Post Five | Days 22 to 30

• Total trail distance hiked: 517.6 miles | 832.99 km
• Days on trail: 30

Current stop: Hikertown, CA. 

The professional photo from Post Three

Day 22 involved completing the remaining Town Day chores that hadn’t been done the day before. The laundry machines in Wrightwood accepted neither quarters nor international credit cards so the only option was bathtub laundry - after seven rinses my hiking clothes were still making the water dirty and I accepted defeat and, importantly, that this was my future for the next few months. 

I had what was perhaps the biggest burrito of my life. After everyone saw the size, it caused a bit of a chain reaction and the deli counter became overwhelmed with hungry hikers. 

Even heavier than it looks!

We left Wrightwood at about 4pm knowing that the hike was only about three miles. Today marked my first ‘actual’ hitchhike (i.e thumb out on the side of the street) on trail.  Hitch scored within less than five minutes - success! 

After setting up camp, the alarm was set for 3:20am to ascend Mt Baden-Powell - hoping to get the snow while still icy. 

Sunset

The ascent the following morning involved about three hours of hiking to reach the summit with a beautiful sunrise on the way. Despite the early start, the snow was still very much slushy which made it a bit difficult.

View from the summit of Mt Baden-Powell

Summit 

Other highlights from Day 23 included a road walk detour to avoid entering an endangered frog habitat (we were dubious about the existence of frogs given the complete lack of water in the area). 

Burns from previous years 

Photos don’t do the views justice 

Road walk detour to save the frogs 🐸 

Day 24 involved 25 miles of hiking with amazing views. I also passed the 400 mile marker (which I would have not noticed had other hikers not been taking a photo there).

400 mile marker 

A fellow Kiwi I had been hiking with had his birthday today so there were some festivities at camp and watching the sunset from the peak. 

For reasons unknown, I had been trying to limit listening to music/podcasts/audiobooks on trail to date but bucked that trend listened to an audiobook in its entirety on Day 25 (it was average). Luckily, the amazing views made up for the lacklustre literature. 

Day 25 ended at camp with a ranger providing a beer to everyone (beer hits differently on trail!). The hiker hunger also set in today and I finished the rest of my food tonight. 

Free beer

Day 26 involved descending back to the desert floor while walking above the clouds making for some spectacular views. Upon reaching floor, I made a quick stop at the LA RV Park to  resupply with some much needed junk food and do laundry. The highlight (and confirmation that I was, in fact, in a trailer park) was a resident blasting ‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton. 

LA RV Park ft. Jolene

After laundry (which becomes dirty and sweaty in less than an hour and feels very much pointless) I hiked a few more hours to Vasquez Rocks (which apparently has been the setting of many movies and TV shows over the years).

Vasquez Rocks

Although we had plans to camp at ‘Serenity Oasis’, the Mexican restaurant offered for us to camp for free in the lot next door so we (being cheap hikers) obviously took them up on the offer. The early dinner and celebratory margarita turned into several, and then karaoke followed. What was supposed to be an early night turned into a 2am bedtime (the previous latest night had been 8:45pm). 

Agua Dulce

Maria Bonita Restaurant 

Camping next door to the restaurant 

Day 27 started off tough. Who knew that hiking 35-40km per day for almost a month has an effect on your ability to process margaritas?! After a greasy breakfast at The Cowboy Tavern, all was well again in the world. 

Before setting off after midday (with electronics fully recharged), we were given free cinnamon rolls and set off for a leisurely 12 miles to camp. Just before reaching camp, we were greeted with the two sweetest words on trail: “Trail Magic”. Dinner (chicken tacos, beers, fresh fruit, and baking) was provided by the presents of a 2022 PCT Hiker - amazing! 

Trail Magic

The best sign on trail

Day 28 was perhaps the easiest 20 miles of hiking to date. The low clouds gave us a reprieve from the scorching sun for the majority of the day (I have no idea of the views that day as I could only see about 15m in front of me). 

While attempting to turn down my stove for dinner, I knocked my dinner out of the pot and burned a hole in my Patagonia puffy jacket. Just when I thought my bad luck was over, I found out that my sleeping pad had a puncture (bad things happen in threes, right?). 

Day 29 involved reaching the 500 mile marker (finally feeling like progress!) and discussions about the logistics and new gear required for the upcoming Sierra Nevada section to the trail (including buying a bear canister). My shoes have had it and I’ve sent a new pair to Tehachapi to pick up in a few days - here’s hoping General Delivery to the Post Office works. 

Filtering water on trail

500 mile marker 

Day 30 involved a 6.7mi hike to Hikertown (a strange rest area and accomodation for hikers that resembles a Western movie set). The water brand ‘Arrowhead’ has sponsored free drinks and food today so I’m resting here for the afternoon and planning on tackling the LA Aqueduct with others at about 5pm. 

Hikertown

The next stop is Tehachapi in about three days - the final Desert Section stop before entering the Sierras - exciting!