PCT 2022 | CALIFORNIA | DAYS 35-37 Wrightwood to TO PACIFICO MOUNTAIN SUMMIT

DAY 35

Miles Hiked: 14.6 miles

It's Baden Powell day!

A warm morning, thankfully with some slow flowing water about a mile and a half up the Baden Powell climb. Soon after, the snow starter. Not enough to need microspikes, but enough to follow the shortcuts up the mountain (there were a few areas with big tall drifts of snow blocking the trail).

The last mile was steep and felt never ending. And then...the summit was in view. Unlike some summits along the PCT, Baden Powell is less than a quarter mile from trail. So why not? I reached the summit, dropped my pack, and opened my umbrella to shield from the sun. Soon, the group of hikers left and I had the summit to myself. Still about six more miles to camp and water (mostly downhill).

I took the trail following the ridge and began my decent. A beautiful section with few hikers. The Little Jimmy Campground was great—large enough to fit a few dozen hikers and still not feel overcrowded. Finding a good spot for the bathroom is another story.

DAY 36

Miles Hiked: 11.3 miles

It's road walk day!

Okay...actually not that exciting. But at least the road is fairly flat and there was water available if needed.

The burn area starts soon after leaving Little Jimmy Campground. Burned trees and a whole lot of poodle dog bush along trail. Here is to hoping that everyone walking through here knows what it is. As I decend into the first picnic area along Hwy 2, there is a group of at least two dozen backpackers heading up hill. I quickly pick up my pace down hill to a spot past the poor dog bush and wait for the group to pass.

Then begins the exposed ascent most of the way up Mt Williamson. The heat of the sun was starting to set in and it wasn't yet 0900. After managing a pace of close to a mile an hour, I took a break to stretch and eat at the top of the climb. Mostly downhill from here (aside from a few hundred feet).

Road walk along Hwy 2.

Then a little more closed road walking to the Buckhorn Campground, before following the Burkhart Trail along the water. Then last (albeit short and not even really that steep) climb to Cooper Canyon Campground was long. Or at least it felt like it. Today was a short day mileage wise, but the heat makes everything feel so much harder.

DAY 37

Miles Hiked: 18.8 miles

400 miles

Well, kind of. Today I passed the 400 mile mark on trail. If you've been following, though, you know my hike has taken a slightly different path since Lake Arrowhead. But it's still been over 350 miles on trail so far (now the longest distance I have hiked, the last being ~315 miles last year in the Sierra).

After the 400 mile marker, I stop for some shade at Camp Glenwood. There used to be water here, but someone left the faucet ope (or broke it...something along those lines) and the 1500 gallon tank emptied.

Another mile or so to a piped spring.

Then, trail magic at Three Points! I grabbed an orange, perfect way to boost my spirits before hiking another 10+ miles. A few miles later, I stopped for lunch with some other hikers at Sulphur Spring.

From there it was up hill. Clouds blanketed the sky, cooling the air for the first five miles of climbing. Soon, the blue sky returned and the hot sun came with it. Only a short distance more until water, I told myself. Then camp just after that. The rest of the climb was gradual. My energy returned and the last couple miles came with ease.

I left trail at the dirt road and started the 1.1 mile road walk to camp. It was either that or a steep trail that was likely not maintained. What a beautiful sight that summit was. Boulders surrounding the campsites. A pit toilet. Garbage cans.

And complete solitude.

I saw only two other people the rest of the evening. While I searched for rocks to reinforce my tent stakes, a 4Runner pulled up. He just drove up for the view, but offered some unexpected trail magic: an orange, apple, and cookies. As well as water if I needed it (I had plenty). Then, another solo woman and photographer who was car camping.

It was a lunar eclipse tonight.

I stayed up to watch the sun set. Much laster than I usually do, but when you have views like these? The wind started to pick up: no night photography tonight (would have been a great location).