down the hatch.  It's so much easier than packing them out!  The crew also cited my occasional tendency to "peel out" and hit the trail hard when the motivation strikes.  Anyways, I gave it some thought and decided the name was a keeper.  I just introduced myself as Peels for the first time.  It felt a bit strange, but I'm sure I'll be accustomed to it soon.

We have a long dry stretch ahead.  The next non-cache water source is 33 miles away.  There are caches at Scissors Crossing in just under 10 miles and at Third Gate in about 23 miles.  My current plan is to leave camp tomorrow fully hydrated and at full capacity (about 6 liters).  If possible, I'd like to push through without taking water from the caches.  I'm not up for a 33 mile day yet, so I'm going to have to dry camp tomorrow night.  With any luck, I'll put in about 20 miles tomorrow and then have a 13 mile push to the water the following morning.  From the water source, it'll be a short trek into Warner Springs for my resupply on Friday.  We'll see how it goes.  I guess there's a bit of purest in me, but I've never gone 33 miles without refilling water especially in the desert.  If things aren't going well, I'll definitely cut myself some slack and take water from the Third Gate Cache.

Wish me luck!

Day 5 - (4/30/12) - Great Views of the Anza Borrego Desert

Contents:  Burnt Rancheria Campground - Pioneer Mail Picnic Area (10.4 miles)

I had a leisurely morning in camp and then headed into the Mt. Laguna town area.  There wasn't much to it - just a post office, lodge, restaurant, bar, and outdoor gear shop.  I think there are about 25 year-round residents in Mt. Laguna.  Bryce and I were reunited with Extra Credit, Carl, and Kayla outside the grocery.  I did my resupply shopping and grabbed some milk, yogurt, and fruit to munch on right away.  I'm making an effort to get as much calcium as possible when I'm in towns, as I'm not consuming much on the trail.  After grocery shopping, I moseyed over to a shady shop by the visitors center and then proceeded to wander around town way too much.  I hit the gear shop in search of new Super Feet.  No dice on the Super Feet, but I was able to buy a Stickpik which I'd regretted not picking up at the kick-off.  The Stickpik is pretty cool - it lets me attach my camera to the tip of my trekking pole, making it easy for me to take pictures (or video) of myself.

After leaving the gear shop, I stopped in at the restaurant but didn't eat and then headed back to the store for more treats.  Probably around 1:00, Bryce and I hit the trail.  The first stretch felt long.  Perhaps because we were setting out in the heat of the day and we were fully loaded with food.  However, the scenery was great.  We spent a lot of time hiking along or just below a high ridge (probably about 6000 feet) with the Anza Borrego Desert down below on our right.  It looked beautiful but very lonely.

After reconvening with the crew at a water stop, Bryce and I pushed on, hoping to make it to the Pioneer Mail Trail Head before stopping for dinner.  The rest of our group made an early dinner and planned to meet us at Pioneer Mail.  After the break, I turned on some tunes, and they made all the difference.  The miles started flying by.  We've now stopped for the night at Pioneer Mail.  We weren't expecting to camp here as it's usually a day use only area, but a ranger stopped in and told us thru-hikers were welcome to crash for the night.  We were more than happy to take advantage of the offer, as there's a horse trough nearby with water.  

Hasta Marana!  Hope everyone is doing well.

Day 4 - (4/29/12) - Made it to Mt. Laguna!

Contents:  Boulder Oaks Campground to Burnt Rancheria Campground - 16.9 miles

Today was another good day.  We wound up putting in bigger miles than expected, but we made decent time and the terrain was interesting.  For much of the morning, we were in sight of highways, and we crossed under I-8.  We could also see windmills in the distance for part of the day. As much as I appreciate a remote wilderness experience, the man-made features were neat to look at and really made us feel like we were walking across the country, and not just out for a long hike.

I got a lot of use out of the Sawyer Squeeze today, and I am really liking it.  The one part I struggled with was getting water into the pouch, as I often had to collect from fairly small sources.  Extra Credit is using a similar filtration system and she had made a scoop out of the bottom half of a plastic soda or water bottle.  She let me borrow it, and it made all the difference.  I could scoop water into the pouch and then filter it as normal.  I'm definitely going to make one for myself when I'm in town tomorrow.  I think the system is going to work well though.  

Tonight I'm sharing a campsite in an open campground in Mt. Laguna with Laura, Bryce, and Justin as well as some new peeps - Ohenro, Breeze, Majellan and Chimichanga.  Bryce and I just got back from eating strawberry shortcake at the town restaurant.  It was delicious.  Hiker hunger is definitely setting in!

