Seven and I wake up around 6AM and raid the breakfast downstairs. We originally planned to stick around until checkout time but were both up awake and ready to go.
One last shower, gear pack and make sure all my food fits inside my bag. We call an uber to drop us off back at the highway. It’s looking like a short day, we’re only shooting for 12 miles with the heat.
We get dropped off after a 15 minute uber ride. The driver thinks we are insane. “I ride dirt bikes out there, it’s hot as hell.” He says. Without even getting out of the car I believe him. As we get out of the car Seven snaps his hip belt strap. Ugh that’s bad luck, quick problem solving and there’s a solution to get us through this stretch.
We start walking through the rolling hills and make our way into the Mesa Wind Project. Looks like a pretty cool spot to work. Definitely beats a cubicle.
Warning signs everywhere for flying debri and electrical hazards. I plan on just walking, if something goes boom I’m going to keep on walking.
I look for water or any signs of life but there’s no one to be found. The water looks to be a 250 gallon drum of automatic transmission fluid. If I need transmission fluid I’ll ask my dad, guy owned the first transmission repair shop in New England for 50 something years. Transmission fluids a smell I’ll never forget. I’d pay big money for a gallon of Sprite right now though.
We head on, it’s 5 miles to Whitewater Preserve where we know there will be water. Seven pulls off ahead, maybe a mile, kids an absolute beast in the heat. The next 4 miles are uphill, I’m sucking wind, sweating and looking forward to the creek. Don’t want to get my feet wet but want to wet my head and shirt.
White water preserve was absolutely beautiful. It’s a .5 miles detour off of the PCT but so worth it.
I tried to submerge my sleep pad to locate a hole and couldn’t. I need a new one asap. It’s now 4 days I’ve been sleeping on hard ground or cold snow.
Once done we hit the creek bed again and we realize how popular of a day hike destination this is. We can smell the clean clothes and sunblock people have on. The water is colored blueish white and full of silt. I make my sleeve into a make shift pre filter to not clog my actual filter.
The waters nice and cold, not as cold as at icy San Jacinto but not warm. I filter 3 liters and we enjoy a quick break. After getting water we both say the next flat suitable campsite we’re calling it a night. Ridiculously early.
We arrive, I pitch my tent and have a seat.
Seven breaks his tent poles when setting up his tent. He got a pre release Durston X-Dome, it’s actually a really nice tent. Dan Durston the owner told everyone who pre bought that their carbon poles are possibly defective. Problems with the manufacturing. As a manufacturing director, I know that shit happens. How Dan handled it was impressive and the correct way. He reached out to Seven and told him he may have problems. He shipped out a new set of poles to him at Big Bear and expedited shipping knowing he was on the PCT. Dan’s hiked the PCT so he knows exactly what we’re dealing with. A hiker first business second.
That is absolutely amazing customer service. I’ve been debating swapping my Duplex for a X Mid 1 and that type of care will probably make me. As much as I love my Duplex, I’m 5’8” and don’t “need” a 2 person tent. Being able to drop a smaller platform and weight is appealing to me.
If you’re looking for your first tent. Look into the X Dome or X Mid.
Dan any chances you want to send an X Mid my way? I’ll put it to damn good use.
After an hour of problem solving, we want to wait for the carbon fiber to “cool down.” So he pitches his tent with trekking poles. I give him endless credit, this kid can wing it, and I think that’s one reason why him and I get along great. Problem solvers, no reason to cry, huff or puff, figure it out… If you have to let off steam sure let the expletives fly. I’ll drop some with ya. But then think it through, clear and rationally. Especially on a night that’s forecasted 50MPH wind gusts.
We had no problems at all. It was a tough day on our gear but being handy helps. The next few days are rolling fields and of course some more uphill as we enter Big Bear area. I’ll be heading to Big Bear Lake. That’s where I’ll be taking a few days off to wait for some new gear to get delivered and my feet to heal up. Huge thanks to my parents for dealing with USPS in Medford and keeping their cool. The post office in Medford square is literally the worst one I’ve ever dealt with.
The Pacific Crest Trail 