Trail Day 21: Seasonal Stream (mile 334.5) to Road to McDonald's (mile 341.9)
7.4 PCT miles
It was a nero (near zero) day today. I had less than 10 miles to go to get to I-15 where I would be taken off trail for some rest days. With how ridiculously hot it has been the past few days, I was excited to spend some time in the cold backyard pool. Since it was a work day, I needed to punch out those miles really early in the morning so my Trail Angel could pick me up before work.
I started hiking at 4:45 am. It wasn't too bad, since I didn't have to walk in the dark for very long. As visible light started to appear, I passed one of the tentsites listed in the Guthook app. Either it was unoccupied last night or whoever stayed there got up just as early as I did. I was happy with the patch of sand I found last night for my tent. I would have gotten to this spot last night with almost no visible light remaining to set up camp and make dinner.
I walked in low light through what looked like would have been a beautiful valley if I could have seen it. After that I started walking up and down the mountains again. This trail is never simple. Even if you are heading down in elevation to your destination, the trail takes you on a grand tour of all the little mountain crests in between. You end up going up, just to go back down.
I was happy to do this section in the early morning. It consisted of rocks, some shrubs, and a lot of dried grasses. The heat would be unforgiving later in the day. I was already sweating during the uphill sections and it was only 6:30 am.
I went under powerlines (like directly under), then up and down, up and down, looking at views of Mt. Baldy the entire time. Eventually, I got views down into the I-15 corridor and the famous McDonald's way at the bottom. I still had several miles to go to reach it.
The trail dropped down steeply and I hot a couple of seasonal stream crossings. As I approached I-15, I followed a beautiful stream bed. You have no idea that this exists when you are on the interstate, but it is right next to it. I could hear the cars (and eventually see them) as I was walking it.
My Trail Angel had gotten there a couple minutes early and I met him on the trail itself and headed towards the car. I had to laugh as I got near the frontage road. There was an official PCT sign pointing to McDonald's in one direction, and Guffy Campground in the other direction.
This McDonald's is a point of interest on the trail, even if people don't like McDonald's. The amount of food hungry hiker-trash order here is legendary. Several people I ran into yesterday were planning their mileage in order to make it there by lunchtime. Wanting to participate in PCT tradition, my Trail Angel and I headed there for breakfast.
As I approached the building, there was a hand written sign. It was closed due to a power outage. I felt the collective cry of every PCT hiker who had planned their day around filling up on calories there. I would be fine. I had plenty of food options. They didn't. It looked like the power outage effected every building in Cajon Junction except one. It was a gas station/Subway. If they wanted to do a road walk, they could get Subway, but it wouldn't be the same.
My Trail Angel started driving me back and I was looking forward to a shower and a nap. Unfortunately, the "low pressure" warning came on for one of the tires. He pulled over at a gas station and soon the tire was completely flat. It would be a while before I showered. We had to wait an hour for a tow truck, then another two hours at the dealer to replace the tires. I tried to keep as much distance between myself and everyone else in civilization. I had 5 days of warm weather hiker stink on me as well as a fine layer of dirt.
Eventually I was taken home where I spent the rest of the day alternating between shower/bath, nap, and food.
It was a nero (near zero) day today. I had less than 10 miles to go to get to I-15 where I would be taken off trail for some rest days. With how ridiculously hot it has been the past few days, I was excited to spend some time in the cold backyard pool. Since it was a work day, I needed to punch out those miles really early in the morning so my Trail Angel could pick me up before work.
I started hiking at 4:45 am. It wasn't too bad, since I didn't have to walk in the dark for very long. As visible light started to appear, I passed one of the tentsites listed in the Guthook app. Either it was unoccupied last night or whoever stayed there got up just as early as I did. I was happy with the patch of sand I found last night for my tent. I would have gotten to this spot last night with almost no visible light remaining to set up camp and make dinner.
I walked in low light through what looked like would have been a beautiful valley if I could have seen it. After that I started walking up and down the mountains again. This trail is never simple. Even if you are heading down in elevation to your destination, the trail takes you on a grand tour of all the little mountain crests in between. You end up going up, just to go back down.
 |
| Early morning sunrise. |
I was happy to do this section in the early morning. It consisted of rocks, some shrubs, and a lot of dried grasses. The heat would be unforgiving later in the day. I was already sweating during the uphill sections and it was only 6:30 am.
I went under powerlines (like directly under), then up and down, up and down, looking at views of Mt. Baldy the entire time. Eventually, I got views down into the I-15 corridor and the famous McDonald's way at the bottom. I still had several miles to go to reach it.
 |
| Ever walked directly under a power line tower? |
 |
| Mt. Baldy and I-15. |
 |
| I-15 corridor in the morning light. |
The trail dropped down steeply and I hot a couple of seasonal stream crossings. As I approached I-15, I followed a beautiful stream bed. You have no idea that this exists when you are on the interstate, but it is right next to it. I could hear the cars (and eventually see them) as I was walking it.
 |
| Come on, PCT. While did I walk all those mile uphill if you were just going to do this? |
 |
| This exists right next to I-15. |
My Trail Angel had gotten there a couple minutes early and I met him on the trail itself and headed towards the car. I had to laugh as I got near the frontage road. There was an official PCT sign pointing to McDonald's in one direction, and Guffy Campground in the other direction.
 |
| The PCT understands hiker hunger. |
This McDonald's is a point of interest on the trail, even if people don't like McDonald's. The amount of food hungry hiker-trash order here is legendary. Several people I ran into yesterday were planning their mileage in order to make it there by lunchtime. Wanting to participate in PCT tradition, my Trail Angel and I headed there for breakfast.
 |
| The famous I-15 McDonald's |
As I approached the building, there was a hand written sign. It was closed due to a power outage. I felt the collective cry of every PCT hiker who had planned their day around filling up on calories there. I would be fine. I had plenty of food options. They didn't. It looked like the power outage effected every building in Cajon Junction except one. It was a gas station/Subway. If they wanted to do a road walk, they could get Subway, but it wouldn't be the same.
 |
| NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! |
My Trail Angel started driving me back and I was looking forward to a shower and a nap. Unfortunately, the "low pressure" warning came on for one of the tires. He pulled over at a gas station and soon the tire was completely flat. It would be a while before I showered. We had to wait an hour for a tow truck, then another two hours at the dealer to replace the tires. I tried to keep as much distance between myself and everyone else in civilization. I had 5 days of warm weather hiker stink on me as well as a fine layer of dirt.
Eventually I was taken home where I spent the rest of the day alternating between shower/bath, nap, and food.
I had no idea that McDonalds is near the PCT! I pass it every time I go to my grandma's house.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to look for where the PCT came down every time I went through there. It turns out it comes down way before the freeway and follows a stream.
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