Hunkering down again

We are at the intersection of the PCT and I-15 at Cajon Pass. Yesterday a cold front moved in, making us reluctant to climb into the San Gabriel mountains. We decided that the best option was to get a room at the hiker friendly Best Western and start the climb tomorrow morning.

It has been a long time since the last journal. The problem has been people. We are surrounded by awesome folks. Nights have been full of campfires and interaction, leaving little time for writing. As I write this I am forgoing more of this camaraderie in our motel room.

I will try and sum up the last chunk of time. We have been traveling with our friends, Racheopod and Gnar, both of which have been mentioned previously. It has been difficult to part ways with them, and it may become more difficult as the shared miles accumulate. We all hike at different paces. Racheopod is up early and hikes fast. Yesterday we didn't even see her until we pulled into the campsite she had selected for us all. Gnar likes to build fires and stay up late. His pace is the fastest and he catches up with Zm and I even though he leaves camp at least an hour after we do.

Our stay at Big Bear was brief. At that point I had only been back on the trail for 20 miles and neither of us were interested in a town stay. Quick in and quick out to get food and fuel.

The next few days were a big trial period for my achilles. I started out super slow. So slow that my legs were sore because I wasn't used to the pace. But over time I was slowly able to build up speed. After sixty miles I was able to reach a functional hiking speed when we were reunited with Racheopod and Gnar at Deep Creek Hot Springs. We hadn't seen them since Big Bear when they zoomed ahead.

Deep Creek is a well known hiker hotspot. There were about 10 hikers there when we showed up in the evening. Needless to say, good times were had. The hot springs are fantastic at night but quite an oven by day. We stayed for about 24 hours, leaving in the early evening after the heat had passed.

As the days have rolled on, my foot has continually improved. I am now able to walk at full speed. The injury hasn't completely gone away but I don't think that my hike is at risk anymore.

I wish I could say more. Maybe a few blurbs...

-- snow in the sierras is intense. We will get there early and might have to sit for a while
-- last night we were sleeping under the stars and had to put up the tent at four in the morning when it starting raining.
-- yesterday we got a ton of free food out of some Spanish speaking locals at a picnic area. People like to give you stuff when they find out what you are doing.
--- we ate at McDonald's today. The only one on the trail. Then a Del Taco. Only fast food and convenience store food here.

That's it. Tomorrow we climb into the San Gabriels. Wrightwood on Tuesday and Aqua Dulce sometime next weekend. I will try to journal more in the days to come.