PCT day 26, more unexpected twists and turns

PCT miles, 0. Off PCT miles, approximately 14-16. Elevation start approximately 2900, end approximately 6,000. Mostly cloudy, high 70, low 58 winds 10-15.

This day started off PCT from a random tent site a ways up a dry wash. I had no place to stay this night because I decided that I’m going around this mountain, not over it, therefore, the PCT does not apply for the next few days, and I will lose the ability to tell exact mileage and elevation, so that’s why I’m saying ‘approximately’ for my miles. When I say “going around”, I’m still actually going up most of the mountain, just not on the PCT. The PCT often runs on some of the most difficult terrain around. The trails or roads I’m taking are less stressful on my knee. I’m still going to climb to about 7,800 feet, up from 2,900 feet, but I won’t be summiting Baden Powell’s 9,200 snowy peak. The snowline is somewhere around 6,500 feet. I had the pleasure of running into ‘Homemade’ from New Zealand, and she told me it’s even worse than Apache and Fuller’s ridge was on San Jacinto. She took a side spur down into Wrightwood from the PCT.

No PCT means no plotted campsites. Previously, I would have been really stressed out to have no place to spend a night, but the PCT is changing that in me. I just started walking up a random wash, looking for a place to set my tent. I found a good spot near an old railroad bridge.

I awoke the next morning planning on walking along HWY 2 into Wrightwood. This mornings sunrise was pretty phenomenal.

I started following the wash because it paralleled the highway for awhile. There were some really interesting rock formations along this wash.

The rocks appear to have been, or are being thrust out of the ground sideways. This is an area of multiple fault lines. I can’t even comprehend how much energy/force is necessary to thrust rocks out of the ground. It’s beyond my imagination.

I was walking along this wash when I saw one of the largest lizards I’ve seen so far. He was just under a foot long, and up on a rock I walked past. He raised his right arm up when I passed him. I think he may have been challenging me to an arm wrestling match.

The wash started to curve away from the road, so I decided to exit the wash and take the highway on up to Wrightwood. The road was nonstop steep uphill. Walking road is actually harder on my feet than trail.

The next 10-12 miles along the highway were pretty anti-climatic. I noticed the temperature dropping as I climbed through the 3,000s, 4,000s, and 5,000s and the wind went from pleasantly cool to downright chilly. The clouds continued to thicken as the morning rolled on. They didn’t appear to be threatening though. I made it to within a mile of Wrightwood when a blue Honda car passed me and pulled over. Out popped Stu (Micro), and his wife Mandy (Tea-tree). They’re section hiking the PCT. I met them twice on trail previously, stopping to talk to them for awhile. They gave me a ride to where I needed to go within Wrightwood.

I ended up at Mountain Hardware Store, a Mecca for PCT hikers. They accept mail food drops for no charge. It was there that I ran into Logan from Minnesota, Sergio (The Pied Piper) from Spain, “Crane” from Minnesota, and “Home made” from New Zealand. I haven’t seen Sergio since the pre PCT gathering, and never thought I’d see “Homemade” again. She absolutely crushes the miles. I told her that her trail name should have been The Terminator because she hikes like she’s more machine than human! She got the trail name “Homemade” because she made ALL of her gear at home, using a sewing machine. She made her backpack and tent all by hand.

I was at Mountain Hardware telling long haired Sergio from Spain (The Pied Piper) that I was looking for a place for tonight when the man behind the counter told me to “call Jeff”. He has been willing to open his house to hikers.

The reason why I had no planned place to stay is because, once again, I misplanned the 2 days my wife was going to drive down to see me. I was off by one day. When on trail, I couldn’t tell you if it’s Tuesday or Saturday. I was apprehensive when I “called Jeff” as I felt really weird calling someone asking if I can crash at his house. Jeff answered and laughed at my predicament and said he’d be over in an hour to pick me up.

A small group of elderly gentleman walked up to us and began to talk about hiking. I mentioned my knee ailment. Then, the elderly gentleman asked me if I’d be ok with them forming a prayer circle and praying for my knee. They did that and blessed my knee and asked God to help my knee. Talk about great, caring, compassionate people!!!

Other hikers came into and out of Mountain Hardware while I was waiting for Jeff. One of which was Jason. We chatted for a bit when a car pulled up and stopped in front of us. It was a gal, trail name “Solo”. She hikes alone, hence Solo. She asked if we needed a ride. We didn’t, then she asked if we wanted to go drink some beer as she had plenty. I didn’t want to be drunk with Jeff showing up in a bit and Jason didn’t want any either. She then asked if we wanted any pop/trail food. I accepted 2 honey buns and a cola.

I ate a honey bun and drank a cola with Solo and Jason. She drove off after that. Jeff showed up right after that. He drove me, Connie, a nurse from Seattle, formerly South Korean, and her friend Hyfee (sp?) also South Korean to his house to spend the night. Hyfee was the first woman to ascend different mountains in the Himalayas. I can’t remember which mountains. She’s also a best selling author in South Korea multiple times over. Her son was killed in a car accident. Very sad story. She spoke no English, so I never talked to her. Connie and her husband actually live in Issiquah, outside of Seattle, which is amazing, because my aunt, uncle, and cousins used to live in Issiquah. Small world!!

Jeff and his wife Cindy often host hikers. They both had plans on this day, so they left us with his house, and gave me the keys to his Jeep if we decided to run into town!!!

Cindy is a real estate agent, and talked with me, in depth, about how to make a successful go at real estate when I return to Kansas.

Jeff also gave me/us the beer in his refrigerator. It was left by previous hikers and he didn’t like that kind. So, free room AND beer. Too good to be true. I went to bed, excited to be taking 2 days off trail. I actually found a knee brace in a hiker box. A hiker box is where hikers put stuff they done want or need and other hikers can take what they want, for free. So far, that brace has worked wonders for my knee!! Cross your fingers!

The next 2 days will be off trail, in Wrightwood, resting my knee. This has been the nicest hiking town so far! Multiple people have stopped and asked me if I needed a ride. I shall post again in a few days.