Los Angeles 2

After a few days with bad weather, today is sunny. I did not wait for anyone. Pack and on the go. perfect day , sunny but cold as we are in the mountains. The Lost Angeles valley still was cloudy.

Los Angeles

 I got lost  for 20 minutes in an camping area until I found the way to Coogar trail . Very nice area with a river .All the way is a descent of 10 miles. Nice views of the valleys but on the way down it gets hotter. I had lunch and siesta in the 400 miles mark. It has been really really hard to reach those 400. The hardest ones for all the pain and injuries. I reached a small house , there was Nostra Damus . I wait there for the rest having a sun beds. When the others arrived we wait until the evening to keep hiking as it was to hot. 

Night hiker team

We kept going down until a camp ground where we had dinner and we got ready for some night hiking. Sometimes is nice to do the night hiking to break the routine and always it is fun. After 1 hour we start to find dog puddle bush all over , been very difficult to advance. We had tree on the trail, the Poisson bush and the cliff in the other side. We did a very low miles for 3 hours. I had a little problem with my light, it is super light but I have trouble hiking at night, I am looking for a new one, more powerful  I will need it. When we got to the top of the mountain we show to eyes looking to us in the bushes. Ohh Mountain Lion!! Finally show up a baby deer between the bushes..........

Bed

We slept cowboy camping in the top of the mountain......

Los angeles wilderness

No problem with bears at night. i woke up with sunrise . I had a nearly 3000 summit today so hard job. I had hot breakfast before the last push up ( oat milk...) I am loving my gas stove. i am carrying some extra gas just to waste it doing coffee and hot breakfast at all the times. The way up get harder and harder. It start to get really cold . In the top of the mountain was cloudy. I couldn't see much. You should  to have a good view of Los Angeles valley. I passed some good nice ridges between mountains. 

In the way down it start hailing so everybody running down. We refuge in the toilets of a camping . I met some other hikers...have lunch with them. After I discover that after a few hours it was snowing all over. What freak me out is that we discovered a rattle snake in the mountain , over 2000 meters in a cold day.....not very normal. We have to do a road detour because a closure of a section to protect some frogs.... 

Black swam, papaya and Tinman during detour

The walk through the road was a little dangerous as It was very foggy but I did with a great bunch of people. We decide to camp in a picnic area. It could rain in any moment and it was better to have everything ready with that risk. We prepare all the tents together as there was a hiker without tent ..We prepare a type of tarp with tyveck. After dinner the sun show up. 

Wrightwood.

I head to town early. I had the super super size breakfast......after I did logistics. Try to get my knee support but did not arrive yet....

I did the food resupply for 4 / 5 days + now updating the blog. This town is really friendly with hikers.

Finally I got the new support!!! I went back to the house and Jeff offered me to see a man that want to sale antiquities in his back yard. When we arrived I just saw old guns. what about get a gun as a bear spray? o even better how cool will be a old rifle on the pack. No worries about bears taking your food. Thanks god those thoughts went quickly. Jeff bought an old miner lamp and we head home. I took a picture with him and he left. After a wile I went to the road to get a ride to the trail . and jeff show up again to get me a ride!!

I just quite late and very cloudy . It could rain. I just walk 4 miles until I find a kind of flat spot . This is the first time that I am sleeping in a bear country. I was panicking . I was completely alone. No hikers around....I walk half a mile from the camp to cook to keep the smell far away. Ohhhh cooking cheese macaroni . I couldn't have a more smelly food.... and I forgot my poles in the tent....I decide to get an stick and some rocks just in case something show up.

raw picture, no filters.

Time to sleep.

getting into Wrightwood

I did not sleep very well in that spot. it was quite windy. I woke up with the tent soak and the sleeping bag a little wet. I think is for the foggy wet clouds that move around the valley. I did not dry anything I just pack it.

The sun rise was quite good :

the camera use special filter for sun rise to get those colours....

I did not get the detour to avoid the dog poodle bush . This is a Bush from California which seeds can stay in the field for up to 10 years until there are a mayor fire. It is when they grow. This is bush has poisoned leafs that when big irritation when contact. There was enough to learn the physiognomy of the plant. Now I know for sure this plant. 

