A Snow Storm

The young men spent last night at a hotel (with casino) in Cabazon, CA. Jack was in the room talking to me and nursing his sore feet while Brad and Erik were in the casino searching for the opposite sex…..to talk to. I decided to change their status from boys to men after hearing of their harrowing experience climbing through Marion Mtn (elev 10,362) or San Jacinto Peak (elev. 10,804). I didn’t get the name of the peak or mountain, but I did hear the excitement in Jack’s voice as he told me of their experience. They left Idyllwild (elev. 5,303) on Sunday heading toward their next resupply site….Big Bear City, 114 miles away. That morning it started to snow. It kept snowing and soon became a blizzard with 8-12 inches on the ground and poor visibility. Ice and snow started to form on their bearded faces. It was about 2 p.m. and they had lost the trail markers that had become hidden by the falling snow. They had only five hours of daylight left and made the decision to head back. Another hiker, named Gary, was hiking with them. As they headed down the mountain they encountered six foot snow drifts and in some places ice under the fresh snow that caused each of them to slip and slide…some 5 to 30 feet at a time with only their hiking stick or a tree breaking their fall. Jack was wearing cloth gloves that easily soaked up the wet snow. He had to trade off wearing socks to keep his hands warm. As they walked out of the clouds they could see the desert below (near Palm Springs), but the path to the desert was now a rocky cliff. They scaled the rocks climbing down toward the desert knowing that they didn’t want to spend the night in the snow. They finally found a switch back trail and kept hiking until 9 p.m. with their headlights shining the way. Erik’s sleeping bag had become soaked by a leaking camel pack. He slept in Jack’s tent as he had a tarp tent and relied on his sleeping bag to keep himself warm. Now he was relying on clothing and anything he could find to cover himself. They were tired and cold but felt very fortunate. A boy scout troop had also started up the mountain earlier that day. They also retreated from the mountain when the blizzard hit, but one of the adults was not that fortunate. He had fallen on the icy snow and shattered his ankle. They heard they were going to try to get someone to help evacuate the injured hiker, but they all had the feeling that the hiker and the person who stayed with him would be spending the night in a freezing blizzard.

The next day the young men made their way toward Cabazon. Brad had ordered a USB computer cord from Amazon.com for his video camera while in Warner Springs and he had it shipped to the Cabazon Post Office. Their journey to Cabazon was one of hitchhiking and highway walking. They met a different breed of people from the townsfolk they had encountered in the mountain villages and resort vacation spots along the previous Pacific Crest Trail. They were now near the big cities. Their first ride was in the back of a canopy truck after the woman driver left her barefoot 14 year old daughter on the street to continue looking for money to give to the child’s dealer. All this known became known by overhearing the conversation between the woman and her daughter. At the end of the hitched hike, the woman driver was ecstatic to receive the gas money the young men gave to her and she happily let it be known it would be used to buy beer.

Their next ride was from a working group of Native Americans. The young men had continued their journey to Cabazon by hiking and hitchhiking on Highway 10, but abandoned the highway to move to a safer and less traveled side road. Along the side road was an Indian Reservation….clearly marked with no trespassing signs. A driver stopped and said he had room for one passenger. Brad was to go with the driver. The plan was to get to the post office before it closed and to eventually meet Jack and Erik at the Burger King in Cabazon. As they were talking to Brad’s ride, a flat bed truck operated by Native Americans pulled up from the other side of the fence to check on the activity. It was a group of guys fixing fences and providing general maintenance on the reservation. Erik, being the friendly sort that he is, started a conversation that eventually led him to ask the guys in the flat bed truck for a ride toward town 4 miles away….especially since they might be going that way. Brad took off in his ride with Erik and Jack getting a ride with the guys in the flatbed. Soon Jack and Erik were being driven to the front door of the Burger King where they later met Brad.

PCT

The Pacific Crest Trail follows the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range, which parallels the Pacific Ocean by 100 to 150 miles. The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,650 miles long and ranges in elevation from just above sea level at the Oregon-Washington border to 13,153 feet at Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada. The route passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks.

Hazards: Severe weather, dehydration, wildlife. (Just want a Mom likes to know.)

Resupply points are towns or post offices where hikers replenish food and other supplies such as cooking fuel. Hikers can ship packages to themselves at the U.S. Post Offices along the trail, resupply at general and grocery stores along the trail, or any combination of the two.

