Aaron and I wanted to do a long backpack trip on the PCT to train for our upcoming JMT trip (and, of course, for fun too). Originally we wanted to do the first 48 miles of the PCT, from Campo to the Laguna Campground. Here's what happened...
We started 20 miles in at Lake Morena. It was wonderful to be hiking on the PCT! It was a little hot, but thanks to my new sun hat, my head felt nice and cool. Also working to cool us down were two creeks we had to cross - the second one was even knee deep! Both times I made a point to use my new collapsable water bucket to clean the sand off my feet, which worked out better than expected. The best part about it, is that you can even set it down without spilling any water!
Anyway, after hiking under a bridge, crossing the creeks and a valley, we began a gradual climb. Apparently we weren't the only ones to think it was a little hot out, because we soon came across another hiker who was laying in the shade towards the top of a mountain. He wasn't doing too well, so we offered water, powdered Gatorade and a bag of Fritos, which seemed to do the trick.
"PCT" sign under a bridge... you know, in case you forgot what trail you were hiking on...
We ended up spending the night with 5 PCT hikers at Fred Canyon, which included the hiker we helped out earlier in the day. The camp was very nice and quiet, and even had a little stream close by that was very convenient. It was nice to spend some time with PCT hikers to hear about how they prepared for the trip, and what gear they had to have on the trail. I slept pretty well, only waking up once or twice because it was a bit cold.
In the morning, we woke up early and hiked about a mile to Cibbets Flat Campground to meet up with two friends who wanted to hike with us that day. Man oh man, they hike fast! It was a beautiful day for hiking and we even ended up hiking amid pine trees in the afternoon, which helped a lot with the heat.
Nice view from the trail
15 miles later at the Laguna Campground, we made the executive decision to save the 20 mile hike from Campo to Lake Morena (that would complete the first 48 miles of the PCT) for another day. I was working on two blisters on the soles of my feet due to a poor choice of hiking in cotton socks, and Aaron wasn't sure his feet were up for a 20 miler the next day either. Also it was getting late, and we still had to drop our friends off at Cibbets Flat Campground to get their car. The drive back to Cibbets, Lake Morena and then back home was beautiful during sunset, and the alpine glow was spectacular. It was really neat to drive past the 28 miles we had hiked - it took about an hour in a car!
The last two days of the weekend involved hanging out at home, shopping for food so we could make beef stew one night and then (vegan) stir-fry the next. We also had time to take advantage of some free tickets I had to all the museums at Balboa Park. I received these tickets for volunteering at Mission Trails, and they gained us free entry to any museum we wanted to see for the month of April - how fun!
(model) train wreck at the railroad museum
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