When everything's wet all the time it's important to find time to dry things out 
Friday
Thursday
10 miles a day
The ice axe combined with mountaineering boots are essential for me at my age .I need to be able to cut steps into the snow banks with my boots and if it's ice-covered I need to be able to cut steps using the adze of my axe . Twice I needed my ice axe to arrest my fall on icy slopes. Once on a 1200 ft descent .Aside from thermal gear my ice axe is my most important piece of mountaineering gear 
Heatwave
I took a bus North to South Lake Tahoe. Then started walking North through Desolation Wilderness. This picture is Aloha Lake mostly covered with ice just a small opening to get water from. I found a patch of Earth to put my tent on.
I spent most of my time alone in Desolation Wilderness . The trails were mostly covered with snow and I had no one but myself to rely on for navigation . The first couple of days were difficult . When the trail is covered with snow and Ice, it's not always the safest route. it's important to know your target destination and find the safest way there . Traversing Mountainside switchbacks that are covered with ice and snow is dangerous 
Monday
Next big climb
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Endorphin and adrenaline
Tuesday
Whitney Summit
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| Mount Whitney Summit tallest mountain in the lower 48 states 14,500 ft |
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| We Camped at Guitar Lake and begin our Ascent Before Sunrise |
I am proud of my accomplishment but I acknowledge that I could not have done it alone.
The positive energy from the group that welcomed me has filled me with new confidence
Happiness abounds in this Pleasant group of young people
I joined a herd
Kennedy Meadow
Then you eat cake. At the Grumpy Bear Restaurant they serve pancakes that are the size of a large pizza. I was the first at the bar to finish my entire breakfast and I received a round of applause as though I just blew out candles on my birthday cake. The last seven hundred miles of desert seemed harsh at the time. But it was Child's Play compared to the adult life that awaits us in the Sierra Wilderness Area.
Monday
Extended family
The Israeli soldiers set up shade canopy using trekking poles and bed sheets. The hiking Community is the most inclusive group that I know . Some Trail Angels don't hike . They provide support for hikers in many various ways and enjoy being part of this linear community
Sunday
400 miles
The trail also provides awesome opportunities to socialize.
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| Casa De Luna |
The expansive backyard was quiet refuge for weary Wanderers.
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Saturday
Tracking Beacon
My friend Mark is a retired Logistics expert.
During my 2012 Appalachian Trail thru hike he called me on my cellular phone on several occasions to guide me back to the trail when he saw that I made a wrong turn. On Thursday May 18th of this year I left the desert town of Agua Dulce. I was 4 miles into the desert when I realized I had not packed enough water to get me to the next water source safely. I had no choice but to go back to Agua Dulce to fill my water jugs. But first I went into the bar and grill had a couple of beers and burgers with the other hikers. I knew that Mark would be the first one to realize that something was wrong. So after lunch I sent him an email explaining why I returned to Agua Dulce. He immediately replied I thought you had a problem with your gear because I see you are at the hardware store. All the while I was in the Pub ,my pack and Beacon were on a bench outside of the hardware store where the water hose is to refill my jugs . Mark used his computer skills to Overlay my Geographic location with a map from Google Earth to see what building I was in.
One week later ,after resupplying in the town of Mojave California my beacon batteries were dead and I didn't realize until I was past the point of no return. In a remote area with no cell signal. I had no way to communicate to my loved ones that all was well. I moved as quickly as I could for 3 Days until I finally had Karen on the phone .she told me that Mark advised her the day earlier to give me one more full day before calling the Rangers.
Later that day ,I stopped at Walker Pass Campground and met a trail angel named Chris a 74 year old retiree and Ultra Runner. Chris was at the campground providing food and beverages to assist the hikers. When I told him my situation he happily offered me a ride to the town of Ridgecrest 25 miles away where they have a super Walmart and Kmart. Now I'm carrying enough batteries to keep my beacon working until I meet with Karen in Oregon for the solar eclipse in late August.
I am solo hiker, but I am never alone.
