Casa de Luna to L.A.

 Social interactions skyrocketed during this past leg as we moved from the Saufley's, to the Anderson's, to Hiker Town, to L.A. We have been extremely fortunate to have trail angels, other hikers, and friends along the way supporting our cause and welcoming us into their homes. This blog post is a tribute to those wonderful people!

5/23--1 month on the trail
Thanks again to the Saufleys for all their hospitality and generosity while in Agua Dulce. Back on the trail, we cruised 24 miles to another incredible place along the trail, Joe and Terry Anderson's "Casa de Luna". We hung out with about 25 other hikers, ate loads of Terry's taco salad, listened to stories, and passed out in their manzanita backyard.

Chilling at the Anderson's fruit and soda cache

Our new signature?

5/24
After a lazy morning accompanied by coffee and Joe's pancakes, Terry ran Scout, TumTum (our new friend from Nevada who has an appetite to rival Forest), and us back to the trailhead. A massive THANK YOU to Joe and Terry! A relaxed 16 miles brought us to the Upper Shake Campground, a deserted, private campground built in the middle of a grove of Live Oaks. We put down some tuna and stuffing before dozing off under the starlit sky.

Joe Anderson telling stories

Bert and Ernie, Scout and TumTum leaving the Anderson's

5/25
Anticipating hot weather in the desert (Mojave) today, we hit the trail early to beat the heat. By noon, we had our first 17 miles in and relaxed by a shady creek for a peanut butter and cheese sandwich and loaded up on water. After a few hours of relaxation, we moved on for 7 more hot, drab miles to an extremely odd, creepy, yet comfortable break at "Hiker Town". Another trail angel has created a mock village where hikers can stay overnight for a donation. Frightened by the decor, we just took a long break in the hiker lounge for a shower, junk food, and a stuffing dinner before hitting the trail for our first steps into the Mojave Desert. A gorgeous sunset dipped behind the Tehachapi Mountains as we strolled alongside the L.A. Aqueduct. After another 6 miles, we settled in behind a Joshua Tree wind block for another starry desert night. (30 miles)

Overlooking a stretch of the Mojave

Creepy Hiker Town

Mojave Desert Sunset

Mojave Desert Sunrise

5/26
Once again, anticipating heat, we woke at 5 and were hiking by 5:45. It was not hot at all! We shivered the first few miles as the 40 mph wind gusts cooled the Mojave. After 11 miles of hiking into an intense headwind, we took a break at Cottonwood Creek at around 9:30 a.m. We then started a gradual climb into the Tehachapi Mountains. Leaning into the wind, we climbed slowly for about 7 miles until we found some shade to take a lunch and wind break in Tylerhorse Canyon. There, with TumTum, Scout, and  new friends Stormin' Norman and Bluebird, we filled up on water, ate peanut butter and cheese sandwiches, and nearly fell asleep. 7 more miles of intense climbing brought us to a ridge where we found a nice sandy spot to lay our heads. We were in our tent, happy to be out of the wind, by 7:30 p.m. after a tuna, oil, and butter powder sandwich. (25 miles)

Excellent views of the Mojave at 6000 feet

Our funny friend TumTum overloaded with gear

5/27
Once again up by 5, we cruised the last 8 miles to Mojave and caught a quick hitch into town for breakfast. The four of us stuffed our faces at Mike's Roadhouse Diner, made our way to the post office, and then checked in to the Motel 6. We felt bad about how dirty the hotel room got as all of us cleaned up after a week of sweat and dirt. We dined that evening with many other hikers at the local pizza pub and talked about normal hiking things (stench, food, weather, and blisters). (Total: 558 miles)

 Tehachapi Wind Farm

Mike's Roadhouse binge

Our friends Wrangler and Gunner returning with groceries (and the cart...)

5/28
Happy to be out of the wind and sun for a day, we slept in until 6 and lounged as long as we possibly could in the motel room. We were entertained by TumTum and another friend, Sniper, who decided to have a wrestling match. It was all in good fun and hilarious to watch. We are unsure as to how it started, but we think it had something to do with Sniper being jealous of TumTum's Ramen noodle varieties...
We have a few days to kill before we get to Kennedy Meadows and start the Sierra, so we decided to visit some friends in Los Angeles. Scout's friends, Eric and Melissa, were kind enough to drive the hour and a half from L.A. to pick us up in Mojave. Thanks Eric and Melissa! After a dinner at a fabulous Thai restaurant in Sherman Oaks, CA, we met up with friends, Mackenzie, Hanna, and Bradley at their apartment.

