Elevation: 2600 ft
Trail Miles: 4
Temperature: Outdoorsy...light droplets of rain here and there.
Pancakes for breakfast. Packed the bags at the hostel while talking to the guys in my shared room. They seemed to have had some fun. One had to leave his friends because he spent too much money gambling, another looked at me all groggy with a whole bunch of tourist stuff and told me never to go to Tijuana. I shared what I was doing with one and he was impressed. I am too.
After leaving the hostel, the three of us took the bus to an outdoor store, where we bought the last of our gear, did some bus hopping and found ourselves at the trail at 5 pm this evening.
Before getting on the bus I asked if we would be apt to run into anyother thru-hikers early on. Sure enough, we bumped into Dave and Jessica. The two of them had a big debate in front of the bus, on whether to go then or not. They wanted curry one more time, and sushi. Finally they decided to board.
Once on the bus they noticed us and sat down by us. We chatted a bit with them, but i mostly just slept. Appaantly they did the Appalachian Trail (AT) a couple years ago, and now they are working toward a PCT thru-hike like us.
So after arriving in Campo, we filled water bottles, made calls to loved ones and hit the trail. It took a bit of time for my body to understand the trekking poles, but i will adjust and probably be glad i got them.
The 5 of us hiked the one and a half miles south to the canadian border, where we took pictures and signed the trail register.
I signed "A Dream Acquired, Now a Dream to Achieve" with my name and email in case future hikers want to email me about trail condition questions or other random stuff.
After 15 minutes at the border, I walked to the fence, stuck my finger through the bottom and touched Mexico for the first time. Now i will be walking away from it for the next five months.
Dave and Jessica started north a little before us three. We started up after them and eventually got up with them a couple of miles down trail, where we set up our camp for the first of 150 or so nights.
Bagels and Peanut Butter for Dinner. Now bed time.
Tomorrow will be a much longer day.
April 29th
This camping thing will take a bit of time to adjust to. While i thoroughly am enjoying myself, i can tell i still have a bit of city in me.
For example, I hate the confinement of sleeping bags. I didn't sleep to well last night. Well i slept great until 12:30, but then it was off and on every hour or so.
Also, getting up to go to the bathroom can be a bit more of a challenge. Sliding out of a sleeping bag is different than rolling off a bed, and stepping bare toes on dew frosted grass is different than carpet or hardwood heated floors.
But, I'm lovin it (ba da da da dahhhh)
Anyway it rained last night. A light drizzle early on and heavier rain in the middle of the night.
I woke up had bagels, peanutbutter, and granola oatmeal ricecrispies for breakfast. Now the real hiking starts.
April 29th Evening
Lake Morena
Not too bad for the first day. We did about 18 miles. It started with a gradual uphill, followed by a big drop downhill to Hauser Creek and then back up to the same elevation, where we wandered along until we found our way down to Lake Morena.
While the temperature was hot, we still found ample places to replenish our water, which inevitably made us curse carrying so much water. I carried nearly twice as much as i used and never had to refill it.
The weather in california has been odd this year, making the desert conditions less arid. While hiking the trail through dense chapparel it was fun to watch how the evening rain had treated the trail. The different colored dirts and sand left winding streaks down many areas of the trail. The remainder of the trail was sprinkled with white granite, and fleks of "fools gold" which sparkeled in the intermittant sun.
Debi's analogy of the trail was one of a belief that the desert is like a person, where from a distance you can make out vague details, but once you get upclose you notice all the finer details that make the desert/person much more beautiful... couldn't agree more. The trail, the flowers of vibrant yellow, red, purple, and orange, the rock outcroppings all were and will be incredible.
Once here at Lake Morena, we set up camp. Dave and Jessica rolled in a few minutes later, and just behind them "Rabbit" and "Phantom" strolled in. We all shared a camping spot, and had dinner together.
Jessica, Jon, Debi, and I wandered to a nearby store where we bought a bit more food, and a beer for Jon and me. Mmmm beer. It was a good treat for an 18 mile day...an 18 mile first day.
In order to time our arrival at the post office right, we only need to hike 10 miles tomorrow and the 10 miles the next day. It will be a good break from the hard work done today...hard work that will soon be standard daily mileage.
Now its bedtime.
April 30th Morning
I slept better last night, but I guess I am a snorer. Quite, but still a snorer. No body to jab me in the ribs and tell me to roll over.
First rule today: Wear sunscreen! Though it was moderately cloudy yesterday, the tops of my arms and the back of my legs are a nice bright red. Today, clouds look much less probable.
Well i'm off to hike 10 miles today and 12 tomorrow...and shortly after that longer days will become standard.
You'll hear from me in mt. laguna.
Happy Trails, Inner Peace, & Harmony
Step One of Over One Million Steps
Uphill Already
I Can See Canada From Here, Oh wait, nevermind.
A Ribbon Through Space, A Ribbon Through Time
Two Days in, and the Sun Has Already Attacked Me