I fall sleep in the middle of the trail after lunch. I got always sleepy with altitude. A German hiker woke me up to check if I was OK....

I was thinking to camp in an area over the 2500 m . When I reach it I though no way I am going to sleep here. Too windy, too cold......No way no way. this is the first day that I am hiking with gloves and Jacket. There are an storm all around the area. I push 4 more miles. It was weird to reach a ski resort from behind ( the highest point ) not snow. It is closed.

Trail not very friendly today:

I hit the road and the person that stop was a trail Angel Jeff. Very nice person . He offered me to sleep in his house with some more hikers. No problem. At night we sat down all together in the leaving room. Nice experience. A trail Angel is basically a person that help hikers. It could bring some drinks or food to the trail, offer rides, accommodation.... It is part of the etiquette to leave a donation. 

Jeff house.

leaving the cajon!!

A ranger approached to me last night when I was setting the tent. He explained me that the area has sprinklers, so I should move the tent. Id didn't believe him as I slept there the last two nights.  I just moved the tent few meters....In the middle of the night I woke up with the noise of the sprinklers. Fuck, he was right. I start panicking.  I put the head out and realized that all around me is full of water but locally where I set the tent is drier spot that the sprinklers don't reach.

I went to the road to get a hitch to cajon. I put my thumb up at the first car without even look at and stop. shit!! it's a taxi.  I ask for apologies but the taxi driver says, no worries, he is going in that direction. Typical black taxi driver from the movies...quite funny.

Lunch in McDonald. Meet some hikers, and in the afternoon after four days of recovery back in the trail!!!

The trail cross several train lines, landscape is desert mountains.It remains me breaking bad when they assault the train.

waiting for MR White....

I though this is typical snake territory. Dry, hot and low altitude.  A few meters after I found a sunglasses and when I was distracted thinking it those SRSRSRSRSRSRSrSR  o shit , bad ass rattlesnake .surprise!!!! Less than 2 Meters. It's unbelievable the noise that they do. This freeze me for few minutes amd it when I start with the paranoid, washing snakes in every corner of the trail. 30 minutes after when I was recovering I just step by other snake that did not move ......a regular one......This valley is the San Andreas Fault, for me it is Snake Valley.

Snake valley ( San Andreas Fault )

After cross the San Andreas Fault the 15 miles  climb starts. Slowly slowly, the vegetation start to change. Around 19.00 I found a lonely spot by the trail. Good enough. Good night.

healing 4 days at cajon.

I did the last 7 miles up to the cajon in the morning and still having problems with the knee. I am very worry us maybe I would have to quit the trail. By now I am taking 4 days off to trail to recover and we will see. The McDonald was full of hikers doing the competition to see who was the one who can get more calories in the body. People were close to 5.000 calories with nearly 30 dollars bills. I checked in in the Best Western. Really luxe after all this time. Next day I saw some of other hikers that I did not see from the first day like the Israel guys. 

The second night I share the room with Matt. I discovered that he comes from the UK when we start to talk football. It was nice to talk about the end of the premier. How Liverpool lost the tittle and whats going on with the champions league.  

Next days I spent then on the beach, in a lake by. I did some trail magic giving to some hikers some beers. One day, Saturday, I was laying on the grass when one guy seating close to me say " you have a big snake going into your direction " I jumped as usually but not worries crocodile Dundee was there to sort the situation ( see picture below )  

Crocodile Dundee....

The last day I walk up to the other day of the lake to discover a snack shop where the sell all this american drinks....

Tomorrow I hit the trail. Knee look better but far from full recovery. I ordered a Knee support to the next resupply. Hopefully would help.

the way to cajon pass

I woke up late and Salsa already had left. I told him last night that I used to wake up early, like 4 am....It was 7 and still in my sleeping bag. The trail was easy through the hills parallel to a river in the valley.            

 At midday the heat was crazy. I have lunch under a tree close to the lake's dam. After I went up a little bit until reach the lake. wow wow how can change everything so quickly.

The trail goes around the lake up to picnic area. I met there all the regulars . Have a bath , chill.....get some water.

