Start point
Unnamed tentsite at mile 446.8
End point
Unnamed tentsite at mile 464
Miles hiked
17.2
Wilderness area
Angeles National Forest
People I met
Oujin (Korea)
The day on trail
We cowboy camped last night and…it was rough. There were some grasses there that set my allergies off in a big way. My eyes are swollen almost shut and super itchy. My nose won’t stop running. My whole energy level is just absolute garbage now. This is by far the worst I’ve ever had allergies. In fairness to cowboy camping, I don’t think it was from the camping. The pollen would’ve hit even if I were in a tent.
Today was rough. Really rough. Though it was also gorgeous.
Today there’s a much anticipated stop, Vasquez Rocks. It’s a site of unique geology where Star Trek filmed a number of episodes, including Kirk’s fight with Gorn. It’s also been used in The Twilight Zone and a number of other movies and shows.
The approach to it took me under a highway through a tunnel.
And it was just so pretty. Holy smokes was it pretty.
There’s a lot of recreation there. I encountered some people on horses who asked me to hang on. The horse with the pink tail, in the front, wasn’t used to people with trekking poles and needed a slow introduction.
There was an outreach event called Day at the Rocks and the PCTA had a booth there! One of them snuck me a Coors Light. I never thought I’d like garbage beer, but it’s so great when you’re just hot, thirsty, and need some electrolytes.
The trail here goes through Agua Dulce and there is a satellite location for 2 Foot Adventures. We stopped there and split a few things for resupply. We continued to a fruit stand and got some fresh fruit with Tajin and chamoy.
A little later we stopped at a Mexican restaurant for food, cold drinks (I can’t get enough Dr. Pepper on trail), and to wait out the sun. It was toasty.
Snow Queen found us at the restaurant and she was coming down with a cold. Being sick on trail is never fun.
We continued on. There’s a spot called Hiker’s Oasis. Snow Queen stopped there to rest overnight and we picked up Rafael from there. After that it was road walk before trail and a little evening hiking.
We ran into a guy named Oujin who didn’t know where he could find a good site. We did our best to point him in the right direction.
It’s another night of beautiful camping. I just need to get my nose and eyes fixed up!
Allergies are wretched sometimes. I’m glad they didn’t last in this case! I’m still drooling over that picture with the container of fruit. Even thirsty and hot and in need of electrolytes, I won’t be touching the garbage beer (eugh)… but I could eat my weight in fresh fruit in those circumstances. There are some lovely landscapes in this post, but that graffiti tunnel is my favorite! Happy trails, love.
Mexican fruit stands are one of the unsung gems of the world!
I love tunnels! And taking photos inside tunnels! I got a kick out of your being at Vasquez Rocks, where a Star Trek episode was filmed. My cousin loves the old Star Trek shows so I’ll have to tell her about this. Beth and I were recently at Goblin Valley State Park in Utah where a scene from Galaxy Quest was filmed.
PS. So frickin sorry about your allergies. It’s a curse.