Shiny gets a tattoo...sort of

We hiked about 9 miles this morning down off an extremely windy ridge.  We had spent the whole day before that in a steady, joint pounding down hill slog off the same mountainside, so it was a relief to finally get to the home of the trail angels Ziggy and The Bear. Here we saw many people we had been passing back and forth on the trail, so it was fun to have a chance to relax and actually talk with them. 

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A girl named Stampede was doing body art with a sharpe ink pen...just amazing work. I got brave and asked her to draw on me too.  I'm so blown away!!! I may have to make this permanent some day :-)​

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Here are a few snaps of the scene at Ziggy and The Bear's hiker resort- it may look rustic to you, but to us it was a slice of heaven!! 

tech...everybody has something that needs charging

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selfie-bomb

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Lord Byron, chill'n

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everybody else chill'n in the shade

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Levels, throwing back a lunch creation of his own that he calls a pizzone!

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Friday May 9, Idyllwild to mile 188 via Devils Slide trail

Beautiful but arduous hike through rolling pine forest, boulder strewn slopes and a couple of cold mountain streams.

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We got a ride to the trail head from the Idyllwild Inn (where we Zeroed for two nights).  Had to hike 2.5 miles from Humber park to the PCT. 

 Hiking and a cappuccino...I love this place!

 

Hiking and a cappuccino...I love this place!

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Tahquitz Peak from Devils Slide Trail.  The current rating system for climbing routs was supposedly developed on this rock.

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A large section of the PCT was closed due to hazards from a recent fire...hence the hitch hike into Idyllwild. We picked up the trail again here 

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Mile 188' to mile 210

12 miles today, slow hiking...blisters, sore back and a shin splint.

 

in the next 4 days we will hike down through that valley, cross I-10 then back up the other side to Big Bear.

in the next 4 days we will hike down through that valley, cross I-10 then back up the other side to Big Bear.

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We passed the 200 mile mark today!

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Ok...remember my post from last week, "Camp site gone bad"? 

Well....this was part "Deaux"...complete with Nat Weather Service severe wind warnings and everything.  Yep, sustained winds up to 45mph, gusting to 65mph...not much sleep. 

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Winds stopped about 4am, and we woke to a beautiful, calm morning. 

 

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beautiful, high desert, landscaped with granit boulders, blooming cactus and yucca, and dotted with brittle bush and blooming datura.

Then down into the valley, across I-10 and on to the trail angels house of Ziggy& the Bear (see Robins post for today)

Robin & Levels on the way to Ziggy & the Bear

Robin & Levels on the way to Ziggy & the Bear

May 5-8

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the weather has been absolutely manic...vacillating wildly between heat, wind, cold wind, cloudy and cold, windy and cold, windy and hot...did I mention it's been windy.

 

 

 

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Came across a stash left by a trail angel...food, soda, and post cards that they would mail for us...

 

 

 

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Just outside of Idyllwild ther is the Paradise Cafe.  After 3 days in the wild and wind we sat and we ate.  Robin got French toast and helped me eat 3 eggs, steak, hash browns and bacon...then we ordered fries and a bear...a bit later, tow teas and bread pudding. 

 

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Here is Levels with his creation...

 

 

 

 

 

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Finally...into Idyllwild for a day to eat, heal, do laundry and sort resupply food.

Had to buy new stove...found out ours was banned this year.​

 

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Level's mom came to visit and treated us to breakfast...sooo cool.  Thank you Judy!

 

 

 

 

Next stop...Big Bear

Warner Springs to Idyllwild

​Sunday May4

Left Warner Springs about 10 am...everyone hurting a bit.  Robin has blisters on most of her toes and a shin splint on her left leg.  My hip and lower back are hurting and Levels has an epic heel blister.  Sore feet are pretty par for our experience at the moment.  Most days we walk till we find a camp spot or need to stop because our feet hurt, then eat and fall into bed.

"it feels like Mike Tyson has been punching the bottom of my feet all day" said Levels tonight. 

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I got chased by a rattle snake today...the little bastard chased me backward about  10 feet down the trail before he headed off into the bush.  He was black with white markings if any of you want to find out what kind he was. 

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Also saw this guy...don't know what he is either.​..right in the middle of the trail.

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Out of the wind tunnel...into the frying pan

 

Friday, May 2

hitched out of Julian, headed for Warner Springs. 

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Todays hike was brutal.  It might well have been in the hundreds.  We walked about 17 miles, most of it through a desert area that had burned years ago...very bleak, very exposed, no cover.  Our shade umbrellas really paid off. I think we fared better than many.  We were handing out electrolyte tablets like candy.

