By: Luke Baum
Above: Las Animas Point on Silverwood Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Here is my last full week on the PCT in 2023. Continuing: the Adventures of Jet and Skywalker!
W8 Journal PCT 2023: Soaking in the SoCal Sun
Day Fifty
I took a long time in the hotel this morning. It's hard not to drag myself through these comforts before being released into the wilderness where anything can happen. Jet said maybe I'm not cut out for the thru-hiking lifestyle. Maybe not, but I sure do love the adventure! So with my bag on my back and my poles in hand, I left Cajon Pass Inn excited to face what lies ahead on the PCT. Feeling well rested is just a perk...
We crossed the busy road outside the Inn around 10am. This time, instead of going to Del Taco, we enjoyed delicious sandwiches at Subway. Afterwards, it took us the longest ever for us to get a hitch: ten minutes (if you don't count the time we accidentally stumbled on an Emmy award party looking for a hitch, but that's another story). We didn't even need to go far: just back to McDonald’s across the bustling highway loop and overpass! The golden arches were in plain view. Luckily, some local construction workers eventually helped us across the highway.
Above: resuming the Pacific Crest Trail southbound from Cajon Pass, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
We officially started our hike around 11:30 well fed and well rested. It was a beautiful hike along what appeared to be an old road. Was it maybe Old US Route 66??
Above: Jet in the distance hiking into Summit Valley, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
I'd gotten used to hiking among dried grass. When it's hot, they can block the wind leaving the sun to bake your legs. Luckily it was a cool, windy day, and the trail was pleasant. Over the course of the day's hike, we climbed just a little more than 1000ft in elevation. The trail along the way had plenty of natural streams as it followed the path of least resistance around Cleghorn Mountain.
Above: Cactus bloom on Cleghorn Mountain, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
As we rounded hills and mountains to get to camp near Silverwood Lake, the scenery became more lush and green. The SoCal superbloom this year was a gift that kept on giving! I would often see cactus blooms (like what's pictured above) all throughout SoCal.
Above: my first glimpse of Silverwood Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
In total, we traveled over 13 miles to our campsite at a picnic area below trail. As we drew nearer to camp, I caught my first glimpse of Silverwood Lake and felt so happy that I'd get to hike with views of this natural beauty the next day. Jet and I found camp tucked away in the trees below trail. This spot was ideal. It had fresh water from the tap, trash cans, benches, picnic tables, countertops, flat spots, and really good service all under huge awnings.
I wanted to cowboy camp under the awning, but it was so windy there. It was also difficult to stake the dense earth, so we only set up the one big tent. In fact, it was so tough that I ended up cutting my hand open on my new stakes. I'm glad I had this facility with running water and trashcans to properly care for myself.
Life Packs Hack: if the ground is too hard to stake, pour water into the initial divot made by your stake. This makes the ground softer and easier for you to stake your tent.
We ate a lot of snacks at this campsite of ours, and it was good times. In the early evening, Jet and I met Dan as he stumbled into the picnic area. He told us that it was his first day of hiking the PCT! Apparently his permit instructed him to begin at this place on this date at this time. We sat down, answered his questions and gave him the advice that we received at the beginning of our adventure and advice we learned along the way. He seemed eager as we wished him luck on his way north to find his first campsite. It felt good to help someone like we were helped in the beginning.
Later, we ate dinner and enjoyed dessert under the awning. I loved this hang out between the two of us today! We were both at ease here. I hunkered down for a windy night, feeling safe from mice.
Night night
Day Fifty One
Above: Lounging at the beach at Cleghorn Picnic Area at Silverwood Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
I woke up early to compensate for the previous late starts, and we headed to trail quickly after packing up.
The scenery was so gorgeous around the lake that I didn't want to leave the area! On top of that, I read on the FarOut map that there was a pizza restaurant in the area that delivered to trail. We hiked for 2 miles before we decided to take a near-zero (or "nero") day at Silverwood Lake!
With the promise of pizza and natural beauty, it was easy to enjoy ourselves. We hung out at Cleghorn Picnic Area for most of the day. We chilled, blogged, and snacked. It was easy for Jet and I to justify our nero because we only had 78 miles left to hike in 10 days. We finally ordered the Pizza at 3pm, and it got here at 4pm.
