Day 1 - Mile 266 - 276

After a relaxing zero day (zero trail miles) in Big Bear Lake and a great lunch with Shoby's cousin, Ali and his lady Nicole, courtesy of Shoby, I started back on trail where I left off. I was reenergized even carrying the full weight of a resupply and my feet and legs were feeling much healthier. Since it was late in the day I planned for about a half day's distance and got about 10 miles in to a solitary wilderness camp. 

 

Chilly solitary camp  

Chilly solitary camp  

Day 2 - Mile 276 - 298.5

Overlooking Big Bear Lake at dawn

Overlooking Big Bear Lake at dawn

Texture in cedar

Texture in cedar

Trees are crying

Trees are crying

Huge pine cones!  

Huge pine cones!  

The transition back to desert hills through a rock garden

IMG_3688.JPG
Foot rock  

Foot rock  

A very nice sight after quite a few desert miles

A very nice sight after quite a few desert miles

First bridge at Deep Creek and the stop for the second day

First bridge at Deep Creek and the stop for the second day

Camp by the creek. 22 miles makes a big difference in scenery 

Camp by the creek. 22 miles makes a big difference in scenery 

Day 3  - Mile 298.5 - 323.5

Mornings are amazing  

Mornings are amazing  

Hit 300!  

Hit 300!  

Ledge trail

Ledge trail

Deep Creek

Deep Creek

Burl

Burl

Rainbow Bridge over Deep Creek

Rainbow Bridge over Deep Creek

IMG_3804.JPG
Ah, the desert. 

Ah, the desert. 

Mojave River dam

Mojave River dam

IMG_3812.JPG
An unfriendly spotted!  

An unfriendly spotted!  

Manzanitas in the burn zone

Manzanitas in the burn zone

Stringy yellow grass at the base of burned manzanita trees

Stringy yellow grass at the base of burned manzanita trees

IMG_3856.JPG
Got into camp in time for this

Got into camp in time for this

Which turned into this... 

Which turned into this... 

Then this! 

Then this! 

Day 4 - Mile 323.5 - 347

California water department storage at dawn  

California water department storage at dawn  

Dawn and lenticular clouds.  

Dawn and lenticular clouds.  

Silverwood Lake

Silverwood Lake

Yucca in bloom

Yucca in bloom

Clouds rolled down to the lake as I climbed

Clouds rolled down to the lake as I climbed

Banded snake sunning

Banded snake sunning

IMG_3910.JPG
Trail through a culvert under train tracks

Trail through a culvert under train tracks

IMG_3929.JPG
IMG_3934.JPG

El Cajon Pass Rail Turn

Ominous clouds over San Andreas Valley

Ominous clouds over San Andreas Valley

Day 5 - Mile 347 - 371

Yucca seed pod silhouette  

Yucca seed pod silhouette  

Another dawn start

Another dawn start

Burn zone bandito. Bandana limits the amount of soot inhaled on a windy morning 

Burn zone bandito. Bandana limits the amount of soot inhaled on a windy morning 

Mountains above Wrightwood  

Mountains above Wrightwood  

Still a little snow

Still a little snow

My ride to town--a 79 Jeep Golden Eagle driven by the park ranger

My ride to town--a 79 Jeep Golden Eagle driven by the park ranger

Wrightwood. A very hiker friendly little mountain town  

Wrightwood. A very hiker friendly little mountain town