Running from a ghost – The Trek

It is difficult to explain how one recognizes the sound of boot footsteps versus that of animals. After sleeping in the forest for months, it becomes second nature. Like how one could learn the footsteps of those who live with them. So when I’m woken up in the dark by two hikers who say they heard boot footsteps, it’s not a debate about whether they heard boot footsteps, but a question about what caused them.

TJ, Bonk and I found ourselves cowboy camping near Coons Creek Cabin. A 100 year old shack located between two mountain peaks overlooking Palm Springs and San Jacinto. An amazing campsite if it weren’t for the 3 day notice required to use the cabin. There was no one there and we weren’t in the cabin, so we felt well dispersed camping nearby.

Thank God. Because someone or something was. The night started with a chill, a little faster and colder than usual. But hey, we were right next to this cliff. Then a light mist began to roll in. Then TJ found a camel spider crawling on him.

Then, just as the last rays of sun were fading from the sky and the stars were beginning to come out. Bonk sat down. «Hey, did you hear that?» TJ responded «yeah, it sounded like boots» while I was oblivious. TJ shined his flashlight into the cabin. But I think it’s important to get to how we found ourselves there in the first place.

Night hike near Palm Spring

Leaving the hiker shelter

I woke up to the 3 am alarm. I climbed out of the top bunk, quietly packed up the few remaining items, and left the house.

The heat during midday is incredibly hot in the desert surrounding Palm Springs, to cover miles it is necessary to walk at night and rest during the heat of the day. Also called taking a nap. Generally from noon to 4, or even before. It can be so hot that when the wind blows it heats you up.

So I headed to the mountains in search of fresher air, in the dark, through my little headlamp. A quiet path, without birds, without crickets. Only the wind, the windmills and the stars to keep me company.

By the time I reached the first crossing of the Whitewater River, it was already dawn and the air was already warm. No river crossing required getting into the water, but, by God, the heat did. I carried 3 liters for the 6 miles between water sources and used all 3 in the first 4 miles.

Once at the infamous Mission Creek, I took a nap there from 12 to 5. Take a nap in the shade, drink water, cool off in the river, do housework, talk to other hikers. Some continued on in the heat, others stayed.

The umbrella doesn’t help much. But it helps.

Mission above Mission Creek

The problem on everyone’s mind was that Mission Creek suffered a major disaster about 3 years ago. The 6 mile trail has virtually disappeared. But it always followed the creek upwards, so walking along the creek bed is easily navigable. Fun, even enjoyable, although few hikers felt that way. It is in a remote part of the trail, so it is very difficult to get equipment and people to repair the trail there.

But at 5 o’clock, I left to get halfway through the wash. I had a great time, rock hopping, climbing, route finding, finding the trail segments that were still standing, looking at the canyon walls that now provided shade during the last hours of the day. Best trail miles so far IMHO.

The last landmark I saw for miles.

I finally met Paul, who I took a nap with. Paul was completely out of his element coming from the UK and this being his second day of travelling. Picked up where he left off a year ago. I offered Paul to follow me and slow my pace so he could follow me, although he asked me to slow down a little more. Happy to help a fellow hiker.

It was great to have company in the failure, it made it so much more enjoyable. We camped the night off to the side along a segment of trail that still exists. However, it was early in the morning, as Mission Creek offered no shade. So it was important to get this over with before the canyon walls stopped providing shade.

We made it just as the shadow of the canyon disappeared, going at separate paces and Paul no longer needed my help.

A total failure

The Mission Creek exit also included some confusing landslides. I ended up going up a few tenths of a mile thinking it was a trail. But nothing that couldn’t be solved by turning around and checking the map.

After a grueling hike along the creek, I found a group of hikers huddled in the shade of the pine trees above. I joined them and took a nap. for the last water before a 17 mile dry stretch. Finally TJ, Backflip and Bonk joined me.

a cold afternoon

We explored Mission Creek Springs Cave. More of a niche with tree roots as a roof, but a fun time with friends. Dinner was had before leaving to help conserve water.

The heavy 5 liters of water were offset by the company of group walking. TJ, Bonk and I planned to do 8 before camping. But the first sign in days and some chatting with hikers along the way slowed us down.

We arrived at Coons Creek Cabin just before sunset. TJ was using the toilet, Bonk’s knee was hurting, and I didn’t mind going an extra 2 miles that day. So we found a dispersed camp near the cabin and set up camp as the sun peeked over the horizon. We laugh at how the toilet has a metal rebar to stir up the poop.

Back to the flash

TJ’s light illuminated the cabin. However, there was nothing and no one. Where the footsteps could be heard, only the air. We did not investigate the cabin or move from our places. After a few calls and a discussion, we hurriedly packed up and left as a group.

If it were a person, what scoundrel does not make himself known and walks around at night without light. If it wasn’t a person, well, even more reasons to leave. Now, I’m not a fan of superstition, but walking another 2 miles instead of standing alone next to the cabin that may have a ghost, I’ll walk every time.

View near Coon Creek Cabin

After packing up, we did a quick scan to make sure we weren’t leaving anything behind. Then we set off as a group, with me as the caboose watching behind every curve. I half expected to see a wendigo every time I turned around.

Adrenaline night walk

As soon as we returned to the forest, the chill in the air disappeared and the fog lifted. We left a comment on FarOut warning fellow hikers about the place.

The distance hike was honestly great. We talked about avoiding common horror movie tropes. How the metal toilet bar was definitely a Chekhov weapon. We passed the 2 miles quickly and camped almost on the trail as it was the only place we could find before a no camping zone.

However, the stars were beautiful that night. I saw 3 shooting stars and wished we had survived the night. Well, my wish came true.

The next day, we woke up and some hikers were confused about how we ended up lying there. We hypothesized about the truth of last night’s ghost footsteps and shared tales of ghosts from the past. TJ and Bonk were trying to get into town that night, and I was planning to stop right before to see another Nero that’s practically a zero.

A proper black

We passed some new hikers. I met Bear again, who gave us a problem the last time we met. I enjoyed a day without being away from someone or something. I finished the day preparing for the next day’s Nero.

The Nero at Big Bear Lake, not to be confused with Big Bear City next door. Hell yeah, and a trail angel took me and dropped off another hiker. The city goes by quickly. We already did resupply, shower and laundry. A veggie sandwich for lunch and I ordered new shoes for the next few months. But now I’m on a mission to try a roller coaster, so let me out.

My first roller coaster.