After we enjoyed our banquet, we hiked 3 miles (mostly the opposite way we hiked on the PCT that morning) to the other side of the lake to a campground. We were determined to find the nearest power outlets to charge our electronics. Eventually we found our spot at the empty camp host site.
We waited at the camp host site for a couple of hours until just before nightfall. Our plan was to sneak onto a spot to use for ourselves at this campground. This is what one might call stealth camping... even though it was on a sanctioned campsite.
We both set up separate tents and felt comfortable enough that night.
Day Fifty Two
Above: Las Animas Point on Silverwood Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
We started hiking by sunrise. The trail started off swarming with LOTS of flies. There weren't as many flies as on North Manitou Island, but they were still bothersome. Even though all I wanted to do was hike quickly to avoid the pesky insects, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture the beauty of the hills around Silverwood Lake.
Above: "Chamise Boat In-Site" on Silverwood Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
After 3 miles, we stopped at a boat in picnic site off a steep unofficial side trail of the PCT. This spot was cute with tiered pavilions covering their individual stone picnic tables. There, we enjoyed an early lunch before taking advantage of the beach. The beach area had some bugs, but it was nice to lay in the warm sun and jump into the cool lake. I dried off in the sun before we returned to trail.
Above: Native American Historical Marker in Summit Valley, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
The hike along the lake was lovely, but they say all good things must come to an end. Once we crossed over to the other side of the hills, our view changed to that of a huge valley for about the next 10 miles. We found a monument along trail to mark the historic significance of this valley (pictured above).
Above: Jet enjoying the remains of a government dam facility near Silverwood Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Jet and I backpacked through the hills where we found the gradual ups and downs we’d come to know and love-hate from the PCT. Along this stretch of trail, we officially hit 500 miles hiked on trail!!! I'm so proud of this huge accomplishment.
We hiked another 5.8 miles to where the trail intersects with CA173 (Nobo mile 314.3). That's where Alan from the Joshua Inn picked us up. Today, we officially hiked 13.8 miles to Joshua Inn!
Above: Jet gazing into Summit Valley, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
When we pulled up to the the inn, it was so windy!! There wasn't much coverage from the wind for our tents, but we blew it off and decided to play it by ear.
We went inside the inn, which is actually just an establishment with a bar on one side and the deli on the other. Inside, I got a really good veggie sandwich, macaroni salad, and a root beer float. I felt extravagant. At the table next to our's, Jet and I met section hikers who do 200 miles every year on a 13 year plan. I loved hearing how meticulously planned out this adventure is for them and found myself slightly envious even though I love acting spontaneous.
These hikers also told us we can all stay on the covered stage out back, per the owner. I was so happy to have shelter from the wind; I was beginning to fear my tent would fall on top of me in the middle of the night! Also, Joshua Inn had an amazing outdoor shower with great pressure and ample warm water that I enjoyed before bed.
Jet and I met a fellow PCTer named Colors who slept next to us on the stage that night. She painted watercolor postcards of the trail and sent them out to her friends and family. I'm always inspired to hear about the unique talents of people on trail and how they incorporated them into their lifestyles.
I got into bed on stage after charging and chatting with my fellow PCTers. They got me so ready for the hot springs tomorrow.
Night night.
Day Fifty Three: Hot Springs Day
Above: A view of Deep Creek Valley from the Mojave River Forks Dam in Hesperia, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
I woke at 7, got ready at Joshua Inn, and went back to trail before 9.
We came across a water crossing way too early in the day for my liking. We lost track of the PCT trail along West Mojave River Fork, so I led the way up the boulders along the embankment and onto the service road above the river. There, I got a bird's-eye view of the river valley and relocated the trail.
We waited for about 15 minutes to let our shoes dry. In the desert sun, all water was sucked from just about any surface in the matter of minutes. It's a feature of the desert that I miss to this day.
Life Packs Hack: Before daring a river crossing, take off your shoes and remove the sole. Store this in your pack during the river crossing. Your shoes will dry quickly, but the soles take a long time, especially if you're walking on them all day. When all of the river crossings are completed for the day, change into dry socks to protect your feet and happily reinsert the dry soles back into your shoes!
Above: A stone's throw from Deep Creek in Apple Valley, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Jet and I saw Electric and Spark AGAIN today!! They chose an even wackier trail to follow than us this year. Their adventure consisted of hiking the So-Cal section of the PCT in three different sections of roughly 200 miles long apiece.
