At Lake Morena Campground. Zero Day.
It seems a little like I'm spending a lot of time here at the Kick-Off. Some of the other hikers that I was hiking with will be way down the trail ... I'm not sure if I'll ever catch up with them again. At times I wish that I were back on the trail, but I'm also meeting a lot of people and tuning up my gear just a bit. I bought some treking poles, and I think I'll like them. I also attended a session on using an ice axe and crampons. It was very interesting and I think I learned some valuable information.
I helped cook hamburgers for dinner. There were about 10 BBQ Grills cooking burgers as fast as we could to keep up. In the evening, Eric Ryback showed slides and gave a presentation. In about 1971, at the age of 18, Eric hikes Southbound on what would become the Pacific Crest Trail. Although some claim that he took rides in some places, it doesn't matter to me, and he will be a hero in my mind. He got himself from Canada to Mexico with a very heavy pack and little help in the form of guide books, maps, and trail angels!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
At Lake Morena Campground. Zero Day.
I'm having a great time at the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick-Off (ADZPCTKO). I'm really glad I came back, and I'm looking forward to coming back to Lake Morena in April of 2009 to help send of next year's class of Thru-Hikers. It's a big job to prepare all the meals and organize all the events and activities, but I know that I learned a lot here that will help me on the trail. I have also met a lot of very nice people, like Bear and Honey, a couple that run a Hostel in Maine for AT Hikers. They had a great RV and their dog, Molly.
I also helped Panama to cook about 350 hot dogs for the Class of 2008. That was a lot of fun, but it sure kept us busy!
I'm having a great time at the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick-Off (ADZPCTKO). I'm really glad I came back, and I'm looking forward to coming back to Lake Morena in April of 2009 to help send of next year's class of Thru-Hikers. It's a big job to prepare all the meals and organize all the events and activities, but I know that I learned a lot here that will help me on the trail. I have also met a lot of very nice people, like Bear and Honey, a couple that run a Hostel in Maine for AT Hikers. They had a great RV and their dog, Molly.
I also helped Panama to cook about 350 hot dogs for the Class of 2008. That was a lot of fun, but it sure kept us busy!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Lake Morena Camp Ground. ADZPCTKO. Zero Day today.
After we left Hemmet, LA drove along the trail, and we stopped at Mt. Laguna Market. Yogi and Warner Springs Monty were there, picking up some other hikers and taking them to the Kick-Off. There were a lot of people there already, and the kick-off really doesn't start until Friday.
I helped in the registration booth for a while, and later that evening LA and I made Hobo Stew for dinner.
It was fun. I was also able to arrange for a ride back to Paradise Cafe on Sunday morning, so I feel good about that.
After we left Hemmet, LA drove along the trail, and we stopped at Mt. Laguna Market. Yogi and Warner Springs Monty were there, picking up some other hikers and taking them to the Kick-Off. There were a lot of people there already, and the kick-off really doesn't start until Friday.
I helped in the registration booth for a while, and later that evening LA and I made Hobo Stew for dinner.
It was fun. I was also able to arrange for a ride back to Paradise Cafe on Sunday morning, so I feel good about that.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Nance Canyon Creeklet to Paradise Cafe. 12 miles, 151 miles total.
It was a little windy today. I haven't had to deal with wind much since the bike ride.
During the night, my pillow was still wet, so it wasn't much use. I filtered some water from the creek next to my camp in the morning, but even with the filter, the water had a slight green tint to it. It tasted OK, but it was hard to drink!
I met Leapyear and Wildflower on the trail today.
At the Paradise Cafe where I stopped for lunch, there were two people already eating, so I joined them: LA, a section hiker, and Adrian. After we picked up a couple more hikers and took them to Idyllwild (and we even stopped along the road to Idyllwild and picked up Gabe!), Adrian drove LA and I to Hemmet, where LA had his truck. We spent the night at his cousin's guest house so we could drive to the Kick-Off back at Lake Morena the next day. LA's Cousin, Rob, and his wife, Lisa, were very nice, and we all ate a great Pizza Dinner. I was really glad to be able to stay, and I was glad to be heading to Kick-Off to help Warner Springs Monty with the food.
It was a little windy today. I haven't had to deal with wind much since the bike ride.
