I camped at Islip parking lot and the weather overnight was perfect. I wake up around 5:30AM and my body feels like trash. Yesterday was a physical battle, I’m glad I “won” it but man I feel it today. I imagine this is how boxers feel, yeah I win but man I too got “heat up”
I pack up my camp and walk over to the privy. It’s actually clean. Perks of the road being shut down for years no one comes here. Fully stocked with TP also, I start off my hike through a little section of trail and then I jump onto highway 2 for a 5+ mile road walk around the frog closure. Wolf and Dallas are with me this morning.
Right now you’re probably saying wtf is the frog closure?
The “frog closure” on the PCT at least refers to a trail closure between miles 390 and 393 to protect the habitat of the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa and Rana sierrae). These frogs are native to these parts of Southern California. Their populations have sadly been severely reduced due to:
• Invasive species (like non-native trout that eat frog eggs and tadpoles)
• Disease (especially chytrid fungus) like all of us
• Habitat loss and degradation
The U.S. Forest Service and other agencies sometimes temporarily close certain trail sections especially in sensitive breeding areas to help the frogs recover without human disturbance. Essentially we’re letting the frogs have sex unbothered by us.
As of recently this zone has been off limits to hikers. It looked beautiful from the sign but I guess I’ll see it next year.
After walking around the frog closure I cut through Buckhorn Campground. I have to say what a beautiful campground, they even had fireplaces out side that I would imagine not in fire season would be awesome to sit by. I can remember a few cold nights I would’ve loved that. A nice outdoor fire, your friends and a nice brisk spring evening. There was also privys everywhere as I walked through, not that I’m a huge fan of them but when you have to go you have to go.
After I walk to the end of the campground I read the bulletin board that gives me the heads up about the local wildlife. Of course mountain lions and rattlesnakes. I kindve want to see one of them but not the other. Which one do you think is which?
After a mile on the trail it’s an obstacle course across a river on a huge log. Indiana jones style. I went first, being short didn’t help trying to climb up onto a 55” in log.
From there it was down down down until guess what, another river crossing, I fill up my 2 liters of water and start back up hill to regain what I lost in elevation.
I stop to have lunch and Dallas joins me, Wolf pushes on. Today it’s cheese and pepperoni in tortillas for lunch. Of course a side of gummy worms with it and electrolytes to catch up on the dehydration. Not get ahead of it, but catch up at this point.
We get moving again and Dallas is now 50ish feet ahead of me. I see them stopped staring and then get walking again…. Weird, wtf is this kid doing? I get to where they were and see what they were staring at. A nice old snake standing at attention. I swing at it with my trekking pole and high step it out of there. “WTF Dallas!” I yell. “Yeah it was kindve pissed off at me.” You’re killing me smalls. I think it was a gopher snake, but I didn’t see it good enough.
Probably because I had my head down and was in the zone. Im shooting to get to mile 411 tonight so I can camp at 411 for 4/11 my 36th birthday. Last year I spent 35 at Havasupai with my dad. Honestly I’d say that was the best birthday I’ve ever had. But I’m looking forward to tomorrow to be even better.
As I cross Highway 2 for the last time I look at FarOut. It’s 9 miles to camp. It’s currently 3:45PM and time to get moving fast. I think the sun setting over the mountain makes it look darker than it really is. Before I get up the trail a reminder we are now in bear country.
A few miles in I hit the water source and fill up again. I can’t drink enough water today, I just feel dry. Another couple deep breaths and I find a nice shady rock to sit on.
As soon as I sit down it’s chaos. I didn’t even take my bag off and I got bit 2 times by a horsefly. Last time I saw one of these was back home. Usually Mother’s Day to Father’s Day or if you’re at the beach. Damn they hurt!
I pop up immediately and tell the horseflies it was nice meeting them. Have a good one friend and I’m off again. I don’t stop the rest of the way, just power through the uphill. Power through the shin splint in my left leg, ugh. Makes me feel like middle school soccer, that’s the last time I ever had a shin splint. Most importantly power through my last day as a 35 year old.
I roll into camp and see Seven and Wolf already there. Wolf snagged a sick tent spot.
I haven’t seen Seven since the other day. He crushes the uphill and was way ahead of us. Nice, the boys are back in town for my bday tomorrow. Absolutely perfect. Tomorrow’s also day 100 of my micro retirement. Can you say just completely stoked?? I have to say, it’s been fucking amazing year so far. Cheers to 35 you were a solid year, but 36 hold the fuck on because it’s just getting started.
The Pacific Crest Trail 