April and Jeff Hike North America

Wednesday 5/13 We walk only half an hour this morning before reaching a wide open view of civilization. We had more energy last night and could have hiked further but we are glad we didn’t because there are no campsites for miles. Now we can see a few high desert towns in the distance, a busy railroad line, a large valley, a flood control dam and the far off mountains near Wrightwood that we will be hiking in the next week. After about an hour we are walking below the dam and crossing Deep Creek for the last time. We stop for breakfast with a scenic view of the river flowing into a tunnel in the massive rock wall of the dam and disappearing. We hike above the valley along a ridge until lunch time, with views of the snowy Mt Baldy, a popular LA ski area, and a few other high peaks nearby. Because the PCT take the scenic and gentle route everywhere it goes, we often can see where we trying to get to for days and sometimes even weeks! We will often spend hours or even all day looking at t...

Tuesday 5/12 Early this morning we begin seeing coulter pines and their impressively huge cones which resemble pineapples! I find myself thinking about collecting them and arranging them in a fun design like a peace sign! There is always ample time to think when doing a long hike and I often find myself cooking up all sorts of crazy schemes! Not long after we stop for breakfast and happen upon a heart shaped arrangement of coulter pine cones! A dream come true!!    We continue down Holcomb Creek to the main drainage of Deep Creek, where a popular day use trailhead is located. The creek is massive and true to its name, has many deep swimming holes. It is like an oasis in this dry desert mountain-scape with lush vegetation and water loving shade trees like sycamores. The trail crosses the creek on a well constructed bridge and has many nice rest/camp areas below the bridge. Were consider stopping and actually go down under the bridge to scout out a suitable rest place, but are r...

Last night as we were arriving to camp, we noticed from afar that another tent was already there. We prefer not to camp next to others if we can avoid it, so we detoured up the creek and found a nice flat spot in a pine forest. This morning we woke up early, 5:45, and it was already totally light out. We were walking by 6:30 and passed the tent with its occupants still inside, just as they had been last evening by 7. A little later in the morning while we are stopped for breakfast, they catch up to us and go past, without much of a greeting. It is a younger couple, about our age. Shortly after we get going again, we pass them standing in the middle of the trail trying to get cell reception where there is a view of Big Bear Lake. A game of leap frog ensued, I hate that!  Later in the afternoon we are ahead of them still and decide to take a break. We go off the trail As we generally do, and hope they will go past and we can be rid of them. We tend to assume everyone is faster than u...

We were supposed to come back to the trail yesterday, but it took me until 1 pm to finish packing the necessary resupply packages. At that point we decided it would really be more pleasant if we just waited until the next day and could actually leave in the morning now that we were ready. After this was decided, I took a brief break and then continued the madness of resupply box packing. I managed to pack another 8 days worth. We are now taken care of for the next month as far as our food is concerned. It’s a lot of work packing all of our own food, but we sure appreciate the healthy food and the variety while we are out. Today is Mother’s Day and it’s a good day to go for an “adventure” to the trail with mom and May. Jeff, Mom and I drive our mini van to Poway to meet May. We then transfer to her fuel efficient Prius for the rest of the ride. We stop at Jimbo’s in Escondido for our favorite LoneStar tofu sandwich, then again in Murrieta at Intazza Coffee Works and then in Big Bear for...