Back in the trail I found Ibu. He missed the picnic by mistake. He and me have problems with the knee. Two of us  walk slow and limping.

 Getting close to mile 20 start to get dark. We couldnt find any camp spot. We kept walking with the full moon . After a few more miles we find a place kind of flat.  knee hurt.I will take some time of inthe cajon pass. Dinner in the sleeping bag.

Leaving hot springs

I spent the morning discovering the hot springs.  there are a few natural pools between the rocks with different temperature.  You jump from one to another and after into the river. There were no much people as it was monday morning.  I have my inflatable mattress with a puncture, so I uses the hot tub to find the hole. Anyway I don't have yet the repair kit.

During the afternoon more hikers keep arriving. It was quite difficult to leave this place. I did 5 more mile to exit the canion, reaching the fork dam. The job is done, it was to scape from the hot springs. I have to jump to cross a creek, I put an entire feet in the water, nearly fall in it. After having dinner with salsa some red necks arrived in 4 x 4 passing all over the campsite. Welcome to USA.

Big Bear to Hot Springs.

I thought i will sleep well in a bed but it wasn't like that. I did not sleep much. We said bye bye to the owner of the hostel and head back to reality : the trail. The first 10 miles were quite hard , with many rocks and also with 5 days of food. On the right we have the view of the Mojave desert,I call it la nada.

The rest of the day was pretty easy . It is a continuous descent. In the mountains there are enough streams so I don't have to carry much water. You pass many areas that have been burnt . I now understand why the alcohol stoves are forbidden. 

I slept in a camping area with toilet , VIP place!!. Next day was 23 miles, all going down. Soon we got into the Mojave river, a canyon. really nice. A good surprise. It is a river in the desert with many beaches and places to swim . Finally I got into the hot springs. Termas by the river. Many hikers are taking the day off here. I slept on the beach. It is full moon so plenty light 

Healing in Big Bear

The staff have been really friendly from the check -in in the hostel. The staff are not trail angels as they area business but for me they are real trail angels. Sarge and Chris, the owners knows the needs of a PCT hiker. I decided to satay here to heal my knee.  In the hostel stay the classics. I got the story from Chivi  with the snowstorm and just with a piece of Tyveck as a protection. I went for dinner to get a super burger. I met spirit, a woman that after 6 attempts of the AT she was able to finish. She is a example of perseverance. We had some beers and story time at the hostel.

Next I use it for logistics. I did a shake down of my pack. I lost half Kilo. I sent the snow axe and some clothes to Kennedy meadows. Clean down, reorganize the pack and get supplies for 5 days. I did a a random count and I average 3500 calories a day. Not enough. Losing belly.   I I should get a little more. I got gas. ready for tomorrow. I repeat , staff super cool. we got some rides to supermarket.

San Bernardino to Big Bear

I woke up alone in the tent site. I decide to go up 2.5 mile up to the next site to find Breakfast. there I met Girly Girl, Tinman, blue and broncos. we have breakfast after do the introductions and explanations of our trail names. i left them breaking down camp. in my mind was to do 24 miles, new record for me. Soon I left the canyon changing the landscape from desert to high mountain. It was difficult to keep the breath for the altitude. I stopped to filter some water and recover. It was snow all over. I decide to go slow , very slow . I was doubting that i would be able to do the 24 miles. In the way up I met one girl running out of food. I gave her a emergency ration ( poptarts ). i had to stop and have a nap and get use to altitude. Always happen to me this. When I get into altitude I feel sleepy. My problem today has been also my knee, it is hurting . i will need to take a zero day in Big bear Lake to try to recover.  

San Bernandino mountain are beautiful. Trail goes through steep slopes and big pines. Around 16.00 I reach the top on the range, 2600 m. I could camp there and get a freeze night  or push 8 more miles. I was with other hiker who decided to go down and me behind. I was quite lucky . there were easy miles. Finally we got in camp. And after me the kill road boys and water bed. Nice! we have dinner and we share the story from the last 2 days. Apparently we were camping very close at all the time but we never see each other.