KOA Campground
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| Me and Haines at the KOA in Acton. I carry paper maps and guide book pages for approximately 500-mile sections. Before I left home I prepared these resources in resupply boxes to be sent to me as needed by my wife Karen. On Tuesday May 16th I pitched my tent at the KOA Campground for a $15 charge. Wednesday morning I hitchhiked into the town of Acton to pick up my resupply box at the post office. I got a ride from an older gentleman named Greg driving a white Ford Ranger pickup truck. Greg dropped me off at the post office just as it was opening the timing was perfect. Before I got out of the truck I asked Greg where I can get a good breakfast. He said the best place is Crazy Otto's but it's a long way from the KOA, then he offered to wait while I picked up my package and drive me to Crazy Otto's. When Greg dropped me at the restaurant I invited him to join me and offered to pay for his breakfast in hopes I could get a ride back to the KOA. He said he had already eaten but he'd be back in a half hour to pick me up to take me back to the KOA. Crazy Otto's was the best breakfast I've had in a month . Only one cook in the kitchen but he really knew what he was doing. On the way back to the KOA I offered Greg money for gas and he refused to take it. But when he stopped at the gas station to refuel I jumped out of the truck and swiped my credit card at the pump and started filling his tank. I wanted to fill it but he stopped me at $10. Every single day on the trail I am overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. For some people when we are not competing with each other, we are still in competition to be our personal best. |
Friday
Mount Baden Powell
After resupplying at Jensen's grocery I decided to spend the night in Wrightwood. That decision coupled with a late start Saturday morning lined me up for a very late Summit push Saturday evening 5 p.m. I worried about the struggles I had on Mount San Jacinto.
My body had made the necessary adjustments. I had no problem with the thin air. I summited strong without muscle fatigue. That which had not killed me,
has indeed Made Me Stronger
My body had made the necessary adjustments. I had no problem with the thin air. I summited strong without muscle fatigue. That which had not killed me,
Fuel the body
Thursday May 11th. I take my time packing up my Silverwood Lake campsite.Just 50 miles until the summit of mount baden-powell. If the land was flat that would be an easy 2-day hike.Add 6000 feet of elevation gain and it's a three-day hike .
I tried to finish my pizza for breakfast.I have no appetite. In 10 miles I'll be at Cajon Pass with a convenience store, McDonald's, Del Taco and Subway. Whenever there is a food venue less than 1 mile from the trail, you must take that opportunity to fill your bodies fuel tank. The two hamburgers and large bucket of sugar water that I consumed at McDonald's was resources that I did not have to carry on my back for 10 miles. As I gained elevation the ridge walks become more frightening and the opportunity for sheltered tent space becomes less frequent. I put up my tent in a wash out among rocks and poison ivy. I slept like a baby literally curled up in fetal position. I am a small person it's easy to leave no Trace when your entire body footprint is so small.
Thursday
Bobcat outside my tent
Tuesday May 9th
cold slept late. It's mostly downhill today. My strategy was out run the polar vortex over Big Bear City. By mid afternoon I thought it was working beautiful sunny day not too hot.
By 6 p.m. I got off the trail found a place to put up the tent the wind was picking up temperature dropping and dark clouds filled the sky. Hiked 21 milesGood enough 7 p.m. I finished going over my maps of made my notes its raining and I'm going to sleep
By 6 p.m. I got off the trail found a place to put up the tent the wind was picking up temperature dropping and dark clouds filled the sky. Hiked 21 milesGood enough 7 p.m. I finished going over my maps of made my notes its raining and I'm going to sleep
Slack pack
I Double zeroed friday & Saturday in the big bear area. During that time I became familiar with the public tranportation between the Two Towns Big bear city & Big bear lake. Big bear lake has greater resupply options and the mountain transit is reliable
"Slackpack" is Trail talk for hiking without the full weight of your gear. There are many ways to accomplish this.At The Nature's Inn I met Mike & Greg, local residence. They were interested in long distance hiking lifestyle and they were familiar with the local trails .Greg offered to drive me around that weekend showing me many access points from Trail to town.You can choose to slack a small number of miles or almost 20 miles in that area, without coordinating with Car and Driver.I reserved the mountain lion room for another night, with the intention of leaving most of my gear in the hotel room, walking a few Trail miles and returning to the hotel. Jerry the innkeeper told me to bring cold weather gear on my hike .I'm glad I listened to Jerry.What started as a sunny day quickly became a freezing winter wonderland. My gloves were inadequate and I quickly lost the fine motor skills of my hands due to the bitter cold. Setting up my tent would've been nearly impossible . Instead I fumbled with the key to my room turned up the heat lit the
