Elevation: 8150 ft
Trail Miles: 364 Miles
I can always tell the days I struggle with by the number of pictures I take. The harder the day the fewer the pictures. Today was the hardest day physically so far. We hiked 20 miles uphill in 90 plus degree heat.
When I say uphill, I mean uphill. We gained nearly 5000 ft of elevation from the start of the day (almost a mile straight up). After doing a moderate simple climb early in the morning, through amazing rock formations, we dropped back down a couple hundred feet to cross a dirt road and start the climb, the long dry climb.
The climb started with no shade, but offered a variety of flowers. A cool breeze would hit our soaking wet bodies every fifteen minutes or so, and for that I was thankful. I said thankyou to every wind that hit me. Climbing up from the desert floor the chamise slowly dissappeared with the sage, and green shrubs and vines made there appearance. Except in the sunny areas, where the plantlife was minimal.
After taking our first break at 11:30 I climbed on my own. With the others in front of me I wondered if I would ever catch up. Around 1:15, I took my shoes off to change my socks and have a lunch to myself. Rested and ready to move on I put my pack on and hiked 20 minutes before realizing I was beat.
So I took my pack off again in an area with more shade. I then threw my sleeping pad on the ground of a steep hillside and napped for about an hour. I woke up to myself sliding slightly down the slope (not a comfort to wake to). Started I sat up and ate a second bigger lunch, looking at a heavy smog cloud that lingered perpetually in the distance.
Rested and feeling ready to go, I managed to catch up with Evan and Charlie (two guys we started the morning with). We took a short break in the shade. Then we set out to go the last 10 miles to town. I made it about one mile before throwing my sleeping pad out again. I told them I had enough water to make it to town and I would do it in the morning.
Laying there on the trail, I watched a woodpecker climb a tree. He rested halfway up, and then continued. So I told myself to rest abit, drink water and punch through. From that moment forward I did not think about the pain I was experiencing, the heat of the sun, or the distance to go. I just thought "One foot in front of the other." (Thanks to all who reminded me that).
I soon caught back up with one of the other hikers. Running low on water, exhausted, and knowing that there was still four miles to go we were delighted to see a snow patch and a campground.
Jon had arrived an hour earlier and was already pumping water out of the small trickle that was coming out of the snowpatch. With a full resupply of water we decided to camp here rather than go into town.
Exhausted but happy again I now go to bed.
May 24th Morning
Elevation: 6000
Trail Miles: 366 miles
After rising early to a beautiful sunrise, Jon and I set out to head down into Wrightwood. Following the trail we hit a few snowpatches before getting temporarily lost in the snow fields. About 20 minutes later we found the trail that descended down into Wrightwood.
Following the steep trail down 2000ft in 2 miles to the town. After road walking about 3/4 mile a man pulled his car over and offered us a ride the rest of the way into town. After dropping us off at the Post Office, Jon and I walked to the Evergreen Cafe to get a monster breakfast.
Shortly after ordering our food Debi and Jean Luc showed up. Then "Chowder" and "Neighbor J." They hopped trail back at Silverwood Lake because "Neighbor J" was experiencing bad shinsplints. Filling up on food, "Pepperman" and "Jumpback Julie" showed up. In a short bit "Nightingale" and Vincent showed up. All and all the diner was full of tired thru-hikers laughing over our experiences.
Now I need to see about the plans over the next couple days as Jon's and Debi's feet heal. I too could go for a rest as I feel like I hurt my shoulder abit climbing over a fallen tree.
Time to relax.
Happy Trails, Inner Peace, & Harmony
Just in case I forgot which way I was heading
Mormon Rocks
Exhausted we near the top of the climb
Sunrise