Tomorrow Bryce and I are resupplying in Mt. Laguna.  We're hoping Extra Credit, Karl, and Kayla will catch up to us in town.  They are just a short distance behind now.  Laura and Justin are good to go in the food department, so I think they're going to continue north first thing.

The walking is going well so far, and I'm really happy.  Thru hiking already feels very different from my usual weekend warrior style adventures.  Many of my past trips have been very goal oriented.  Often on alpine climbs or ski trips, I'm so focused on the climbing or skiing, that I don't appreciate the hiking, especially on the exit.  Once the goal is accomplished (or not), I become very focused on just getting out as quickly as possible.  A 12 mile hike can be torture.  With thru hiking, it's a totally different mindset.  Canada is so intangible at this point, that it doesn't really feel like a goal.  Eliminating that goal aspect makes the walking a lot more pleasurable.  I hike until I'm tired or hungry and then I rest.  Once I feel replenished, I amble on a little farther.  I feel relaxed about it.  Even though it's only been a few days, walking has definitely become my job, and I think it's pretty awesome as far as jobs go!

Day 3 - (4/28/10) - First Nero

Contents:  Lake Morena County Park to Boulder Oaks Campground (5.8 miles)

Today was a chill day.  Hanging at the kick-off started to feel a little more like spring break than college orientation.  Life is definitely good.  I got up early and started slicing bagels a little after 6:00.  It went quickly and breakfast began at 7.  After breakfast, I headed back to camp for a nap and then another trip to the general store where I picked up strawberry milk, bananas, and more snacks.  The afternoon was spent wandering around camp and generally accomplishing as little as possible.

While breaking camp, my friend Kathleen, got her trail name - Extra Credit!  Kathleen is great - She's the girl I met at the San Diego airport.  As we were getting ready to leave, she suggested we all pick up five pieces of trash (the site wasn't too dirty, but there was a little litter from past campers).  Anyways Kathleen proudly announced she had picked up eight pieces, hence the name Extra Credit.  I think it's perfect!

Around 4:00 we participated in the PCT Class of 2012 group photo and then went to the BBQ.  After stuffing my face with a burger, potato salad, slaw, and brownie, I hit the trail with the Portland posse (Extra Credit, Kayla, Bryce, and Justin) and our friend Karl from the Bay area.  They are a super fun group, and we were so happy to be on the trail.  It felt like the real start to our journey, and the evening was spectacular.  It wasn't too hot and the light was perfect.  The terrain was also very gentle and the tread was soft and easy on the feet.  We hiked about 6 miles before stopping at a campground that is closed due to the Arroyo toad breeding season, but were told that PCT hikers were welcome.  Most of us (myself included) are cowboy camping tonight (no tent), as I'm sure will be the norm in the desert.  

Good luck to my friends in the Eugene Marathon tomorrow.  I'll be thinking about you guys!

Day 2 - (4/27/12) - The Kickoff Party

Contents:  PCT Kick Off Party-0.00 miles 

The Kick-Off Party was in full swing today, and it totally felt like college orientation.  It was a beautiful day, and I alternated between attending events and relaxing in camp.  I also walked into town to pick up some additional grub and took an awesome hot shower before the bathrooms were shut down due to a major sewage overflow.

The kick-off is pretty cool.  There are vendors but it still feels small and non-commercial. I took the Green Bean to the ULA tent and got a few professional adjustments made.  The presentations I went to were Desert Hiking, Overuse Injuries, the Water/Snow Report, and Bears, Food, and Fire, followed by some book readings and the PCT Film Festival this evening.  Bears, Food, and Fire was definitely the most entertaining talk.  Also, fortunately it doesn't sound like water is going to be any more challenging of an issue than usual this year despite the the very moderate winter.

I ran into Tom, Tori, and their 10 week old baby, Kylie this afternoon.  Tom and Tori are friends from Seattle who thru-hiked a few years ago. Former thru-hikers often use the kick-off as a reunion each year. I enjoyed following Tom and Tori's blog when they were on the trail, and it was really fun to catch up and see some familiar faces from home.

Tomorrow, I'm volunteering at breakfast.  I'm planning to spend the rest of the morning and afternoon at the kick-off, though I'm not sure whether I'll attend any more events.  My current plan is to continue north right after dinner and put in 6 or 7 miles before setting up camp.  If I do this, I shouldn't have an trouble making it to Mt. Laguna where I'm hoping to resupply the following day.  Right now, I'm mostly hanging with some Portlanders who are all going solo, and I think we'll probably stick together at least until Laguna.