Got a ride out of Julian around 8.  Started hiking with "Levels" at around 9...did 14 miles to a water cache (stocked by "trail angels"...stopped to hydrate and recoupe...had dinner and hiked another 3.5 miles to our camp site.

 

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 "...in the land of mordor where the shadows lie...

 

​Finally, a cool evening, no wind, beautiful view.

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Got up at 4 a.m.  Did 15 miles by noon so we could get to Warner Springs post office before it closed.

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 The desert shows off...

 

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Nero/Zero in Julian

Zero day:  A day with no hiking, usually spent in a town eating and resting

Nero day:  A near zero day...hike a little, then go into town. 

Yesterday we Hitch hiked into Julian for a good meal and to fill up on water, and ended up staying the night.  High winds and warnings from locals led to or choice to turn our visit into a Nero.  More weather reports and a very windy walk back from the local library in the morning...aaand Thursday turned into a Zero day.

So, we spent the day updating the blog ( check out the portrait gallery), eating, meeting other hikers and sorting out our plans for tomorrow. 

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4Day recap - Kick off party to Julian

 


 

 

this is what the scene looked like Friday afternoon when we dragged in after 20 miles of hiking from the border .  4 hours later it beg to rain...5 hours later we were being Lashed by heavy rain and 30-40mph wind gusts.  When I went into the men's bathroom at 2 am, I walked in to at least 20 guys, soaked to the bone... Sleeping bags and clothes draped stall doors and benches.  Our tent showed us its metal .  With the exception of one loose tent stake, we weathered  the torrent with warm dry toes.  Kudos to Big Sky Tents.  Thanks Bob Molen.

 

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Kick off to Mt Laguna - 1.5 days

Met my Dad again.  Stayed the night in his cabin, then headed off to Warner Springs Monday a.m. 

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Mt Laguna to Warner Springs

Day 1

Tent site gone bad.  Beautiful views, cozy spot...wind tunnel.  30 -40 mph gusts were pulling stakes out of the ground...had to get up at midnight to keep the tent from being torn apart.  Robin  saved the night with the idea to just t…

Tent site gone bad.  Beautiful views, cozy spot...wind tunnel.  30 -40 mph gusts were pulling stakes out of the ground...had to get up at midnight to keep the tent from being torn apart.  Robin  saved the night with the idea to just take the rain fly off.  Perfect. We slept through the rest of the night...and emerged wind blow and covered on dust.

 

Tough morning.  Sore muscles, sore feet, heavy packs (4 liters of water each= 8 extra lbs each) wind ...wind...more wind

Tough morning.  Sore muscles, sore feet, heavy packs (4 liters of water each= 8 extra lbs each) wind ...wind...more wind

kicking back at rare shade and water supply

kicking back at rare shade and water supply

Perfect tent tite...finally.  Quiet, sheltered.  No wind, no rain and a sky full of stars

Perfect tent tite...finally.  Quiet, sheltered.  No wind, no rain and a sky full of stars

Hitched into Julian this morning...hot breakfast & hot chocolate.  Also picked up sandwich for dinner.Locals say more high winds today and tomorrow...oh joy.  Oh yeah, we had pie too

Hitched into Julian this morning...hot breakfast & hot chocolate.  Also picked up sandwich for dinner.

Locals say more high winds today and tomorrow...oh joy.  Oh yeah, we had pie too

 

breakfast at Buffalo Bills

breakfast at Buffalo Bills

 

Day 1- Not what we expected...

Beautiful... Delightful...Cool

None of these words did I expect to use in this post describing our first day of hiking the PCT.  Yet it was all of those. 

for the par few months of preparation, I have been imagining a Long, dry hike through perched, scrubby desert.  I expected to use words like barren, painful and hot. 

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What we experienced was a delightful trail that rolled and meandered through bouldery hills covered with Manzenita and flowers.  The weather was sunny with soft cool breezes. 

Granted, it was the first time either of us had ever hiked 20 miles straight, but we managed to finish the day in just under 10 hours. 

Here are some photos... 

 

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DAY 0

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Drove out today...Robin, Dad & I.  First stop was the PCT marker on the Mexican border, then it was on to Lake Morena to check in at the Kickoff gathering, then on to Mt. Laguna where we had a cabin waiting and a last burger and salad.

We hit the trail tomorrow!!  Surprisingly not nervous... Either of us.  We both feel confident and determined. 

We'll be up at 4am... And on the trail by 6. 

 

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