Daily Miles: 18.4, Total Miles: 96.0 Julian was in a fog bank this morning. Nothing seems to open up early here but we did find coffee and a cinnamon roll. Mrs. Haze and I said our goodbyes at Scissors Crossing – already looking forward to a great reunion at South Lake Tahoe! The trail slowly climbed just over 2,000 ft over the next 18 miles, following the contours of the San Felipe Hills. Much of the lower reaches in the…
Daily Miles: 0, total Miles: 77.6 After a good night’s sleep in a bed too soft, we headed to Anza-Borrego Desert to be tourists. The objective was to see the welded steel free-standing sculptures by artist/welder Ricardo Breceda. Prehistoric animals that used to roam this area and some that probably never did, but still cool and scary. Some of these mammoths, camels, sloths, wild horses and dinosaurs were life-sized. The scorpion, grasshopper and serpent were much larger than life, all…
Daily Miles: 4.9, Total Miles: 77.6 Another cloudless day but still have shade from Granite Mountain. Not many redeeming qualities to this morning’s hike through burnt and washed-out creosote and cactus desert until approaching Scissors Crossing. I found the water cache under the bridge and was just sitting down when Stumbling Norwegian and friends came down. They had more water and a case of PBR beer to drop off before their SOBO hike to PCT Kickoff Days. Had a nice…
Daily Miles: 20.0, Total Miles: 72.7 I sure like that Neoair mattress – sure hope it holds up! Little shade today as the trail passed through Oriflamme and Chariot Canyons. I saw my first snake today slither across the trail – too fast to identify. Plenty of prickly pear and hedgehog cactus with deep rose to purple-colored flowers. After about 16 miles, I arrived at Rodriquez spur with good water originating from a tank. Met a few more hikers loading…
Daily Miles: 10.4, Total Miles: 52.7 No plans for big miles today so a leisurely morning and later start. Tempted to go into Laguna but I kept moving. Not as many hikers today but plenty of trail runners. I intended to get water at Penny Pines but the tank was temporarily closed. I arrived at Pioneer Mail early in the afternoon and found water, shade trees and picnic tables. I’m cowboy camping here tonight to give my feet a rest….
Daily Miles: 22.3, Total Miles: 42.3 The loud jeep club party was in full swing until midnight. Then crying babies on both sides of our campsite at Lake Morena. Finally, several nearby turkeys gobbling very early in the morning. Earplugs didn’t quite cut it! Cool morning but warming up fast as I crossed under the bridge at I-8 which we had driven over at about 80mph the day before yesterday. Saw my first buck naked day hiker after lunch coming…
Daily Miles: 20.0, Total Miles: 20.0 No more loop trails or out-and backs! After my brother whipped up a delicious breakfast of salmon, eggs and hash browns, we headed to Campo. When nearly there, we saw the Border Patrol escorting a few men with hands over their heads to the BP vehicles. Saw several hiker groups heading through Campo but we had the monument to ourselves. Then customary photos, register signing and goodbyes to Mrs. Haze, by brother and sister-in-law….
Just back from Charleston, SC to help celebrate my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday. We had a great time and I got an early start on calorie loading – great seafood and two of my all-time favorites, chicken fried steak and coconut cake! I moved up the start date due to the low snowpack in the Sierras. Now leaving for San Diego in nine days, visit with my brother and sister-in-law, and head out from Campo. Last minute details this week, updating…
I’ve been busy around here with guests including a great visit with our son, daughter-in-law and 7-month old grandson, Charlie, from Montana. They all enjoyed the warmer weather! Our other son and daughter-in-law are proud parents of their second son born this month. Welcome Liam Michael! A bit of a setback this month with a bad cold turning into a sinus infection. Got some antibiotics, took the first dose and had a severe allergic reaction. This helped me reach one…
Ten days ago it was snowing in Tucson – this week it was pushing 80 degrees. The Sonoran desert should get good flowers this spring with above average rainfall. The golden poppies may even be bursting out today. I just returned from a few spring training baseball games in Phoenix, another reminder that the hike is coming soon! I am kind of in my own spring training program at the moment getting ready for the big season. Just hope I’m…