fireplace and took a hot shower Much thanks Jerry. Big Bear City is more like Mayberry RFD .Jerry runs the Nature's inn with a comfortable family feel. It was hard to leave
"Slackpack" is Trail talk for hiking without the full weight of your gear. There are many ways to accomplish this.At The Nature's Inn I met Mike & Greg, local residence. They were interested in long distance hiking lifestyle and they were familiar with the local trails .Greg offered to drive me around that weekend showing me many access points from Trail to town.You can choose to slack a small number of miles or almost 20 miles in that area, without coordinating with Car and Driver.I reserved the mountain lion room for another night, with the intention of leaving most of my gear in the hotel room, walking a few Trail miles and returning to the hotel. Jerry the innkeeper told me to bring cold weather gear on my hike .I'm glad I listened to Jerry.What started as a sunny day quickly became a freezing winter wonderland. My gloves were inadequate and I quickly lost the fine motor skills of my hands due to the bitter cold. Setting up my tent would've been nearly impossible . Instead I fumbled with the key to my room turned up the heat lit the
Zero day
" zero day" is Trail talk for any day that you don't walk Trail miles. Miles walked to or from the trail or miles walked within a Town do not count as Trail miles. Zero day does not necessarily mean day of rest. Post offices are not all open on weekends. Timing of town stops around business hours is critical. Before I left Mount Laguna I shipped some gear 200 miles north to Big Bear City. Leaving Whitewater Preserve I had nearly 60 miles to cover in two days to get to Big Bear City post office before close of business Friday. After sleeping someplace different than I had anticipated the previous night. I woke up 28 miles from Big Bear. The first half of the day would be climbing From Below 7000 to almost 9,000 feet. As I approached big Bear I called to reserve a room at a hotel closest to the post office. The Nature's Inn was very accommodating welcoming PCT hikers with a special rate. The Innkeeper Jerry Sheen told me I could have the squirrel room for a reasonable price. After hearing a description of the room I asked how much more expensive for an upgrade to a larger room. Jerry performed Magic and got me the much larger mountain lion room for the same rate ,thank you Jerry. Minutes after that phone call I arrived at Highway 18 got a ride immediately and was at the post office before 4 p.m. that day was filled with surprises. The biggest surprise was that it was Thursday not Friday. The next day was Cinco de Mayo. Maybe I'll get a zero day after all. My first 13 days I hiked 266 trail miles that's 10 % of the overall trail .I averaged over 20 Trail miles per day
Monday
Lost in a pocket
Simon , the Mountaineer I met on san Jacinto told me" if you are adequately provisioned, and you have appropriate survival gear ,and know how to use it. You are never lost you're just sleeping someplace different than you anticipated. Genius! I also have wilderness camping permit & a California campfire permit. I'll never forget Lessons Learned as a Boy Scout, be prepared.
I covered 20 miles that day despite my circuitous route. The map was in my pocket the whole time. Clear skies ,cloudy brain.
Temperature climbs over 100
Saturday
Angels and Magic
When I got near the Interstate 10 Bridge a wonderful woman was greeting hikers and welcoming them to a feast that she and her husband Wendell had put together just for the hikers. Wendell was a hiker and when he called for help on the trail his wife( Mama Bear )would perform Magic turning desert into Oasis. I asked are you caterer? she replied no I'm Armenian
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| If you go to the trail looking for love you will find it here |
Yogi's book
My campsite at Tule was exposed. When the sun went down the wind began to scream like Banshees. I had heard the story of a 2017 hiker who received the trail name Dorothy after his tent Blew Away In The Wind with his cellphone still in it..
Jackie McDonnell writes hiking guide books under the name Yogi. Jackie has gathered information from an amazing group of experience thru-hikers.the technique I used to secure my tent to the ground came directly from her book. When the earth is too hard to secure tent Stakes. Put your trekking poles through the stake loops on your tent lay them flat on the ground and stack heavy rocks on top of them. Thank you Jackie and thanks to your Intrepid team of global Trekkers.
Saturday morning I still have my tent but some of my personal items could use laundry service.
The trail north of Highway 74 is detoured due to recent fire. I hiked the 15 miles to the road then caught a ride with a man named herk into Idyllwild. Hurk helped me and another hiker find accommodations for the evening.
