Greetings from mile 265 of the Pacific Crest Trail!
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 7:57 am
Hi Gang! 
I am posting from Big Bear Lake at mile 265 or 1/10th of the way to Canada on the PCT.
The trail is incredible! I never thought I would dig the desert as much as I do. It feels incredibly powerful to climb up,over, and down mountain ranges like the San Jacintos. The desert divide and all these cool canyon approaches like Mission Creek are awesome.
But the real story here are the amazing people. The trail Angels that hike out into the desert to place water at a cache for us hikers. The trail magic (sodas, candybars) left trail side in coolers is always an unexpected delight. The cool people that pick us up at the road side to get us into and out of town stops. I am totally blown away by the generosity of these folks. I am truly touched. I know I am rambling on but they deserve it.. they are all Great people and my hike and the hikes of fellow thru's are very much safer and more enjoyable due to their selfless efforts. I fully intend to return after my hike next year and do some trail angeling as well cause I know how much it can mean.
The trail so far has had quite a bit more water than I anticipated. We were all stunned a bit at the beauty of some of these desert canyons and even more stunned to find the creeklets flowing! The most memorable night was spent with my little "tribe" of fellow thru's beside burbling Mission Creek surrounded by cactus. So warm I did not need to zip up the bag even half way. There is an inherent "cleanliness" to these little sun baked canyons.
At the Hwy 10 where the PCT crosses under the overpass we happened upon trail magic in a cooler. Then looked up to find the legendary Billy Goat standing there. Then a Trail angel by the name of "She who hikes with car" went out of her way to bring us pizza which we ate while talking trail with Billy Goat. Unbelieveable but true!
This trail is magical for it's scenery,spirit, and the people it touches and those touched by it.
I say this a lot and my tribe always rolls their eyes at me but; "We are the Luckiest People on Earth!"
I will post more later. I have limited time here at the hostel on the computer. I have been keeping a written trail journal with descriptions of the incredible things I have seen along the way so far.
Happy Trails Y'all.. until we meet again..
Cheers- Hetchy- Iceaxe(Trail Name)
I am posting from Big Bear Lake at mile 265 or 1/10th of the way to Canada on the PCT.
The trail is incredible! I never thought I would dig the desert as much as I do. It feels incredibly powerful to climb up,over, and down mountain ranges like the San Jacintos. The desert divide and all these cool canyon approaches like Mission Creek are awesome.
But the real story here are the amazing people. The trail Angels that hike out into the desert to place water at a cache for us hikers. The trail magic (sodas, candybars) left trail side in coolers is always an unexpected delight. The cool people that pick us up at the road side to get us into and out of town stops. I am totally blown away by the generosity of these folks. I am truly touched. I know I am rambling on but they deserve it.. they are all Great people and my hike and the hikes of fellow thru's are very much safer and more enjoyable due to their selfless efforts. I fully intend to return after my hike next year and do some trail angeling as well cause I know how much it can mean.
The trail so far has had quite a bit more water than I anticipated. We were all stunned a bit at the beauty of some of these desert canyons and even more stunned to find the creeklets flowing! The most memorable night was spent with my little "tribe" of fellow thru's beside burbling Mission Creek surrounded by cactus. So warm I did not need to zip up the bag even half way. There is an inherent "cleanliness" to these little sun baked canyons.
At the Hwy 10 where the PCT crosses under the overpass we happened upon trail magic in a cooler. Then looked up to find the legendary Billy Goat standing there. Then a Trail angel by the name of "She who hikes with car" went out of her way to bring us pizza which we ate while talking trail with Billy Goat. Unbelieveable but true!
This trail is magical for it's scenery,spirit, and the people it touches and those touched by it.
I say this a lot and my tribe always rolls their eyes at me but; "We are the Luckiest People on Earth!"
I will post more later. I have limited time here at the hostel on the computer. I have been keeping a written trail journal with descriptions of the incredible things I have seen along the way so far.
Happy Trails Y'all.. until we meet again..
Cheers- Hetchy- Iceaxe(Trail Name)