PCT 2022| CALIFORNIA | DAYS 38-39 Pacifico Summit to Acton KOA

DAY 38

Miles Hiked: 18.5 miles

I think this is the earliest I have left on trail. Ha. I am not a morning person and normally find it difficult to leave camp before 0700. Especially since I don't have any trail family. No one to push me to leave camp early.

It is going to be a warm day, with 6 miles to the first water. Then an almost 18 mile water carry after that. It is downhill to Mill Creek Fire Station where I plan to fill up water for the rest of the day and the first 5 miles of tomorrow.

I find what little shade there is by the bathroom, take off my shoes and socks, grab something to eat, and...relax.

After filling up my water, which add over 10 lbs to my pack, I make my way accross the highway and back to trail. It is exposed and uphill for the next couple miles. It is almost noon, so I want to find the next shade as soon as possible. It is 12 more miles to camp and I don't night hike.

I make lunch at the bottom of the canyon. There is a small amount of seeping water. It's not flowing anywhere, but it is cold. I use a ziploc bag to dump a liter of water into my CNOC. It is hot and there is another 1200 feet of climbing over the next 3.5 miles and it is the heat of the day. This extra water means not having to worry as much about how much I drink as I climb in the heat.

And just like that, the climb is done.

I can see the backcountry campground below. I start to follow the overgrown switchbacks down down down. My legs and arms scratched with every step.

Rattle

Rattle

Rattle

Oh shit. Of course my first rattlesnake in over 200 miles has to be in an overgrown mess (that baby at Cajon doesn't really count in my book).

No where to move and observe.

No way to stop and look for the snake.

Oh shit. That's what went through my mind as I raced down the switchback hoping the snake was far enough back in the bushes.

Well, I didn't get bit.

I set up camp and relaxed. It was still early. Way too early for dinner. Hours before sunset, but I wasn't going to walk any more miles today.

As evening grew closer, hikers started to flow in. Soon, the campground was full.

One more day until "town."

DAY 39

Miles Hiked: 14.3 miles

Town day! And so happy because today was HOT.

Don't underestimate that last little 400 foot climb while on the main descent into Acton KOA. I think we all forgot that it wasn't all down hill. It was miserable. But: ice cream and cold drinks just ahead.

From Messenger Flat Campground, the first goal of the day was to grab a couple liters of water at the ranger station. Quick snack and 2 liters of water before heading out. I wanted to make it to town as early as possible. Each step brought us lower in elevation, which meant warmer temperatures.

I wouldn't call Acton KOA (it gets mixed reviews by hikers) a nice RV park or campground, but it is cheap and had cold drinks, food, showers, and sewhat working laundry that you didn't need coins for (more places need to get on this "pay for laundry with an app" train).

After grabbing some drinks and snacks, I found a spot in the shade and set up my tent. There were a few dozen hikers there. I waited for some of the mid day crowds to.go through—those that were just making a side trip, but not staying there. Then, shower and laundry.

There weren’t many options available for food other than microwaveable “food.” However, the pizza place in Acton delivers and the driver was there. I placed and order for mozzarella sticks, potato wedges, a personal pizza, and a beer. Figured I’d save some for later. Worth it. If you are expecting a pizza: stay near the store and keep an eye out for the driver. She had to spend so much time yelling out names and trying to track people down.

Darkness brought out all the sounds. The nearby horn of a train set off the dogs in the RV park…which set off the (fairly large) pack of coyotes. It was an ongoing cycle.

But it was a place to stay and I would go back if I was a hiker.