Round 1 of TumTum vs. Sniper

Round 17 of TumTum vs. Sniper

 5/29
Fortunate to have a free weekend with Mackenzie, Bradley, and Hanna in L.A., we played hard all day! After a tasty breakfast and a relaxing morning with great tunes at the apartment, we discovered a carnival at a local park! A few rides and rigged games later, we strolled back to make some dinner and chill out for the night. A late night dip in the pool and multiple laughter attacks made it easy to pass out in the living room after a long, but extremely fun day.

The L.A. crew (Ernie, Bert, Bradley, Hanna, and Mackenzie)

Ferris Wheel ride

Forest and Bradley very excited for the ride

They stole our camera

Our first vegetables in a month!

5/30

Today we are doing our grocery shopping, updating the blog, and hitting the beach. Life is good in L.A.!

A massive thank you to Mackenzie, Bradley, and Hanna for a great time in L.A! We will miss you all very much as we make our way North. Hopefully, we will see you up the trail!

Itinerary:

Onyx, CA 93255  (June 5th)

Kennedy Meadows General Store (June 10th)
PO Box 3A-5
Inyokern, CA 93527

Much Love,
F+A

Mount Baden-Powell to the Saufley's Hiker Heaven!

Well, we survived the highly anticipated Baden-Powell, despite the sour weather that held us up in Wrightwood, and made it to paradise at the Saufley's home in Agua Dulce! Here is a quick update before we wander off into the Mojave Desert tomorrow morning.

5/18
We were going to get out of Wrightwood one way or another! We enjoyed the stay, but we we were restless to get back on the trail. We had a Trail Angel, "Deacon," give us a ride to Vincent Gap at the base of Mount Baden-Powell at 10 A.M. The three person crew, consisting of Scout and ourselves, pushed quickly through the dense fog bank to 8,000 feet, where we experienced snow across the trail....LOTS of it. Following footprints from the few people that had ascended earlier in the morning, we climbed straight up the face and topped out at 9,300 feet.
Just as we began descending down the ridge, the weather on one side of the mountain cleared and gave us 
beautiful hundred mile views and no wind, finally! As the sun warmed up the ice covered trees, we were faced with a new challenge....dodging sheets and blocks of ice falling from the tops of tough, windswept pine, spruce, and cedar trees. We bopped in and out of the clouds and dodged ice bombs for the remainder of the day until we found a cozy spot to camp at a picnic area. After eating our stuffing and jerky, we quickly climbed in the tent and sleeping bags as the temperature plummeted outside. (16 mile day; total at 390.2 miles).

Forest on the steep slopes of Baden-Powell.

Walking a knife's edge ridge at 9300 ft.



The boys on the summit



Foggy and cold descent

Clouds part briefly for a hundred mile view.

A campground tribute to little Jimmy Jenkins

5/19

 After a restless, COLD night, we packed up with our icicle fingers, ate a half-frozen bar, drank a water slushy, and hobbled out of camp like ectotherms on a Wisconsin winter morning. A short detour for the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog brought us back to the PCT. Happy to have the sun back, we cruised a quick 24 miles to a ridge-top vista point where we set up camp early around 4:30 P.M. Scout, Bert, and Ernie immediately went for the food bag. Soon, we were relaxing with a peanut butter and BBQ potato chip tortilla appetizer and gazing down below at the Station Burn and the Mojave Desert. Dinner soon followed, consisting of wild rice with tuna and cream powder. Hit the spot! As the sun melted over the horizon, we resided to the tiny tent for a few pages of Edward Abbey and John Muir.

Forest overlooking some of the Station Fire detour.