It was so good to see friendly faces. We shared details of our personal journeys, caught up, and shared brief information about what was to come on trail for each other. We parted ways with big hugs. They said they wouldn’t have it any other way and didn’t care about any of our sweat. They are such sweet ladies!
It was so hot that day; I certainly didn’t miss the oppressive heat. All I wanted was to go swimming in Deep Creek ASAP. 6.4 miles later, my wish was granted and I finally made it to the hotsprings!
Above: Deep Creek from the Deep Creek Hot Spring in California. 2023 by Luke Baum
We ate lunch and set up camp before hitting the pools. The pools flowed from warmest to coldest along into the bend of the river. These pools are natural, but overtime, sandbags have been strategically placed around every pool to divert the flow or make certain pools bigger.
Deep Creek was so cold and refreshing on this 85 degree day. For the rest of the day I jumped in and out from the warm water of the sulfuric spring-fed pools to the cold of the large creek again and again.
Above: Me lounging in one of the warmest Deek Creek Hot Spring Pools in Hesperia, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Jet and I revisited the pools right after dinner and just before sunset. We hung out for about an hour until Jet left to get to bed early; I stayed for some extra relaxation in the hotsprings.
I got back to the tent just before nightfall. Before I fell asleep for the night, I blogged: "Crickets chirping and water gushing; it’s a great place here… we’ll see if the notoriously troublesome squirrels break into my tent tonight and try to ransack my backpack just like that mouse. Wish me luck. Night night"
Day Fifty Four
Above: Deer Mountain in the Distance along Deep Creek in California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Last night a whole group of about a dozen people came in and set up camp at 1am. It wasn’t chill, but I got back to sleep shortly after they finished setting up. I woke back up around 6 and luckily no squirrels invaded the tent! Jet and I hiked out from the hotsprings by 7:30.
The hike was set along Deep Creek all day long. It was so beautiful yet windy, buggy, and hot. There was a lot of elevation gain, and I had to hike on ahead to beat this heat!! The only way for me to cool down sometimes is to keep moving as quickly as possible. I don't usually sweat a lot, but my shirt was drenched after 3 miles of hiking.
Above: A scorcher in So-Cal along Deep Creek in California. 2023 by Luke Baum
We experienced four bridge crossings hundreds of feet above Deep Creek. Eventually after the final bride crossing, we stopped below the bridge along the bank of Deep Creek. I hardly had any meals left to eat before reaching Big Bear Lake. On FarOut, we noticed a place a ways away off trail called the Cedar Glen Malt Shop where I could resupply. Under the bridge, we took stock to make sure we didn't have to take an unnecessary detour.
Above: NOBO Mile Marker 300 along Deep Creek in California. 2023 by Luke Baum.
Someone at camp overheard my need for food and donated some breakfast bars! He was an angel sent from above - out on trail specifically for the hungry. (LINK DONATION SITE). That was a great help, but I still didn't have enough calories. Thankfully, Jet shared some of her extra tortillas and peanut butter with me! That would do. We made lunch and decided not to go to the malt shop.
After lunch, instead of continuing on for the day, we embraced our "troll" status as Michiganders and made camp under the bridge at NOBO Mile 298.5. I was so excited to be 48.5 miles away from Big Bear Lake, yet it was a bittersweet feeling. I love trail life, and it was sinking in that it would be over in less than one week.
Above: Jet and me resting under Deep Creek Bridge in California on the PCT. 2023 by Luke Baum
I went swimming in the river and ate an early dinner followed by an early bedtime.
Day Fifty Five
Above: Entering the San Bernardino Mountain Range in California. 2023 by Luke Baum
I was shivering as soon as I woke up this morning; it was cold along the river. Jet wanted an early start, so I decided to stay behind and take a separate morning hike for the first 6 miles.
Above: Fleeting shade in the exposed high desert in the San Bernardino Mountains, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Even though I had been shivering that morning, the air quickly grew hot. Luckily, there was a lot of shade at the beginning of the hike. Along the way, I crossed over, under, and around blowdown after blowdown before I braved several river crossings. That was when I ran into Jet. She fell in while crossing and had just begun drying when I found her. That would've been a scene to behold! Haha
Above: The PCT winding through low bushes in the high desert of San Bernardino Mountains, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
I ate lunch with Jet and kept her company for 45 minutes before we set back out. The next three miles were hard, so I took my own pace and hike ahead. The climb was steep, but there were plenty of pretty bushes to keep me distracted. At the peak of today's climb, I rested beneath some trees to escape the heat.
