Best Western

June 8

The beginning of the hike this morning featured a bunch of tiny frogs on and around this one small area of the trail. Pretty random for the desert so that was a fun surprise. Soon after I came across three rabbits just sitting on their haunches in the middle of the trail, one facing the other two as if chocolate bunnies my mom had arranged at the shop for Easter :) more fun. Reminds me... Not sure I mentioned it, but a few days ago I'd also seen a jack rabbit with the biggest longest ears I'd ever seen! Pretty funny sight.

Caught up with some fun hikers, Mangina, Kitchen Sink (who let me dip my fingers into her container of cream cheese frosting, yummmmm...), Crystal, and Chris. Apparently they've been likening their group to a pack of dogs, greeting each other by barking loudly crazy kids ;) So I let out a wolf howl as I hiked on :)

Soon after that came across yet more trail magic! A cache of oranges, nectarines, carrots, banana bread, water, chips, hard-boiled eggs, and moon pies! Always too cool to find but it's been unreal how frequent it's been. I kinda understand (and soooo appreciate) the water caches out here in the desert, but this has been awesome :) Guess this is the difference between northbounding and southbounding. We're not even in the crowd and this is way more magic than we saw as SOBO's on the AT. It's preeeetty cool.

The trail then took us by a lake at which I promptly stripped down to my compression shorts and jumped in - aaaahhhhhhh... Cold and oh so refreshing! After getting out I'd completely completely lost all sense of how hot out it was.. But about 5-10 minutes of hiking later I did ;P

Missed a turn after an underpass - I swear the best place to lose any trail (AT, PCT, or otherwise) is when it begins to coincide with roads. Not long after the missed turn I passed by a district office for the state parks and decided to park my butt in the shade underneath an information sign on the side of the building for lunch and to check my map. Had one ranger stop to ask about my hike and then another brought an orange and peach - more magic! lol And that fruit was about as juicy and sweet as could be, so good!

Yet more overgrown trail. I know I have to be thankful to have a trail at all, but it's sometimes amazing how overgrown it can get and how frequently that is the case. Yet another difference from the AT. I'd imagine the proximity to towns and the number of maintaining clubs is the big difference.

Yet another literally breathtaking view as I rounded a corner late in the day in the evening light.

Dramaticly steep slopes of eroded earth. Looked like something you'd find in a national park but here it was. That in conjunction with another view of the setting sun and overlapping ridges in the distance... magical.

This brought me to I-15 and a stay at the Best Western (w/ a hiker rate). I'd decided early on that I'd push the extra miles to get there for a night in the hotel after I'd read that they had a hot tub :) Hot shower, cush bed, town food, hot tub, hiker rate?! Too good to pass up :) The first thing you hit on the way in is a McDonalds and despite it being a place I rarely hit up I decided to give it a chance. Bad move... that food literally made me feel like puking... I we're talking about a hungry hiker straight off the trail! Horrible.. I'll eat something I dropped in the dirt but that crap? No thank you. Wish I'd waited for the Del Taco or Subway next to the hotel. Oh well.

Another mile to the hotel, braving interstate junction traffic (not exactly pedestrian friendly) and I find out that the hot tub had been closed the day before :( bummer! But again, oh well. Luckily I made it in time to get the last available room. Sweeet. Shower. Comfy bed. I'll take it :)

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Location:Cajon Pass/I-15, Mile 342