Hiker Heaven!

Well, I am writing you all from the infamous Saufley's Hiker Heaven. They are a couple that runs a hostel free of charge in Agua Dulce, CA. They are running a makeshift post office out of the garage along with a laundry facility, a tent city, single wide trailer for cooking and showers, etc. The town is an equestrian community with a local rock outcropping which many movies were filmed.

As for my last stretch of trail: I hiked over a mountain called Baden Powell, another snow covered mountain. On the way down I spotted a bear and got some pics that were too far away. That night I camped at a stream and didn't realize the bones on the ground til morning. Turned out to be two full stripped carcases of some unlucky big horn sheep taken down by a mountain lion.

The next two days were road walking due to a reroute of trail from last years fire. NOT FUN!!! It feels like you are on a treadmill. Then yesterday coming into town I was within 6 inches of stepping on a rattlesnake. It was the first time that I've jumped probably 5 feet with a full pack on.

Coming into town at 2pm I went straight to the cafe and ordered 3 milkshakes, burger and fries, and a pitcher of beer. Had to fill up before I went to the grocery store!

I will be recieving mail drops at the following address if anyone is interested.

Attn PCT Hiker: Michael Huff

Kenedy Meadows General Store

96440 Beach Meadows Rd

Inyokern, CA 93527

Sorry I haven't gotten back to each of you individually, just limited on computer time and a little brain dead after hiking in the desert. Hope all is well in all your lives, walking through the Mojave next!

Above is one of the rattlesnakes I have seen, the desert is below, along with my summit of Mt. Marion.

And of course the tarantula!

So this last stretch was fairly mellow for elevation gain and loss. We do end up crossing an interstate where there is a McDonald's .4 miles from the trail. Yes, I ate at McDonald's! I had 4 breakfast burritos, a hash brown, and an OJ. Then went next door at the gas station for ice cream. Legend has it that a thru-hiker challenged a 400 lb woman to an eat off at McD's and the thru-hiker won. After that we had a detour around a burned area. The rest is history and I am in Wrightwood, CA, mile 373!

Big Bear Lake, CA

Well I am taking my official second day off. On the trail these are called "zero days." This means that you have hiked no miles that day. I just got done with 6 days out: 17 miles, 12 miles, 13, miles, 30 miles, 19 and 10. My pack was a bit heavier with an ice axe and microspikes (crampons for tennis shoes that help you walk in the snow) along with all the food. On day two and three I had to deal with hiking on snow and navigation, two things I have never done! Definitely burned more calories and had a higher level of stress. The area is named the San Juacinto Wilderness, near Idyllwild, CA. On day three I decided to summit Mt. Marion at around 10,388 ft above sea level. After that I descended and glacaded for the first time. Here's how it works: sit on your butt start sliding on the snow, then use the pick on your ice axe as a rudder and a brake. Lots of fun and very fast, but I snapped one of my shoulder straps in the process.
On day four I did a 30 miler on easy terrain, and ended up camping on the Whitewater River. We arrived around 4 pm and swam for an hour after the long hike through the desert. A perfect day.
New trail names: Jaybird, Sir-Mix-A-Lot, April Showers, Structure, and my favorite yet: Beer Gryllis-Man vs. Beer.
New animals: bat, kit-fox, 5 different lizards, centipede.

Still having a problem getting pics, I may start a photobucket account and I'll send out the link. Happy mothers day!!