Start point

Mesa Campground, 328.1

End point

Tentsite at mile 343.6

Miles hiked

15.5

Wilderness area

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area

San Bernardino National Forest

People I met

Boy (not a boy, just a great trail name)

Emily and Katie, sisters from New Mexico hiking together

JP and Kevin, brothers from the Netherlands hiking together

The day on trail

Waking up here was just beautiful. Even with the grill.

Today was epic. It’s one of the most-looked forward to days for any hiker. Cajon Pass is a moment when you transition from Section C to Section D of the PCT. There’s also a McDonald’s about 0.4 miles off trail where you can get crucial calories at. It’s a common meeting place for hikers and a great chance to catch up.

Leaving camp I stumbled into more trail magic! I had to cross a street with water and a car was approaching. I was worried they were getting ready to splash me, then the driver rolled down his window and said “hey you want some snacks?”

Hell yes I want some snacks. Yes.

On the left is Punisher and Softserve. Behind me is Queenie. And Queenie just absolutely lit up when she heard there was trail magic, because she got in too late the night before to get any fruit or burgers.

I had a banana, chocolate chip muffin, a PBR (yes, at 9:30am), and a Gatorade. It’s all about fuel! I also had some cookies. Damn, it was a delightful surprise.

Punisher and Softserve finished the Arizona Trail (AZT) two days prior, and they hiked the PCT a year or two earlier. They’re true hikertrash and they were perfect surprise trail angels. And to go straight from the Arizona/Utah border to just outside Silverwood Lake is bonkers. They even tried going up to areas closer to Wrightwood but the roads were closed. What amazing people.

After spending enough time talking with them, it was time to hike on.

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There were lots of great things to look at and notice. Gates, flowers, mystery animal bones, and lizards. Of course lizards. All the lizards.

There were so many insects out today, I couldn’t believe it. Beautiful flies and honeybees on flowers. And there were just so many flowers, many which I haven’t seen yet, like the mini-sunflower looking ones. They were a delight. On top of that the smells were amazing. I couldn’t figure out where it came from, but I kept wandering into these clouds of heady, sweet, floral airs that demanded my attention from the city air I got used to before trail.

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There was a decent climb under power lines to these dirt cliffs that would have shut me down from anxiety years ago.

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And a view of these rocks in the distance which I found interesting. I didn’t realize I’d be walking through them later.

The noise was surprising. There are multiple train route and highways, and the canyons here echoed all the traffic noise through the area. It’s really easy to get used to these levels of noise pollution, which concerns me.

Some guy and his kid put up a gold mining claim ticket. I didn’t realize we were still in the 1800s.

Soon enough I was at the side street to McDonald’s. I met Piñacolada and Sinead on my way in as they were leaving, and we made plans to meet at the first campsite after Macca’s. These clay faces greeted me to Cajon Pass.

At MickeyD’s I ran into Big Box, Marie, and another hiker whose name escapes me but I remember his face. We caught up. It was really nice to see old friends from my first weeks on trail. They’re such warm people. Soon after they left, Boy came in and I talked with her for a bit. I’m enjoying meeting all these SOBOs and getting beta about what’s ahead. Baden-Powell is sounding difficult and lots of people are still avoiding it. I might have to since I sent my ice axe home.

I ate so much at McDonald’s. And it felt so good. I figure if I ate a lot I wouldn’t have to make dinner. I was right. It was great.

I continued on and the trail was hard to find under the freeway and railroad underpasses. I had to do a little tromping and route finding, but it wasn’t bad. There are only so many directions you can go!

I was only a mile away from the site, and there were a few points of interest. Trains always get my attention because, deep inside, I’m still six years old.

And there was a monument to someone named John.

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Then I was at camp. I met up with Sinead and Piñacolada, we made plans for the next day, and I went to talk to some SOBOs. They were two groups of siblings who had met up on trail a few days ago and found they had similar hiking paces and styles. It was great chatting with them. The sisters, Katie and Emily, are from New Mexico and it was great talking with them about the Southwest. I miss my desert home. The brothers, JP and Kevin are from the Netherlands and had fun stories about what they’ve seen out here.

We stayed up hoping to catch the Lyrid meteor shower, but none really showed.