The night was cold cold. it is the firts time in the PCT with a really cold night. I did not exit the tent until 7.00 am ( late for me ) I keep walking a couple of miles to warm up and have breakfast with the kill road boys. See pic.

We reach the road and took about one hour to get a ride to town from a ex - marine....

Hostel very cool. In a bed after 2 weeks. Time to rest.

San Bernardino . mile 232

I woke up in Ziggy and the Bear and the breakfast was ready. fresh milk!! It makes the difference. I did not wait for anyone , I just start walking . The trail goes into a wind farm where i found Jeremy, a ultra hiker, an average of 30 miles a day. we were going to drink from a tap when the operators come running saying that the water has uranium. They gave us some bottles of Waters. Much appreciated.  After 6 miles the trail arrives into a big valley with a river in the middle. Perfect place for lunch.

The trail goes up to a  very windy ridge, nearly to take off. On the way down another canyon with a creek with some good tent spots. i did siesta with some hikers and after I keep the the way up. today I did 22 miles. I tried to get into the 25 but my knee was already complaining so I had to stop.

I little bit bored now as I set camp, cooked dinner no one else had showed up . It is 19.00 and after a ibuprofen and paracetamol it's time to sleep. Tomorrow i should do 24 miles. it could be tricky for the altitude  and also there are an stretch of 16 miles without water.

San Jacinto and ziggy

I woke up around 4.30. I discover that  few more tents had pop up during the night.  I looked for waterbed, he was ready. we had a descend of 20 miles. All the day way down. After 1 mile we start laughing when we discovered  the 4 guys sleeping in the middle of one dirty road. those are crazy!.We call the guys the Kill Road boys.  We had breakfast and say hello. They couldn't find any spot to camp. On the way down we catch up with Chivi telling the story of the guys. After a endless descent we reach the bottom broken, myself I got an extra blister. Finally after 20 miles we had water. The font spit the water upwards and with the wind blowing hard, it was impossible to fill the bottles. 

my nemesis - snakes!!!

The last part up to the trail angels in a flat valley of desert. Trail very sandy and windy. Making slow advance. Under the bridges of the High Way we got some Trail magic from a 2007 through hiker. we chill for a wile.

hiker trash + trail magic

After we went to the trail angel Ziggy and the Bear. Nice place in the middle of the nada to recover. we had salad and ice-cream. We sleep there about 15 Hikers.

San Jacinto- the way up

I was quite lucky to get a ride into the trail in the morning. A group of armenian , around 15 picked me up.  I have food for 5 days, crazy amount. the name of the trail : the devil trail.....with all the load and the air getting thinner and thinner with the altitude it was quite hard job reach the top of San Jacinto peak 3300 metres ! It was Sunday so plenty of day hikers with their small packs. Myself with the full gear for 100 miles.... they must think this guy is crazy. Getting in the top there were little snow around. It is weird to be in the "desert " at 3300 metres with snow... great views of the desert in the bottom with the wind farms 

In the top I found some more PCT hikers. I had lunch and 1 hour nap in the peak and after I starter the way down to the PCT with Water Bed . We got the 7 L of water for this Stretch. I think 20 miles. I did the Fuller ridge and we loss some altitude to get a warmer night before camp. We just did 13 miles but happy with that. For dinner I prepared noddles with dehydrated mushroom plus Parmesan, getting into the trail Kitchen!

Scissor cross to Warmer Spring

The night in scissor cross was good. It is the first time that we sleep without crazy winds. We started at 4.00 and we night hike to avoid the heat. I really enjoy and you get also a nice sunrise. This day there was a lot of people going up. It remained me the Lord of the Rings . looking for the third gate all the time throw steep slopes full of switchbacks.

We arrived at the top for about midday. Super hot. I found cover under a tree and did my siesta. Others keep walking. It was to much for me. During those days we are looking quite a lot military activity. Fighters fly over us doing acrobatics. very American.

The way down to barrel spring was quite easy but quite long. I saw another snake but not a rattle snake yet. The cam site is really good , very quite with water. We were around 20 people here.

