After a couple nights in Julian to wait out the snow storm we decided we couldn’t wait anymore. The people of Julian have been absolutely amazing. From giving us free food and drinks to even discounting our hotel room, the hospitality definitely earns good reviews and it’s super appreciated. I was lucky to even drop my laundry off after 10 days in the same clothes and they took care of it for me.
Wolf knows a guy Professor from the last time they hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail who lives local. He said he would give us a hitch back to scissors crossing in the morning to get back on trail from Julian. The weather forecast for tomorrow AM (Friday) looks promising so we are definitely going to be motivated to move fast.
Weather forecasts like this I would honestly rather be blind to. But, this couple day section is definitely one where I’ll have to embrace the suck.
I wake up around 6 and take a last shower and get ready. Seven wants to hit the Miners Diner at 8 when it opens because our hitch gets here at 9. Big breakfast guy that guy. The trail angel who’s giving us the ride goes by the name Professor. He pulled up at 8:45 in a blue Subaru.
There’s 5 of us today. Myself Wolf, Seven, and we picked up Anita and Dirk from Germany. They are not “together” but when they arrived in the US they had obviously a lot in common both being from Germany, so they started hiking together.
We cram into professors Impreza like it’s a clown car and take the 25 minute ride to the trail. 15 minutes in Wolf asks if I’m going to need a Zofran haha. Long windy roads, snow on the ground, a guy called Professor driving, 5 speed Subaru! Nah I’m good today. Honestly why I skipped breakfast.
We get to the trail head and the sun is thinking about shining. The Professor tells us it’s about a 3 mile up and then smooth sailing to the water cache 14 miles in. I take 2.5 liters of water with me thinking it’s raining. I won’t drink as much with my rain cover on. It’s a hassle to get in and out of my bag in the rain.
2.5 miles in I turn and look at the switchbacks I just crushed, absolutely beautiful. Single track the whole way up, nice and windy. I make it to the water cache and meet another hiker Juan from Mexico. He said he started March 1st but was really taking his time. He had been at the cache for 2 days waiting out the weather.
I grab 2 liters for the next bunch of miles while I make some ramen noodles to mentally warm up. As soon as I finished my noodles Seven walks up for his water and then I’m back walking again. The cache is about a mile down a small hill off trail. The way back up that hill felt very heavy.
I get to the cross roads of the trail and there’s a trail log. I sign in “Mouse” and remember the vape pen I found 5 miles back in my pocket. Randomly I hear someone yelling did anyone find a red vape pen! Yes I yell back! I dropped it in the hiker box. I couldn’t believe I even found the owner and could drop that weight while here. That was nice too, I didn’t want to carry the trash. Nicotine? No thank you.
With the rain picking up Seven and I really start to get moving, we are looking to go another six more miles before we set up camp. We’re expecting it to be an early night with the weather. I don’t think I stopped over the next six miles and next thing you know I’m pitching my tent on the wet ground.
I spent 10 minutes finding rocks, I suspect I will need them tonight to secure my stakes in the soft sand. With winds whipping in my Duplex tent is going to get battered all night. It’s an ear plugs night.
After pitching my tent I decide to do something I NEVER do back home. I make my dinner inside knowing there is no bears in So Cal. Tonight I finished off the noodles I started for lunch, little margarita pepperoni tossed in for kicks and then it’s off to bed.
As I lay in my tent listening to the wind pick up. Seven and I talk about the pros and cons of his tent vs mine. Both work well, both well made. But tonight I think I’ll find out why a free standing tent may have been easier on the PCT. Night night folks
The Pacific Crest Trail 