Above: Purple Superbloom in So-Cal, San Bernardino Mountains, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Jet found me while I was resting and we planned the next couple of days of our adventure into Big Bear Lake. We hiked together for another three miles and found a cold and refreshing creek. We soaked our clothes and sun-hats, and I soaked my feet before hiking just another half-mile to camp. Little Bear Spring Trail Camp was set at 6500ft elevation and 13 miles from last night's camp at NOBO mile 285.6. Both of us were proud of the 2000 feet elevation gain over those 13 miles.
Above: A long passage between pink flowered bushes, San Bernardino, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Upon our arrival at camp around 3:30, we immediately ate dinner. I was so hungry and continued to be throughout the rest of the day. Jet and I found a secluded spot under some large pines near a flat open valley and a creek that flowed downhill. I liked our camp.
I found the desert floor comfortable enough and relaxed for an hour and a half before starting second dinner. Jet and I shared a packet of potatoes and ramen with cheddar cheese. This is affectionately known in the hiker world as a "ramen-bomb".
We cleaned up at the creek after dinner before tucking into our tents. In the spirit of crossing the desert, Jet and I watched Lawrence of Arabia for an hour and a half together. It was a good time, but we both became tired very quickly.
I fell asleep before dark… We had to hike out to the Cougar Crest Trail 8 miles away and then down that trail another 2 miles to camp at Big Bear Lake tomorrow! We were so close, and I was excited!
Night night.
Day Fifty Six
Above: Leaving Little Bear Spring Trail Camp near Big Bear Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Even though I woke up at 5:30, Jet beat me to trail by a half-hour. For 7.9 miles, the hike to the Cougar Crest Trail was entirely uphill which awarded Jet and I another 1000ft in elevation gain. I was grateful that we hiked separately for the first five and a half miles - several of which were through overgrown spiky brush that covered the trail, so I could cruise through.
Above: Recovering burn zone outside Big Bear Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Jet and I met back up for the last two and a half miles before Cougar Crest. These couple miles were set in dense pine trees, and we had breathtaking views of the lake from Delamar Mountain just north of Big Bear.
Above: Finally returning to Big Bear Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
I was so excited to get to Cougar Crest Trail. The trail to the lake was a steep rocky climb downhill for two and a half miles. This trail had amazing view of the lake. It's a popular one for locals! We saw many day hikers including several groups with dogs!
Once we made it down, we took a breather on a bench before agreeing we might want to ask for a hitch into town. At that moment, a couple with their cute brown dog we had passed earlier approached and asked us if we needed a ride! We gratefully accepted and hopped in. It turned out this couple was from Michigan too! What a small world. The nice couple brought us into the village and parted with warm wishes.
Jet and I ate at an outdoor restaurant called 527 Social. I had an AMAZING grilled veggie sandwich and salad with fries and beer. For dessert, Jet and I indulged at a gelato shop. This was also SO good. My gelato was called Cookie Monster. Before leaving the village, we resupplied at the store and was offered another ride from a generous local! People are so nice to us PCTers here!
Jet and I were dropped off outside a campground at the foot of Cougar Crest trail, and when we got to the kiosk, the attendants offered us a stay with the camp hosts for free. The name of these gracious camp hosts were Tauna and Lou: trail angels who have hiked Camino Santiago, Camino Portugal, and sections of PCT together. They love helping people and paying it forward.
I love them. They are such nice people. For dinner, they offered to take us to the Moose Lodge for taco night!! This was just what I was craving. I had a taco bowl and quesadilla. It was YUMMY!!!!! Tauna and Lou insisted on paying for the meal too, and after hearing of our plans to hike around Big Bear over the next couple of days to complete our hike, they offered to pick us up and bring us back to town on Thursday when we finished. Everything settled into place.
Above: S'mores with new friends. From left to right: Lou, Brad, Tauna, Me, Hayley (AKA Jet), Vicky. Serrano Campground, Big Bear Lake, California. 2023 by Luke Baum
Back at the site, we had a fire and ate our first s’mores on trail! How had it been this long? We chatted with our new friends and had a good time around the fire. Before bed, I spoke to my family and tucked in after another blessed night on trail. The journey was so close to completion. I looked forward to finishing strong.
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