During the night, my pillow was still wet, so it wasn't much use. I filtered some water from the creek next to my camp in the morning, but even with the filter, the water had a slight green tint to it. It tasted OK, but it was hard to drink!
I met Leapyear and Wildflower on the trail today.
At the Paradise Cafe where I stopped for lunch, there were two people already eating, so I joined them: LA, a section hiker, and Adrian. After we picked up a couple more hikers and took them to Idyllwild (and we even stopped along the road to Idyllwild and picked up Gabe!), Adrian drove LA and I to Hemmet, where LA had his truck. We spent the night at his cousin's guest house so we could drive to the Kick-Off back at Lake Morena the next day. LA's Cousin, Rob, and his wife, Lisa, were very nice, and we all ate a great Pizza Dinner. I was really glad to be able to stay, and I was glad to be heading to Kick-Off to help Warner Springs Monty with the food.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Past Lost Valley to Nance Canyon Creeklet. 14 miles, 139 miles total.
I didn't sleep really good last night. I had a big "lump" under my sleeping pad. When I heard the first bird singing, it was easy for me to get up. I hiked a short distance and saw Argentina. Then at the road, I saw the Leisure Society. I'll take it easy today with lots of breaks and a nap!
I camped with SloJo and Indiana Red by a small creek. One of my water containers leaked, and almost everything in my pack was wet. I had to stop mid-day and let stuff dry out in the warm sun.
It was a good day, all in all.
I didn't sleep really good last night. I had a big "lump" under my sleeping pad. When I heard the first bird singing, it was easy for me to get up. I hiked a short distance and saw Argentina. Then at the road, I saw the Leisure Society. I'll take it easy today with lots of breaks and a nap!
I camped with SloJo and Indiana Red by a small creek. One of my water containers leaked, and almost everything in my pack was wet. I had to stop mid-day and let stuff dry out in the warm sun.
It was a good day, all in all.
Monday,. April 21, 2008
Warner Springs Resort to Past Lost Valley. 16 miles, 125 miles total.
I had a nice breakfast with Patrick at the golf course, and then started hiking. When I got the bridge, I turned to the left and proceed on what I knew was the PCT. However, after hiking 2.6 miles I ended up back at the fire station where we left the trail yesterday to get to Warner Springs! I didn't want to hike back 2.6 miles, so I hitched a ride (after about 15 minutes wait) back to where I made the wrong turn.
It's warmer today, and a lot of up-hill, and I'm fairly heavy with a good supply of food (from the mini-mart) and water. I was surprised when I caught up with SloJo and Indiana Red. I never did see Argentina, so he must still be ahead of me.
I had a nice breakfast with Patrick at the golf course, and then started hiking. When I got the bridge, I turned to the left and proceed on what I knew was the PCT. However, after hiking 2.6 miles I ended up back at the fire station where we left the trail yesterday to get to Warner Springs! I didn't want to hike back 2.6 miles, so I hitched a ride (after about 15 minutes wait) back to where I made the wrong turn.
It's warmer today, and a lot of up-hill, and I'm fairly heavy with a good supply of food (from the mini-mart) and water. I was surprised when I caught up with SloJo and Indiana Red. I never did see Argentina, so he must still be ahead of me.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Barrel Springs to Warner Springs. 8 miles, 109 miles total.
Staying at the Warner Springs Resort and Spa. What a great place!
Warner Springs Resort is a private resort with a very nice set of pools. One of the pools is heated with a hot spring, and they keep it at 104 degrees. 12 of us all met for dinner at the lodge. We had great fun playing shuffle board after dinner, and there was still time to take one more soak in the pool.
The resort is very friendly towards PCT hikers. If it is not a weekend, they even have special low rates for PCT hikers, which is very nice.
Steve and Jane plan to stay one more day at the resort, so I plan to get an early start. I shared a room with Patrick from Hawaii.
Staying at the Warner Springs Resort and Spa. What a great place!
Warner Springs Resort is a private resort with a very nice set of pools. One of the pools is heated with a hot spring, and they keep it at 104 degrees. 12 of us all met for dinner at the lodge. We had great fun playing shuffle board after dinner, and there was still time to take one more soak in the pool.
The resort is very friendly towards PCT hikers. If it is not a weekend, they even have special low rates for PCT hikers, which is very nice.
Steve and Jane plan to stay one more day at the resort, so I plan to get an early start. I shared a room with Patrick from Hawaii.
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