PB and BBQ chips

5/20

Up and about right behind the sunrise for a warm morning! We monotonously cruised all day through the charred remnants of the Station Fire that erased the forest 20 months ago. One of the highlights of the day came when Adam sat on a nest of red ants. A dance ensued that would have done pretty well on YouTube had anyone been taping. Although there were multiple casualties, the ants definitely made their mark. After a rolling 24 miles, we settled in early at the North Fork Ranger Station to camp. Hungry and four hours of light left, we decided to cook a feast of stuffing and tuna followed by loaded mashed potatoes. We covered both entreees with BBQ potato chips and olive oil. A couple of spoonfulls of PB for dessert, and we still were looking for more... We were not alone at camp tonight, as we shared the flat ground with thru-hikers from Georgia, Michigan, California, Maine, and Russia. The crackle of massive powerlines and yelps, trills, and songs from the thrashers guided us all to rest...

Scout and Adam resting for lunch

5/21

With 18 miles to the Saufley's in Agua Dulce and growling bellies for town food, we got up with the sun at 5 A.M. and hit the trail for a magnificent sunrise creeping up the San Gabriel Mountains. We flew down the mountains, stirred up a flock of beautiful Western Tanagers, weaved through the canyons of Vasquez Rocks, and rolled into Agua Dulce before noon. First stop...the local supermarket for cold beverages and fresh food. After vegging out front for 3 hours with our friend Grey Ghost, we trotted up the road to the Saufley's, AKA Hiker Heaven. We both were in awe...shower, toilets, fresh towels, laundry, internet, copious amounts of information on the upcoming trail and towns along the way, a shuttle service (35 miles to REI for new shoes!), bikes with baskets for groceries, large weatherproof shelters with cots, a full kitchen, TV, etc... Jeff and Barb Saufley have been hosting the thru-hiking crowd for 15 years! Multiple volunteers help them out with shuttling and many of the other challenges of dealing with 500 hiker bums over the next two months. A massive...massive thank-you to the Saufley's and their entire volunteer operation (MILE 454.4)!

Sunrise

Racer

Scout and Adam at Vasquez Rocks

Our friend - self proclaimed "Bad Chris" showing off his tan

Hiker Heaven

 
5/22
We are spending our lazy day relaxing at the Saufley's, catching up with other thru-hikers, and prepping for our next leg through the Mojave Desert...

We were both a little bummed out to miss the 21st Annual Reggae Fest yesterday, but we would like to give a special thank-you to Jim, Linda, Kestrel, and the Hotel crew for giving us a shout out for our cause. We were definitely there in spirit! Also, we would like to make a special thank-you, once again, to all the generous, loving people that have helped us along the way, through donating to our cause, sending positive energy our way, trail mail, or by taking us into their homes like their own children. One more shout out of respect goes to our friends Grey Ghost and Bad Chris for being the two biggest STUDS on the trail!

Bad Chris and Grey Ghost

Much Love,

F+A

Big Bear Lake to Lazy Days in Wrightwood....

We would like to give a special thank you to the Big Bear Adventure Hostel for all their hospitality. We had a wonderful time and made many new friends. We celebrated another PCT hiker’s birthday on Tuesday night and had a blast. We have found that hikers generally have no fear and Paul “Outpost” proved it, as he belted out his own karaoke version of Elton’s “Tiny Dancer”. It was terrible and wonderful at the same time. The community of hikers is growing every day, and they have all been such wonderful friends and resources along the way.

Adam and Bre

5/11

Thanks to Bre from the hostel for giving us a ride back to the trail! We cruised a quick and easy 20 miles today. A gorgeous, fresh, sunny day coming out of Big Bear, we followed the ridge around Big Bear Lake and were gifted with many spectacular views. In contrast, we were saddened/depressed as we later passed through a massive range of charred conifer trees. It is incredible how fast such a green, living forest can be transformed into a graveyard of massive cremated trees. We settled in a valley below, along a rushing creek, with a box of stuffing and happily resided to our cozy tent.

Big Bear Lake

Forest and a cluster of Joshua Trees

Little Bear Springs Cemetery

Riding the Pony

5/12

After our best night of sleep so far at Holcomb creek, we hit the trail for a long 26 mile day. The first 12 miles were gorgeous, and we ran into a few of our friends on the trail. We crossed rushing trout streams, saw a Rattlesnake and a Racer, and relaxed in the shade of a large bridge spanning Deep Creek. Then…the detour from hell. 14 miles on dirt roads with noisy ATV’s buzzing by and spitting dust at us. Thanks to Mother Nature, were back at peace as we chased a gorgeous sunset to camp. To sleep with coyotes howling and crickets chirping us lullabies....