Jack, Brad and Erik are mostly purchasing supplies along the way. Only a few items will be shipped to them at specific locations. As mentioned earlier these items will be shoes, boots, ice picks, and maps.

A pizza and a pitcher of beer!

In our conversation at 6 p.m. tonight Jack mentioned that they had been lost in the snow. They found the trail again and were low on food. They heard that Idyllwood had a place with pizza and a pitcher of beer. "Pizza and a pitcher of beer" became their mantra as they hiked late into the night toward Idyllwood. They arrived about 25 minutes before closing...just in time for that pitcher of beer and pizza. The last customers. They are spending the night in Idyllwood drying out their shoes, washing their clothes, and camping out at a campsite that charges $3 per camper. Tonight they are relaxing around a campfire. They have been walking until dusk, sleeping at dark, and getting up at at dawn. No time for campfires.

I thought back at what Jack said about the snow and looked at what another blogger wrote about the area. Here is what he said:

"It was a day of great views as I wound along a ridge heading north around several peaks over 7500 feet. Unfortunately I swung west about 11 AM on the north side of the ridge above 8000 feet. The combination of the shading and the altitude led to deeper and deeper snowdrifts. The trail would appear every 50 to 100 feet where the sun had melted the snow and there were footprints in the snow so the way was clear. My progress was slow, as I had to carefully place my feet in many locations lest I slide downhill to perhaps not a fatal but certainly an unpleasant landing.

After a couple of miles this I hit the trail junction I was looking for and looking over the diverging footprints headed in what I thought was the correct direction. About ten minutes later I was not so sure and was beginning to have visions of being lost I the snow, so decided to stop for a bite to eat and a map and compass check."
Wednesday, 4/26/00 http://www.startlivingthetruth.com/pctwarner.htm

What's the next stop?

I'm looking at maps and anticipating where the boys are camping tonight. When they left Warner Springs (supposedly on Sunday) they would be heading 41 miles toward Idyllwild, CA. The scene above is from Idyllwild and the temperature high today was 70 degrees. The next stop to purchase supplies after Idyllwild may be 114 miles at Big Bear City.

Today I received a small 10-12 lb. box of misc. hiking gear and other items mailed from Mt. Laguna, CA. I can only assume they were items they no longer needed or most importantly no longer wanted to carry on their backs.

Warner Springs, CA

Erik left the following message on Facebook today: PCT hike update 110 miles into it. only 2,540 miles to go! in Warner Springs California. life is good, my feet feel like they've been hit with a sledge hammer. never been more happy! Granquist out-

Jack left this message yesterday: Whoop, Whoop!! We've hiked 111 miles in the last week and made it to Warner Springs, CA. Decided to spend the money and stay at the hot springs/resort here to let our blisters/feet heal for a day or 2? Best way to sum up the trip so far... Amazing! we pumped out 64 miles in the last 3 days and have seen some awesome things. A whole lot of desert and mountains and everything in between. Later-

I just spoke to Brad and Jack. They were in the Cantina having a cold beer and listening to a guy playing a harmonica. Erik was out star gazing. They were told this would be the only resort that they would come across on the trail. And....it's a hot spring resort at that. Sounded like a great place to take a rest. According to Brad they are still living 'the' dream......even when they are walking 20 miles a day with a 50 lb. pack.

The First Night.

The boys start date was Wednesday, May 5th where they hiked the mile south from Campo, CA to the Mexican border wall to officially begin their adventure.
They arrived back at Campo about 7 p.m. They had talked about possibly having a dangerous encounter along the way and Erik had purchased pepper spray for just such an encounter. They were thinking of an encounter like a bear or other wild animal. According to Jack.....little did they know that they might use it the first night of their trip as they bedded down for the evening near a museum that someone had suggested as a good camping spot. The spot was also next to an old camper and it’s owner was a man who appeared like he hadn’t bathed in months. The boys being the friendly fellows that they are started a conversation with the man and even offered him a beer. Later as the boys crawled into their sleeping bags, the man left the area for about ten minutes and when he came back he sat in front of his camper and started acting very strange.....speaking loudly in tongues, speaking of dismemberment and other gross similar subjects. Erik finally had enough and suggested to Brad and Jack that they should try some night hiking. They all agreed and were soon talking to a nearby border patrol agent about a better camping place. They spent the night near the soccer field and left early the next morning.