Next day we woke up late , I mean around 7. The area was valleys long grass and cows. We were together butter fingers , love line and me. We had to fight a little against those cows to clear the trail. Some other hikers have had a hard time with those. And in mile 106 there are the rock formation call the eagle rock. We talk some pictures and after straight to warmer spring to get a hot breakfast after days of hiking. Charge , electronics, resupply, showers ...etc , logistic. When were ready to start walking I realized that I forgot my poles in the truck that gave us the ride up to the post office, Shit!!.

Loveline and Butter fingers left me us I expect to catch them later. I went back to the community center. They explain me that the person that gave me the ride would not be back until next day. Shit !

I was quite piss off for doing those mistakes. After an hour Rai, the guy that I did the first day arrived there. It cheer me up, we catch up a little bit about the last week.

We will sleep cowboy style just in front  of the community center.

Finger cross for tomorrow. I hope get the poles back.

Warmer Spring to Idillwild

hahaha so lucky I am , they brought the poles . I got them at 8.00 am and straight in the trail. The day started quite flat , nice , between oaks trees , after goes into a canyon with a small flowing creek. At midday started the heat and the climb. Miles and miles, I found a guy that run out of water , I gave him a liter, 7 more miles without water.....

At the top of the ridge there are a trial angel ranch. They offer beer, soft drinks, ice-cream and water. They just accept donations, nice place. I keep hiking for a couple of hours. I was exhaust. It was night when I don't know how I found a small camp space. Thanks god! I collapsed.

By the way. I found what I believe is a baby rattle snake:

Next day another 21 miles of pure heat in the dessert. there were quite a lot of people so we stop all together under the trees to rest and have small siestas. After all the miles you arrive to paradise café. It is a restaurant very popular in the trail as it is very close from it. The classic are the burgers. American super size is the standard. I was in the terrace dinning with a few more hikers. It was a spectacle to watch arrive  the hikers after 25 miles stretches throw the heat. We just look like Zombies completely dehydrated. Waiters in this place must been seen everything arriving from the door.

I got a ride up to Hidillwild as there are a 20 miles stretch that is close for fire. A local surfer picked me up and brought me to the campground. I took my bag and   say thank you. Ones the driver left I just say SHIT !!! the poles again!! what a retard I am, again !!!!! how can be possible. Water bed was there and he knew all my story and trail name.....He couldn't believe it. I forget twice my poles in two different cars in less than 3 days...... 

I asked to water bed for a pole as I need one to set my tarptent. I said hopefully he realize he was my poles and he bring them back. Next day I did logistics all morning, nice breakfast with colleges and at lunch I found waterbed in the pizza restaurant. He said , one guy just saw up with your poles asking for a Spanish guy. So lucky you are. Water bed from Israel: In my country we said that   you have more luck than brains....

Correct , lucky lucky!!!! The trail provide!! Mile around 160. Tomorrow 5 days trip up to big bear city. Mix of mountain 3000 m altitude and dry valleys with 20 miles not water. looking forwards!!!

Mount Laguna - Scissor cross

After resupply in Mont Laguna at 1600 m altitude where we were call hike trash !1 and we did some miles. This area was pleasant to hike as there were quite a lot of shadow. We saw many people running , apparently professional athletes come here for training for the altitude and solitude.

We landscape changed some quickly and we were able to the see the dessert just in the bottom. I keep walking with Laurent until sunrise trail head where there are a water tank for horses. We are planning the day always depending in the water points. At night arrived Loveline also and we made some dinner.

Today I lost 3 things in less than 3 hours: a peg, a water bottle and a map. I found another  peg at night in the camp, also the bottle at the bottle of my pack. It started to leak. Laurent gave a trail name that I think have sense : Lost & Found . Have sense and I have trail name. 

The night was super windy again and I couldn't sleep much. I woke up around 5 o'clock and I did some good sunrise pictures.

The way up to scissor cross was tedious and hot. When we arrived at rodrigez water point we found some people in a bad situation : burn, blister, bad knee dehydration. It was a hard day for all of us carrying with a lot of water. The last part was flat in the middle of the valley, very sandy. Finally we reach scissor cross. There was a water cache where we were able to top up our water reserves.

Now setting camp. Tomorrow we will wake up early to get altitude without the heat of the day . All the way up.