Stats

Start: Green Valley (LA) – Mile 478.2
End: flat spot by trail – Mile 480.5
Elevation Max: 4,212
Elevation Min: 3,384
Elevation Change: 846 up & 110 down
Average Heart Rate: 116
Walking Time: 0 hrs 36 minutes
Date: 5/1/2022

The Walk

I woke up on the couch. It was nice to be back in a house. With running water, a toilet, shower, laundry, and a comfy place to sit. But weird to be in a city. Walking through downtown LA yesterday reminded me if my daily walks through downtown Chicago.

A bustling place where you were surrounded by people, but didn’t interact with any of them. I wasn’t ready to go back to that. I may never be ready to go back to that!

Nick and I grabbed local brunch then I finished up chores, checked all my gear, and headed to the beach. I had time to relax. I needed to catch an Uber back to the trail around 4.

After a nice afternoon on the beach and my second ice cream stop, I headed to trail. One of my Uber drivers was thinking about doing a section hike one day soon.

She dropped me off at the trail at 7:00. I only had an hour of light. There weren’t many good camping spots labeled on the map. Only two flat spots by dirt roads. The first at 1.9 miles and the other at 5 miles. I could easily walk 1.9 miles to the road before dark, so I headed out.

I met two locals hiking southbound at the first road. I asked if the dirt turnaround was a decent camp site. They said locals often come up here on weekends for shenanigans. To shoot guns and such. Then said but it’s Sunday, I have a feeling you will be fine.

I was a little sketched out so decided to push on, I could night hike to the next spot if needed. I had my eyes out for any flatish spot by the trail to cowboy camp. About a mile later as the sun was setting and the trail was hard to see I saw a tiny opening through bushes on the left. I didn’t expect much, but climbed up.

20 feet above the trail was a tiny flat spot surrounded by bushes, perfect! This is exactly what I needed. Also this would be my first night truly camping alone on trail.

I cowboy camped and was thankful to be back on trail. LA was cool, but the trail is more my speed. Tomorrow I’ll figure out where the crew is and sync up with them for the upcoming section to hiker town and Tehachapi.