Road Walk from Hell

Dinner along HWY 173

Sunset at Camp

5/13

After a warm evening, and another good night of sleep, we awoke at our Highway 173 campsite to a gorgeous morning. The day heated up quickly as we walked easily along the hills circling the town of Cedar Glen. After another brief road walk past the impressive Mojave Siphon Power Plant, we started to climb. Alongside the trail, trail angels surprised us with fresh fruit and water. Thanks Turtles! After a brief climb, we caught our first view of Silverwood Lake…simply gorgeous after the hot morning. We circled the lake and found a picnic area to have lunch and relax for a couple hours. Not feeling rushed, we walked on for a few miles and lazily kicked our feet up again for a few hours! We found camp nearby at a dirty horse camp that a Ranger said is where the PCT hikers sleep. We slept well after just a 17 mile day.

Silverwood Lake

5/14

The early bird gets the worm; the late, lazy bird gets extra sleep and McDonald’s. We slowly crawled out of the tent at the horse camp after hearing multiple footsteps pass us around 5 a.m. As we were packing up and eating some breakfast, another early bird caught up to us. We were pleased to see our new friend from Big Bear…Scoutmeister. The three of us cruised to Interstate 15--about 13 miles. Along the way, we experienced some intense winds and descents and saw another rattlesnake. It was definitely the fastest 13 miles we have hiked in our lives, as we were all salivating and chasing down the Golden Arches.

We then decided to destroy the menu, each consuming between 2500-4000 calories of the healthy, gourmet cuisine… Drained from the excessive preservatives and calories, we spent the next 3 hours in our booth in a food coma, happy to be out of the heat and wind. Following our binge, we grabbed a few supplies from the Chevron and headed 5 miles up the trail to camp near Cajon Pass. Clouds filled the valley as we headed to sleep in the tiny tent.

BEST SIGN EVER!

Scoutmeister and Ernie Gorging

Food Coma

Rookie Backpackers trying on our Packs.

PCT under Canadian Pacific Rail.

Tent Party

5/15

Those clouds were no bluff. We woke to a misty rain hitting the fly, and quickly packed up our wet gear. We climbed 5,000 feet through the dense fog and rain. The rain turned to sleet and snow around 8,000 feet. 50 mph gusts blasted the precipitation into our faces and staggered our steps. Frozen and soaked, we finished an incredible but cold hike and rushed down the Acorn Trail, out of the wind and snow, to Wrightwood, CA. A massive lunch from the grocery store followed, and we quickly made our way to a heated and dry room at the Pines Motel, sharing it with friends, Scoutmeister and Chris, to save costs.

Soggy Hikers

Too Cold for Shorts

Eager to get into Wrightwood

Glazed Pine Needles

5/16

“The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry” – Robert Burns

Fully expecting to zero today and climb ominous Mt. Baden-Powell (9300 ft) tomorrow, we found ourselves hiking today and zeroing on Wednesday! A large storm, capable of dumping large amounts of fresh snow, dropping temperatures, and producing dangerous wind gusts in excess of 50 mph atop Powel has bottle necked many hikers in Wrightwood. The snow could make route finding difficult and traction equally sketchy. Not wanting to take 2 full zeros, we threw some water and food in our packs and hiked 14 miles back up the mountain and then along the ridge to the base of Baden-Powel (Mile 374.0). Two inches of ice coated every surface, but the walk was gorgeous and we stayed warm in our rain jackets. The temperature was well below freezing, with strong winds, but we made it to our destination and caught a quick hitch from a Forest Service employee back into Wrightwood, where we will wait out the storm. Relaxation and food followed.

Mount Baldy

Iced Fence

Inspiration Point

5/17

We will spend our first real zero in Wrightwood today, working on the blog, reading at the library, and watching 50 mph gusts blow rain and snow past our window.

Anticipated Itinerary:
Agua Dulce, CA-4 days-Mile 454.4
Mojave, CA-2 weeks-Mile 558.3
Onyx, CA-3 weeks-Mile 652.0

We are going stir-crazy and excited to get back on the trail tomorrow. We will continue walking North for Camp AmeriKids! Please continue to spread the word on our cause and on our progress. Keep the good vibes rolling!

Much Love,
F+A