In the spring of 2017, I began planning an overnight backpacking trip for two other people and myself. We were all new to backpacking at the time. The furthest overnight trip any of us had ever taken was less than 4 miles.
Being fairly new to the area and new to the world of backpacking, I had limited knowledge of local trail and campground resources in the backcountry.
I spent too much time and energy using my search engine and maps to research.
I finally proposed to my companions a 7.2 mile round trip, hopefully with a stream located at the campsite.
A week before our planned trip, I drove with my dogs to Angeles National Forest for our day-long hiking and exploring mission. Arriving at the trailhead, I parked the car and placed the required permit in the window. I grabbed a small backpack and put leashes on the dogs. We began our 3.6 mile hike to the Sulfur Springs campground. Starting with a long descent, we walked under large, beautiful pine and fur trees. As we approached the campsite, the first thing I noticed was that the trail was beginning to widen. We then came to a small clearing with a camp sign and a bathroom nearby.
Just behind the sign was a short trail that led to the Sulfur Springs Campground.
I could see that they had taken a campsite, although there was no one around. We headed to the small stream so the dogs could enjoy a drink of the cool, clear mountain water. After that, I sat at a picnic table to have a snack.
Upon returning to the car, I noticed that I was missing some keys. We immediately turned around, scanning the terrain as we returned to camp. I was glad I still had my car keys when I didn’t see them at the campground. We walked back to the car keeping an eye out for the missing keys.
Back in Orange County I gave a follow-up report. The campground seemed to have it all. Running water, flat campsites, campfires, a few picnic tables, and a bathroom on the other side of the trail.
Now it’s June. My friends, the dogs and I got in my car and headed to the mountains. We were so excited that I forgot to fill up the gas tank before leaving town. Realizing the situation was too late to return to any gas station, we decided it would be best to continue to the trailhead, hoping to meet some other people at the campground who could take us into town for gas.
Upon reaching the trailhead we placed our permit in the window and finished loading our backpacks. The walk seemed to take forever in the afternoon sun. When we arrived at the camp, there was only one other place occupied. This appeared to be the same location and tent from the previous week. We picked a spot on the other side of camp with some grass for the dogs and then began our camp chores. Filter water, set up tents and collect firewood. Getting ready to light the fire, 2 backpackers approached our campsite and asked if they could set up next to us. Happy to have new people to hang out with, they quickly set up their tent.
While we were all sitting around the fire eating dinner, we told the backpacking couple that we were going out for the night and would return to the car tomorrow. With this information the hiker became excited and took out a jar of Nutella. She begins to tell us that she had been carrying it for over 300 miles and hadn’t even taken a bite. We were completely baffled and intrigued by this statement, 300 miles?
Where do you come from? How long have you been walking? Where are you going? How do you get food and where do you sleep every night?
They told us all about PCT and its sunburns and blisters. To me this sounded like the adventure of a lifetime!
The next morning, as I was heading to the bathroom, I noticed a hiker next to the sign pick up something small and place it back on the edge of the sign. Curious, I walked up to the sign and was surprised to see that my keys were missing.
After breakfast, we packed up camp and walked back to the car. Arriving at the trailhead, our car was still the only one in the parking area. Knowing that the road was closed a few miles in the other direction and we probably wouldn’t see much traffic. We had about 12 miles of gas and 30 miles of mountain roads to the next gas station. We started driving slowly in the only direction we could. Almost out of gas, we saw an observation point. No cell service, no gas. We decided that one person should stay with the dogs and two would hitchhike to the gas station.
On this trip I not only learned about hiking, but it was also the first time I hitchhiked.
Six months later, I was applying for my first PCT permit and planning my gear for my first hiking attempt.
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