The alternative Trail I've chosen out of Idyllwild is called The Devil's Slide. Appropriately named the root climbs from 5000 feet to just over 7,000 feet within 10 miles. The room in Idlewild was so comfortable I didn't leave until check out at noon. Bad planning that hike In the Heat of the day is potentially deadly. Used map and Compass to navigate this unfamiliar trail system. I often make wrong turns and make up the difference with tenacity. I found myself at a junction named Wellman's divide just two and a half miles from the summit of Mount San Jacinto. The Summit is 10800 feet above sea level. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and I decided to push through to the summit and camp further down the ridge on the other side. less than 1/2 Mile out of Wellman's I met a young Mountaineer named Simon. Simon was experienced and familiar with local trails. After a few minutes of conversation Simon suggested that perhaps it was a bad choice to Summit that evening. He told me that the snowpack Beyond The Summit obscured the trail and even though he had walked it many times he found himself lost that day and chose to go back down the mountain on the more clearly defined path. We walked together to Wellman's divide where I set up my tent and he continued his descent. It was later that I realized how much the altitude had affected me. Conversation was difficult and like a drunk person I would try to plant my foot in front of me and it would land somewhere else. The thin air did not affect my sleep I slept great and summited the next morning at 9 o'clock
Jackie McDonnell writes hiking guide books under the name Yogi. Jackie has gathered information from an amazing group of experience thru-hikers.the technique I used to secure my tent to the ground came directly from her book. When the earth is too hard to secure tent Stakes. Put your trekking poles through the stake loops on your tent lay them flat on the ground and stack heavy rocks on top of them. Thank you Jackie and thanks to your Intrepid team of global Trekkers.
Saturday morning I still have my tent but some of my personal items could use laundry service.
The trail north of Highway 74 is detoured due to recent fire. I hiked the 15 miles to the road then caught a ride with a man named herk into Idyllwild. Hurk helped me and another hiker find accommodations for the evening.
The alternative Trail I've chosen out of Idyllwild is called The Devil's Slide. Appropriately named the root climbs from 5000 feet to just over 7,000 feet within 10 miles. The room in Idlewild was so comfortable I didn't leave until check out at noon. Bad planning that hike In the Heat of the day is potentially deadly. Used map and Compass to navigate this unfamiliar trail system. I often make wrong turns and make up the difference with tenacity. I found myself at a junction named Wellman's divide just two and a half miles from the summit of Mount San Jacinto. The Summit is 10800 feet above sea level. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and I decided to push through to the summit and camp further down the ridge on the other side. less than 1/2 Mile out of Wellman's I met a young Mountaineer named Simon. Simon was experienced and familiar with local trails. After a few minutes of conversation Simon suggested that perhaps it was a bad choice to Summit that evening. He told me that the snowpack Beyond The Summit obscured the trail and even though he had walked it many times he found himself lost that day and chose to go back down the mountain on the more clearly defined path. We walked together to Wellman's divide where I set up my tent and he continued his descent. It was later that I realized how much the altitude had affected me. Conversation was difficult and like a drunk person I would try to plant my foot in front of me and it would land somewhere else. The thin air did not affect my sleep I slept great and summited the next morning at 9 o'clock
Warners to. Tule canyon
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| Tule canyon |
Friday
Past 100
Filling water bottles at Barrel Spring other hikers celebrated passing the Hundred Mile Mark a mile back. I was oblivious,focused on water. Long hot miles without shade, water is primary concern. Warner Springs Resource Center in Warner Springs California is visible from the trail. It's also just one mile from a golf course with a restaurant. I celebrated my accomplishments with a fantastic steak dinner protein fat calories and one beer. Mile 109.5 means I walked 27 miles before 4:30 p.m.
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| Hiker Corral at Resource Center |
Wednesday 4-26
on Trail before sunup hiked 13 miles to scissors Crossing Highway 78 before 10 a.m. mostly downhill. Under the highway bridge I met Trail angel Ed. He had water for dry hikers. Another Trail Angel ( Brew Hiker) offered rides into the town of Julian 12 miles away. Julian is another hiker friendly town with full resupply services and free slice of pie at Mom's pies. After picking up much needed protein and calories
I stuck out my thumb on Route 78 just passed the post office. was picked up by a retired fireman and back under the bridge before 1 p.m. at 5 p.m. it was still very hot and the sun was relentless. I was anxious for more miles so I started climbing slowly up the San Felipe Valley . I set up my tent just before the sun went down and slept the sleep of the Angels. 18 miles for the day good enough
Leaving Laguna
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