Mount Laguna to Julian – The hike

Day 4 – Hitchhiking

After sleeping through my alarm, I wake up to another clear, starry morning. My first night of solo cowboy camping on the PCT. I make quick work of packing. Eating a Payday bar as I walk into the darkness.

Before long the sun seemed to rise and I was at the Mt. Laguna Recreation Area. To my left I see two benches on a grassy slope. Climbing onto the grass, I leave my backpack on a bench. I grab my first aid kit and cover a hot spot on my foot. Looking around, I noticed a bathroom on the other side of the empty campsite. It’s time to take on a side quest!

As I approach the building, I notice a pile of leaves in front of the door. With little hope, I open the closed door. Returning to the trail, I stop next to a water spigot. Turning the handle I hear the pipes gurgling, then nothing, it also turns off. A quick inventory of my backpack, I have less than a liter and a half of water and only a few snacks. Still hours before the post office opened, I made the decision to walk through Mount Laguna.

The apple blossoms are humming and the bees are busy working. The exposed trail is hot in the sun. Passing the Penny Pines Trail, I pull out my map. 4 miles to the next water, in this heat I am dangerously low. Stubbornly I keep walking. From time to time I crouch behind the bushes to take a brief break from the sun and savor sips of the remaining water.

Pioneer Mill was a sight to behold. I drop my backpack on a shady picnic table and immediately head to fill up my water. Returning to the picnic table, I take a break to cool off in the shade, eat the last of my snacks, and filter the water.

Having walked 13.8 miles at 1 pm. The Mt. Laguna post office would already be open. I grab my backpack and walk through the parking lot to The Sunrise Hwy. Being a weekday I haven’t seen much traffic on the road. Taking out my ground cloth that says «CITY» I stand in the warm afternoon sun. After 40 minutes, I see a couple of motorcycles and half asses making my sign, surprised when they turned around. With my backpack on, I climb onto the back of one of the motorcycles. Happy to not be walking, the warm wind on my face and hair felt amazing. Traveling down the highway taking in the views of the desert, I walked that day.

As I approach the city, I shout and wave as we pass Mel and the Break Blazers (Brooke, Chaos, and Ely). I stopped at the general store first and bought a root beer and a pint of ice cream. Half my soda is gone before I reach the post office next door. Having heard rumors of a hail of coins at the Laguna campground, 3 miles from the highway, I exchange a dollar for a quarter and begin walking in that direction.

I pack up, with the box under my arm and with my thumb facing the passing cars. In just a few minutes a motor home picks me up. In the driver’s seat is AWOL (Washington), a PCT hiker with the same start date as me. Along with a support team consisting of my wife and 2 labradors.

No solid plans for the night. I hang out with The Break Blazers and eat my ice cream while they set up their tents. As I cross the campground and return from the bathhouse, my right shin is not happy with these extra miles. Deciding that my best option for an early start will be to camp along Pioneer Mail. I say goodbye to my friends, walking once again towards the road, to hitchhike.

Quickly getting a problem on a Wrangler. A few minutes later we pull into the Pioneer Mail parking lot. Thanking them, I make sure to grab my box as I get out of the Jeep. I found a “tent spot” next to the trail and left my blanket on the ground. I throw away my entire resupply box. Sorting it into my empty food bag.

Mel stops and we chat before it gets dark. I’m thinking about walking a few more miles. After considering my shin pain, we decided I should stay where I am for the night. My leg and I are grateful.

Day 5 – Anza-Borrego

Walking in the dark has its benefits. Colder temperatures allow me to carry less water. Walking with a headlamp helps me keep the pace slow and is a fun opportunity to practice night and sunrise photography. Wake up excited to walk the next section at sunrise. The view of the Anza-Borrego Desert Valley is my favorite desert view on the PCT. With slight pain in my right shin, I begin my slow walk at 5 am.

Turning right down a gravel road, I see other hikers sitting along a shady embankment. At least 4 feet above the road, jutting horizontally from the embankment, is a large water valve. After we’ve walked 10 miles, it’s only 10:30. I see no reason to rush to walk the exposed trail in the afternoon heat. Spreading my blanket and sleeping mat in the shade next to Mel. I take off my shoes. My plans are to relax, have lunch and hydrate.

Hearing a vehicle honk, I look up and see a caravan speeding down the gravel road. Trail Angel Sprinter along with the hikers of the section Lucas (Canada) and Daniela (Brazil/Canada). Handing me an ice cream bar and flavored water. What a delight! Before leaving they offer to take away any trash we have. (This simple gesture is greatly appreciated by backpackers). Shortly after 4 p.m., I am the last one out of the water tank. Wetting my skin, I place the large metal cap on the valve and walk into the cool down day.

About 6 miles later, just before sunset, I reached the last water tank on the trail south of Scissors Crossing. Lana, Mel, Marble and I sat and chatted while we prepared and enjoyed our dinner. As the stars come out, we use Mel’s constellation app to talk about the stars.

Another windy night in the desert. I found a flat spot with a bit of protection from the wind. Laying out my ground cloth, I weight the corners with stones and equipment.

Today was my longest day, 15.8 miles.

Day 6 – Scissors Crossing

Walking downhill to Scissors Crossing, the trail is overrun with cacti and sharp bushes. From time to time the trail has given way and only the sand slide remains. My right shin still hurts, so I took it easy.

Arriving at Scissors Crossing, Mel and Marble are sitting in old camping chairs left under the bridge. I fill one of my bottles from a trail angel water reservoir. Another trail angel, out for a walk one day, offers me a ripe avocado. Taking out my knife I cut the fruit in half. Offering half to others, without any interest, like half directly from the skin and then the other.
Parting ways with Marble, Mel and I walked down the road to hitchhike until we reached Julian. Within 10 minutes we had a problem. No problem for us girls.

Parting ways with Mel, I walk to a must-see PCT, Mom’s Pie House. They tell me to take my backpack inside and put it aside. I ordered the last slice of apple and berry crumble with vanilla ice cream and a cup of coffee.

Sitting on the bench inside the library, a local starts talking to me. He gives me advice on the best place to hitchhike out of the city. Then he tells me he’s going to the library to read the paper and then we’ll head to the Stagecoach RV Park. Thanking him for the information, I told him that I am interested in the hitch.

At the Stagecoach office/store, my driver friend orders two scoops of ice cream and tells me to have something. Selecting Mr. Pibb from the cooler, I thanked him. Before he leaves, he asks me when I would like to get back on the trail and offers to pick me up again. Upon checking into the campground, I was the only tent camper.
Starting my camp chores, with enough time to air dry my clothes in the hot desert afternoon.

Enjoying the solitude, I am about to have dinner when I see a van driving through the camping area. Sprinter, Lucas and Daniela. I say a quick hello and then head back to my camp for the night. Finishing my dinner, I duck into my tent for the first time on the trail.