Hiking to Hiker Town mm 374-517.6

Day 28

As much as I would have loved to stay in Wrightwood and relax and hang out it was time to head back to trail. Met a trail angel at 730 at the grocery store who gave me a ride to the first gate at Inspiration Point on Hwy 2. The highway is closed because of the Bridge fire and there is a bit more f confusion and debate on whether hikers should road walk this section. And like all debates it’s all who you ask. Now unlike the forest road I walked coming in this one is very different as it’s an actual paved road which is just tough on joints and impossible to use trekking poles on but luckily it’s only a mile climb and 4 miles of decent into Vincent Gap where I will restart the trail. And the trail did not disappoint. For some reason either after town, water, or camp it’s a climb out and over and today is no exception. Today I’d climb up toward Badin Powell who is the founder of Boy Scouts and instrumental in the Pacific Crest Trail. For 4 miles it was switch back after switch back up the mountain. The oak and pine trees became fewer and fewer as I climbed. Near the top small patches of snow clung to the trail. My legs and body were not feeling the climb but just kept pushing up the mountain. Camped at a large campground with pit toilets and tables a few miles from the Islip Saddle and 3-day hikers were camping amongst us. Friendly group with a ton of questions about our trip and our plans. 

Day 29

Today I’d drop down to Islip Saddle then climb up and around the mountain to drop back down a mile or two down Highway 2 from where I started. Then cross the road and repeat. I know it all counts as miles but its kinda mental game. Then about halfway to lunch, we hit the second closure in this section. For the last 2 decades, there has been a reroute here due to mating frogs. And this is where it gets interesting. The PCTA doesn’t want our road-walking Highway 2 in the closed section but here it’s all good. Kinda a mixed message if you want my take on it. This road walk like the last one is just a tedious process which I hate. Took lunch at a nice campground and looked at the map and felt getting to mile 20 was very doable. After lunch took another hour to get back on the trail. Then climb after climb. The majority of it is exposed in the heat. Came to the final water source at a Boy Scout camp and was feeling beat so went another mile or so and camped within earshot of the road.  Hit the 400-mile mark right before camp so feeling good about that. 

Day 30

One month on the trial that’s an accomplishment unto itself. Started the day strong. The trail was nice and smooth for the first 6 or so miles. Just hit cruise control and went for it. Then hit a bit of a climb about 4 miles up. Had lunch at the summit and all was well. Water was 6 miles still but was mostly downhill but the temp had climbed to near triple digits and fully exposed hiking. About halfway to the water found a smidge of shade on the trail to hide in for a few moments. Just enough space to drop-pack and sit. Couldn’t stretch out and relax. It was just miserable. Got to the water by the fire station and the plan was to push out to camp and finish the day at 20 miles for the day but a large group of hikers also at the water was shooting for those sites so decided to camp around the 19-mile mark which was fine by me. That meant just 3 more miles to camp. The toughest climb of the day. It was like walking on the beach in deep soft sand. Uphill and exposed for the majority of it. Then turned into a grove of small oak trees. The camp was mostly sloped but it was shaded and that’s all I cared about. 

Day 31

Today was to warm up a bit so started my day at 6am to try and beat the heat. Water was just 2 miles from camp so decided to fill up and have a snack there as well. Took about a 15-minute break and wanted to go longer but I was getting cold sitting in the shade by the water. Had 10 miles to go to the next water and lunch. The terrain was pretty easygoing despite a 4-mile climb. The body is adjusting well and climbs are becoming easier at times. Filled up 5 liters of water as 8 more miles to camp and dry camping tonight so need enough to get to camp, use at camp, and then get to the next source. Halfway to camp stopped at the ranger station for the typical rest break of dropping pack and getting food and water in. The final push to camp was just a beatdown. All exposed and hot. The trail would take you up to drop you down to just do it again and again. Finally arrived at camp and it was exposed except for a couple of trees. Guess getting up early doesn’t work all the time as it’s 4 o’clock and so hot I cannot set up the tent as it would just be a greenhouse. So I lay in the shade of a tree shoes off drinking water. 

Day 32

Just a beast of a day. The first couple of miles from camp up and over to Acton was easygoing. Then started a big climb out of Acton into Aqua Dulce this was a tough climb and just mentally frustrated. I pushed up the mountain heading east to drop down the other side and headed west to go through a tunnel as the only way to get past the freeway. After a nice break push on through Vasquez Park which is kind of a maze and you must watch all trail markers to make certain you are still on the trail. Finally popped out onto the road and started my road walk into Aqua Dulce not a moment too soon as my water was running dry. The first stop in town was for food. Stopped at a nice little Mexican restaurant next door to the grocery store. I got myself a couple ice ice-cold cokes and a large burrito which I just devoured without much thought. Next up was resupply at the grocery store which by now is pretty easy to do even when it’s a small store as this one was. And finally a 1/4 mile walk to Serenity Oasis. Farmer John years ago used to wake up to hikers crashing out on his lawn as he was right off the trail. Well in the spirit of trial, he’d take care of them. Well, 2 decades later Serenity Oasis is a landmark on trail. It has everything a hiker may want. There is laundry, showers, can have a package delivered or sent, and camping. It was the perfect place.

Day 33

The only way out of Aqua Dulce is to road walk out. The trail in this area is a patchwork of tying trails together and in places roads. First out I tossed on cruise control and just hiked and enjoyed the scenery and then a couple mile climb which all things considered was not that bad as despite elevation I was still making good time. At break time at water about 9 miles in loaded up 5 liters of water as it was still early and it may be dry camping as the next water at the camp was still 15 miles out. About noon coming down a hill, I saw a trail angel delivering water which I was good at. But she also had an ice chest with popsicles and frozen Gatorade both of which were delicious and such a moral boost. At this point I decided I was camping at water otherwise I’d be dry camping at about 3:30 in the afternoon. At 3 o’clock took a quick snack break as had 7 miles to still go and I was questioning if I had made the correct choice. I pushed onward and for 2 1/2 hours I arrived at camp completely drained. But I made it and my body held up pretty well as my right quad was tight. Other than that no issues. Longest day on the trail at 23.6 miles.

Day 34

Day started cold as the valley was covered in a blanket of fog but that wouldn’t last long as I was climbing up and through it. And as soon I was up above it trail sent me down to cross a road to get to water. Pretty interesting water collection out here. Put a cistern in the ground then build a sloped structure with a metal roof on it with a gutter on one end. The gutter sloped to the middle and piped to the cistern. The last 5 miles to camp looked like something you’d think of in Northern California not the desert section of the Pacific Crest Trail this close to the aqueduct. The shrubs end and the oak and pine forest with grasslands begins. It was such a welcome relief. Plenty of shade from the relentless sun. 

Day 35

Today was going to be a push as I wanted to get into Hiker Town early enough that I was not rushed getting to the store and getting a resupply and dinner. My legs are feeling good despite the high mileage days a bit stiff on up hills but I was able to still get a good pace. The plan today was most days. Get up and hike to the water. Collect water have a snack and then hike on till lunch. Lunch was nice today about 6 1/2 miles from Hiker town which meant a quick short hike in. The downside was lunch was in the last bit of tree cover. It’s really hard to stop and take breaks when there is no shade and it’s just miserable to sit in the heat. Hiker Town is a Pacific Crest Trail institution. It’s a quirky place that nobody knows how or why it’s there. There are several buildings people live in on the property. But then numerous outbuildings hikers use. But these are not just buildings. It looks like an old West movie studio prop town. People are coming and going at all times as many hike the aqua duct at night and this is the staging spot.