A delightful day!

Sunday, May 9th I spoke to each one of the boys on Mother’s Day. What a wonderful Mother’s Day gift.
They borrowed a cell phone from someone when they stopped at Mount Laguna, CA for supplies. Mt. Laguna consists of a small general store, rustic lodge and cabins, local restaurant, rural post office, and campgrounds adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail. They had just finished having brunch with some local women who gave them ample information about the area. Their spirits were upbeat with Brad saying, “We are living a dream.” They said they hiked 16 miles on May 6th, 5 miles on May 7th, 20 miles on May 8th, and 5 miles on May 9th before reaching Mt. Laguna. They are happy campers even after nursing their newly developed blisters. Brad told about the weight they are carrying. Their packs are about 27 lbs. with no water and only a little food. They will be adding water and food where their packs will weigh 50 lbs for the hike to the next stop 70 miles away. Jack told about an experience that happened the first night and I will retell this the next time I write. Erik spoke of their pace that they were working on. Starting early and finishing late. Hiking an hour and resting 10 minutes. They were all excited and confident about their journey.

Into the Desert

The boys had been picked up early yesterday (Tuesday, about 1 a.m.) by a friend when the train stopped in San Diego. Evidently, the train ride was quite an experience. One of those been-there-done-that scenarios. Briefly put....a long ride. Jack called from the beach yesterday evening. It was 75 degrees and I am assuming they were having a little party before they left for Campo. Because I am the author of this blog....I may be doing quite a bit of assuming before the trip is over. Today they called from the post office at Campo, CA. I was able to talk to each one and they wished me a Happy Mother's Day. Jack was mailing his phone home and last minute phone calls were being made before the post office closed. I know this must be tough for Jack to be without his phone but evidently a vote had been taken and the vote was.....no electronics. They are planning to walk a mile south to the Mexican border to officially start the hike from Mexico to Canada. They all were optimistic with Brad mentioning they were starting their weight loss program as they headed into the desert. The next town and water would be 20 miles away.

On Their Way

Hopefully I will get a current photo from Jack, Brad and Erik when they land in Campo, CA and begin their journey. They cut their hair very short and shaved their facial hair. They are planning to neither shave nor cut their hair during the entire journey. That will be interesting. I spoke to Jack last night when Amtrak stopped near Medford, OR. They had been trying to catch up on their sleep, but it was just not quite like sleeping on the floor in their sleeping bags as they have been doing for the last couple weeks.

The Beginning

I titled this blog 'An Adventure for us All!' as I am sure many of you will be following this adventure (as I am)......from the comfort of our own homes. Two or three years ago Jack, Brad and Erik made a pact to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in the spring of 2010. As I am writing this, the boys are on the Amtrak train in Tacoma, WA that left at 10:30 a.m. to take them to San Diego, CA. From there they will travel by bus to Campo, CA to begin their adventure of a lifetime. Or...the beginning of many lifetime adventures. Campo, CA is considered the official southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail. It is less than a mile from the U.S./Mexico border. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2,650 mile national scenic trail that runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington. The boys are thinking it will take six months to complete. They have sold or given away most all their personal belongings including their vehicles. Most of us may leave town on a two week vacation and we are hassled about all the preparation. I cannot imagine leaving on a six month hiatus and all the preparation it takes. Erik and Brad stopped by last night to drop off a box that contained hiking boots and ice picks that I will ship to them when they contact me...and as they near the high mountain peaks that they will need to cross. The box also contained expensive walking shoes and maps that I will also ship to locations on contact. They are planning to go through three pairs of shoes each. Erik used our computer to print a special PCT thru-permit that is required to enter the multiple national parks along the way. He put the permit into a special waterproof sealed plastic bag the size of a wallet. The plastic bag contained money and his driver's license for identity. He carefully cut all unnecessary paper away from the actual permit. Every ounce counted. They will be carrying everything they will need in life on their backs for the next six months. The permit came with a letter from the PCT Association. It was left behind and I picked it up this morning to read it fully. It pointed out some dos and don'ts and the director who wrote the letter ended with, "Have a great trip and be careful out there! And don't forget to send us a photo or two of your adventure."
Yes, it truly will be an 'Adventure for All of Us!'