PCT: The first 5 days

Day 1

Start time: 12 pm
End time: 4:45 pm
Start: Southern Terminus – 0.0
End: gate – 8.8
Miles: 8.8
Ascent: 1385 ft | Descent: 869 ft

The day was finally here. After months of planning we were at the Mexican border on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Jeff’s brother Jon drove us to the southern terminus trail head. Just before arriving we stopped in Cameron Corners for some burritos at a taco stand.

At the border we checked in with the PCTA representative who signed our permits and gave us our tags. We posed for some photos at the trail monument and also checked out the border wall. Whether you favor the wall or not, there is no denying that it is both an impressive sight and a scar upon the land.

We started hiking at 12pm and saw surprisingly few hikers. Because of the recent rains, there was an unusual amount of water along this rugged trail.

We were in the tent by 7pm and asleep (more or less) by 8pm. Coyotes were howling and yip yipping around midnight and one was just outside of camp!

Day 2

Start: gate – 8.8
End: view of Lake Morena- 22.3
Miles: 13.5
Ascent: 2228 ft | Descent: 2143 ft

Start time: 7:45 am
End time: 4:30 pm

During the evening we noticed an incredible amount of condensation both on and inside the tent. The ground was super saturated and the humidity was extremely high. Then, as morning drew near the temperature dropped just below freezing and it turned to ice. A snow ball formed inside the tent as were shaking off the ice.

A German speaking couple was camped near us and as we proceeded down trail we encountered more hikers along the way. Most of this hiker “bubble” eventually gathered at Hauser Creek to rest and water up before beginning a hot dry climb out of that canyon. Everyone was talking about the iced up tents.

We took off before everyone else and we led the way into the small village of Lake Morena where we purchased some more sunscreen and goodies at the malt shop.

Most of the hikers we met earlier decided to stay at the Lake Morena campground. However, we decided to go back on trail for a few more miles.

We stopped at a trickling water to fill up and then walked a mile further to a dry camp on a ridge.

Day 3

Start: view of Lake Morena – 22.3
End: by creek – 36.1
Miles: 13.8
Ascent: 2935 ft| Descent: 1034 ft

Start time: 7:39 am
End time: 4:30 pm

A quicker start today, just over an hour! About a mile down from camp we crossed under Buckman Springs Road and our first of two wet foot crossings of Cottonwood Creek.

The trailed wound itself through a valley of some private land. Another mile or so ahead we crossed under Interstate 8 and began climbing up the canyons to the north.

We passed encountered several more PCT’ers as well as quite a few day hikers out to see the flowing creeks and rare water falls on Kitchen Creek. Two such hikers introduced themselves as trail angels and offered us candy bars and tangerines. “Fruit Bowl” as she is known invited us to stop by their camp a few miles ahead for food and beverages.

It was 0.7 miles off trail but worth it. This area resembles the location further North where the TV series MASH was filmed. The sun was hot and the was wind cool.

Climbing up to about 5300 ft we found a perfect tent site under a large tree and with a trickle of cool water nearby.

Day 4

Start: by creek – 36.1
End: Garnet Peak jct – 50.1
Miles: 14.0
Ascent: 2054 ft| Descent: 1851 ft

From camp we hiked 6.5 miles up to Mt Laguna over 6000 ft elevation, into the pines and some areas of lingering snow. A week prior hikers were postholing in the snow. Now most of the snow was gone.

We ate lunch at the small restaurant and resupplied at the general store before heading back on trail. Leaving Mt. Laguna we climbed a bit higher onto the ridge overlooking the desert basins and mountains up the east. The view was incredible!

The wind increased into the afternoon and eventually was blowing so hard it could almost knock you over. It also started spitting rain (which was not expected) and so we started looking for a place with some shelter from the wind. Thank goodness we found a small grove of trees below the trail. We set up the tent, unpacked, and made a hot meal. As per usual so far, asleep by 7:30 pm.

Day 5

Start: Garnet Peak jct – 50.1
End: Sunrise TH – 59.5
Miles: 9.4
Ascent: 1082 ft | Descent: 1562 ft

We made great time and the views were again incredible. We were hiking on an east facing ridge with a view of the valley below.

We slept in this morning as we didn’t want to go out into the wind and rain. We finally got going and made great time. The rain pretty much had stopped but the wind was still howling.
Last night we check the weather forecast for the next couple days. The forecast had changed with now the major rainfall coming tomorrow. We made plans to go to Julian today (somehow) and get a hotel to wait out the storm.

After about an hour we made it to Pioneer Mail picnic area where we met Brian (trail name SunStrokeHiker). He was dropping of his son who was slack packing (hiking without a full backpack). We told him our plans and he offered us a ride into Julian from further down the trail. We exchanged contact info (Garmin and phone) and he said he’d pick us up about 7 miles down the trail or about 3 hours.

Along the way we met a couple from Idaho – Ryan and Becky. They were a few minutes ahead of us and were waiting for a ride into town when our ride showed up. He gave all of us a ride into town and dropped us off at the brewery. We decided to have pizza dinner together and meet up again tomorrow for our “zero day”.

Jeff also made a short video which he posted on YouTube. Enjoy. Here is the link.