The Adventures of...: Days 19-20

Day 19, 24 miles, endpoint PCT mile 325

Well, we did not take our own advice. Instead of doing a light day (say, 16 miles, which would be a good average heading into Kennedy Meadows), we crushed out another big mileage day. There is a method to our madness, however: tomorrow, at mile 342, there is a McDonalds. Normally,I hate McDonalds. It contributes to the growing obesity epidemic in this country, its marketing aimed at children is reprehensible, and it serves unhealthy food with fake flavors that, really, no one should eat. But all of my ethics have gone out the window. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to get there tomorrow. I am going to have 5 or 6 cheeseburgers. I am only slightly exaggerating. Anyway, we realized if we did a big day today, and got up early tomorrow, we could get there early enough for a late lunch, so that is the plan.

We spent the first half of the day hiking along the canyon, following Deep Creek. We passed the hot springs area and contemplated going down closer to the water to check it out. From the trail, as plain as day, stood an elderly gentleman with a white beard at the water's edge. He was naked as the day he was born, which was likely many, many years ago. His skin was a dark bronze color. He had no tan lines. We decided to skip the hot springs.

The lush canyon with its green trees and flowing water gave way to an open, exposed area that is notoriously hot. Finally, the weather was on our side; it was sunny, but not too hot, and we made it through the section alive.

Tomorrow is our big McDonalds date. Coming up we have that, then our next town stop in Wrightwood, CA two days after that.

Carla is such a risk taker.

Josh over Deep Creek.

Not all of the PCT can be scenic :(

Sunset.

Carla pondering life.

Day 20, 22 miles, endpoint PCT mile 347

Today was McDonald's Day. We woke up with much anticipation and motivation to crush out 17 miles to get to the McDonald's at Cajon Pass next to Interstate 15. We started the hike by skirting around Silver Lake for several miles, a pleasant enough lake with green hillsides and fisherman on the water. We then climbed along several ridgelines until finally the interstate, and the parallel train tracks, were visible in the hazy distance. We flew, making it to McDonalds by 1:10pm, an hour and a half earlier than we expected.

The McDonalds was at a busy exit off I-15; it was strange to suddenly be surrounded by so many cars, people in regular (clean) clothes, and little kids. Josh and I demolished as much food as we could manage off the dollar menu while we charged our cell phone, enjoyed the air conditioning, and chatted with other hikers and curious onlookers. I washed up as best I could in the sink and looked at myself in the mirror for the first time in several days. We stayed three and a half hours. Finally, we grabbed Subway sandwiches to-go for dinner, as well as a 3 pack of Tecate, and hit the trail for 5+ more miles.

We hiked with a couple from New Hampshire, Bandit and Can-Can. Just as the sky was starting its nightly transition, we settled down in a flat camping area next to a country dirt road with Bandit, Can-Can, and a couple from BC, Canada, Lorax and T-Fox. We drank beers under the half-full moon. In the distance, I-15, the main thoroughfare between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, was at a standstill; unmoving headlights could be seen for miles due to an overturned semi. The only thing we have to worry about tonight is tomorrow's climb up the hills towards Wrightwood, where we will be the day after tomorrow.