After a quick trip into Wrightwood for a resupply and a meal I got back on to trail to camp for the night. It was getting dark already so I had to pick a campsite quickly. I cowboy camped on a ridge where I could see the lights of San Bernadino valley on one side of the mountains and the lights of a desert town on the other. During the early morning hours the wind began to gust and made for a cold night of little sleep. I packed up quickly after sunrise and headed to a windless spot in a big pine tree grove for coffee and a hot breakfast to reset my spirit and get ready for a big climb up Mount Baden-Powell.
Sunrise over the desert at the windy camp
Breakfast oats with mulberries and pistachios on pine needles
Patches of snow on the way up Baden-Powell
On top of Baden-Powell after climbing 2800' in 1 hour 20 minutes up numerous switchbacks.
A stand of dead giants
Desert from the San Gabriel Mountains
The official alternate trail around a preserve area for an endangered frog involved some rugged wilderness trail. Note the trail is about 6" wide at points
Devil's Punchbowl on the alternate
Back into the trees on the PCT in Cooper Canyon
Mushroom-likebut not sure what these little wonders are
400 miles in! Not showing good selfie skills though
Spotted--the notorious poodle dog bush that can kill you! Just kidding, but it can leave some nasty blisters similar to poison oak. I spent a good portion of the early trails avoiding imposter plants along the trail for fear they were poodle dog. As soon as I saw I I knew exactly what it was.
Notorious P.D.B.
Cameron being walked over by the trail kitten
Camp for the night in a remote spot above Sulfur Springs Camp
Back up into Ponderosa pines at dawn on Pacifico Mountain
Mountain lion footprint on the trail in the early morning.
Back down into desert hills
I was still walking at sunset to get this shot. This was my highest mileage day on the trail yet with the promise of showers at a KOA campground spurring me to walk 37 miles in one go!
Illuminated field
Trail dust
Trail dust. It took scrubbing three times to get the dirt off.
The following morning in a canyon outside Agua Dulce. This would be a short 10 mile rest day on the way to The Saufley's house. They are hiker hosts with a great home open to hikers just a mile off trail
Vasquez Rocks near Agua Dulce
High density camping at the Saufley's
Free range chickens and one awnry rooster
Domestic site
The home and cool little trailer
Colorful cactus
After a relaxing afternoon and evening in Agua Dulce it was time to get back to the trail the next morning and reestablish the pace.