May 18, 2017
Total miles: 23.7 miles
Start: Hiker Heaven (mile 454.5)
End: Case de Luna (mile 478.2)
Total elevation gain/loss: 4797.6/3936.7ft
Today’s goal ended up revolving around getting from one trail angel’s home to another’s so that we could end our day with the famous taco salad at Case de Luna. This would mean a 24-mile day over a segment known for being hot and dry. We’d need to leave super early.
Michael didn’t want to leave the puppy behind.
May 17, 2017
Total miles: 10.1 miles
Start: Acton KOA (mile 444.4)
End: Hiker Heaven (mile 454.5)
Total elevation gain/loss: 1874.3/1563ft
We were up early this morning so that we could get into (and out of) Hiker Heaven (home of trail angels the Saufleys) at a good time.
I love early mornings!
Early morning Metrolink
Monument for the last portion of the PCT to have been completed.
Continue reading
May 16, 2017
Total miles: 15.4 miles
Start: mile 429.2
End: Acton KOA (mile 444.4)
Total elevation gain/loss: 1504.3/5503.3ft
We woke up this morning to find that the condensation on the inside of our tent had formed a thin layer of ice above our heads. Outside, everything was covered in a thin layer of ice. Yep, it was cold last night.
Morning Yule log
May 15, 2017
Total miles: 28.6 miles
Start: Camp Glenwood (mile 400.6)
End: mile 429.2
Total elevation gain/loss: 4931.4/4976ft
Oh man, what a day! Our longest day yet, and not exactly by choice. I’m exhausted.
May 14, 2017
Total miles: 22.2 miles
Start: mile 379.5
End: Camp Glenwood (mile 400.6)
Total elevation gain/loss: 4106.6/479.1ft
I was woken up in the middle of the night by the howling wind overhead. Luckily, our tent spot was fairly well protected and our tent was okay. We had set our alarm for 5am, but it was so windy and cold that we ended up resetting it for 6am. We’re getting lazy 😉
May 13, 2017
Total miles: 10.5 miles
Start: Wrightwood (mile 369.2)
End: mile 379.5
Total elevation gain/loss: 3471.1/2159.1ft
Our attempt to sleep in this morning was a failure and we were awake by 6:30. Darn! Breakfast of leftover pizza, beer, and ice cream hit the spot. Can’t get that on the trail!
Since we were too tired last night to sort through our resupply box that was the first order of business. The rest of the morning was spent loading blog posts (since I have basically no signal on trail), showering (again, so luxurious), and surfing the internet. We checked out just before our 11am checkout time and headed back to town to pick up some final provisions.
Saying goodbye to 2/3 of the motel’s welcoming crew.
May 12, 2017
Total miles: 22.1 miles
Start: mile 347.1
End: Wrightwood (mile 369.2)
Total elevation gain/loss: 6300.5/2475.4ft
Today we were determined to get an early start to beat the heat (and make our water last to Wrightwood). We were up with our 4:30 alarm — no snooze button today! Of course, we woke to condensation once again and packed up our wet sleeping bags to be dried later.
Total miles: 26.2 miles
Start: mile 321.0
End: mile 347.1
Total elevation gain/loss: 3789.7/3680.8ft
Still working on those early starts. Today we set the alarm for 4:30 and only hit the snooze button twice! We were fortunate that the wind died down during the night, although I was surprised that we had condensation this morning despite our seemingly dry surroundings. Can’t blame the tent because we cowboy camped. I give up on trying to figure that one out.
The moon was so bright last night!
Continue reading
Total miles: 24.5 miles
Start: mile 296.6
End: mile 321.0
Total elevation gain/loss: 2505.9/4150.3ft
We’re still getting the hang of waking up early again after our zeros. I set the alarm for 5am, but we ended up hitting the snooze button a couple times. Once again, we woke to a wet tent. I guess my theory about yesterday’s condensation being due to camping near water wasn’t entirely correct.
I love the early morning sun!
Total miles: 21.7 miles
Start: Caribou Creek (mile 275.0)
End: mile 296.6
Total elevation gain/loss: 1703.7/3888.8ft
We let ourselves sleep in a bit this morning due to the cold and just generally being tired from our wedding trip. We woke up to find our tent covered in condensation — our first time since Lake Morena. I guess that’s what we get for sleeping near a water source. Leaving our campsite just before 7am, I couldn’t help but notice that we missed that magical hour as the sun is coming up. Oh well, tomorrow.
two backpacks, no plan 