Stats

Start: flat spot by trail – Mile 480.5
End: Water Cistern – Mile 504.5
Elevation Max: 5,629
Elevation Min: 3,015
Elevation Change: 3,127 up & 2,435 down
Average Heart Rate: 134
Walking Time: 5 hrs 53 minutes
Date: 5/2/2022

The Walk

I slept amazing last night. It felt right to be back on trail. LA is a big city and I spent half of the weekend traveling in trains and cars. I appreciated the solitude of a night surrounded by nature.

I slept in until 7:30. Not in a hurry to get out of bed. The temperature was perfect. I felt great in my sleeping bag. I had breakfast started hiking without a destination. I figured I’d do a day between 20-25 miles and get to hikertown the next day. But I wasn’t in a hurry to look ahead and plan my camping spot.

1.5 miles into the hike I heard familiar voices and looked back. 4 hikers were walking around a ridge a tenth of a mile behind. “Squalo”! I heard them yell. I waited a minute for them to catch up and was suprised to see Grahm, Jack rabbit, and High Life. It was a nice surprise. I expected them to be a few miles ahead.

We had an easy morning with a few breaks and chatted. The trail meandered along a ridge through more green valleys. It was nice, but I was ready for a change in scenery.

After lunch I got my wish. The green forest turned into a burn area with no trees to be found. Framed by expansive views with mountains in the background. I experienced mixed emotions walking through the forest that burned in 2020.

Sorrow for the fires and destruction people cause to the environment. Guilt for not doing much to fight for the environment. A reality check by the miles of destruction. Eeriness from no signs of wildlife, not a single lizard. Awestruck by the brush and few trees that withstood the fire and lived on. Rejuvenated by the new growth of shrubs and wild flowers thriving in the altered landscape.

We stopped at 2 by one of the nastiest water sources I’ve seen. The water was covered in an oily film. When Grahm poked it a with a stick a green bubble came up. It would have been okay with a filter, but thankfully I wasn’t desperate. I still had .75 liters and could make it 5 miles to the next water source.

The next water source was clear and crisp! Thank god! The trail also changed. Next thing I knew the burn scar was behind and I was walking into lush forested areas. I don’t know how all of this can be so green with only a few days of rain each year.

Next came the flowers. Thousands lining the trail and hills close by. White, red, yellow, purple the smell filled the air. Then I walked by mile 500! I didn’t even realize it was coming. It’s pretty cool. I’ve almost been on trail a month. A brief moment to celebrate then take another step forward.

I was at camp a few miles later. We decided to camp on a ridge which is always a bit risky, but there wasn’t any wind. 6 of us cowboy camped up there and made dinner. CJ played the Canadian national anthem on the kazoo. It was fun to be back with the crew.

30 minutes after dark the wind picked up. Then picked up some more. And more. Until it was blowing harder than I’d felt all trip. Camping on the ridge was a mistake. This was the windiest night I’ve experienced. Nobody would be sleeping well tonight.