Pictures: Idyllwild to Agua Dulce

Finally another picture update! I know you've all been waiting on the edge of your collective seat. It's always hard to choose which to post, but I hope this continues to give you a taste of the flavor of the PCT.

Also, a quick note on comments. I don't always respond to them, but I always read and appreciate them. Usually it's just because I have limited time to post/use the internet, either at a library, or at a hostel where other hikers are waiting to get online.

A triumphant Moccasin at the summit of a snowy Mt. San Jacinto.

Some other folks hanging out on San Jacinto.
That's Pepe Lopez on the left, and probably Sport on the right.

"oooh... ahhh..."

Mesa Wind Farm. Kind of a weird-sound-filled night sleeping here.
Wicked windy too, go figure.

Sacred Datura. If we eat the root, we can just hallucinate that we
hiked the trail and save ourselves a lot of effort.

Headline: Hiker soaks feet in the Whitewater Preserve pool,
kills fish downstream.



Hey guys, remember that time we had to cross Mission Creek?
No no, not that time, I mean the 15th time.



But why do they sniff the trees?
Because they smell like vanilla, dammit.

San Gorgonio Mountain



Setting up camp beside Deep Creek, which runs a few feet
off the right side of the photo

A little bit o' trail surgery.

The crew fording Deep Creek



The mountains gather shadows towards evening



Enjoying the benefits of a ridgeline campsite

"May your mountains rise into...

...and above the clouds."

Ooooh... my colon is going to hate me later. But gorging at McDonalds
was, in the end, everything I'd hoped it could be.

1,500 year old juniper near the top of Mt. Baden-Powell,
or as I like to call it, Mt. Baddy-P

View from ol' Baddy P. We could see all the way back
to Mt San Jacinto, way in the background to the left.

Drop and Roll crosses a snowfield, one of many that day.



One of the dreaded roadwalks.



Need I say more?

The best a pasty Irish boy like me can hope for is a dirt tan.

Maybe the most sublime 5 minutes of my life so far.

Towards the end of our 29 mile day, and the beauty never ends.
I love evening hiking.

Cool landscapes as we near Agua Dulce

Mousetrap tickles the ivories while Roadrunner serenades us
at Hiker Heaven, in Agua Dulce.

More pics, Mexico to Idyllwild

Scout (trail angel, arms raised) telling stories in San Diego

K-Bomb and I at the border monument. Northward ho!

Speed Bump, Busted Magic, K-Bomb, Marc, and Drop and Roll hanging out at the Kick Off

Oh wonderful. Rattlesnakes, scorpions, and bombs?



Rockin the floppy hat and shades in the desert




Horny Toad



Some kind of flower



The desert in bloom



K-Bomb's resupply. Mostly junk food, same as the rest of us. Mmmm.... honey buns.



Terrible picture, but there's Pepe Lopez, and the two guys who gave us a ride to Idyllwild.



SCA trail crew doing trail magic at Scissors Crossing. True magicians.

Hiker style. Note socks with sandals, and the swim trunks over the long johns.
Yes, I go out in public like this.

Pictures: Mex Border to Idyllwild

After my extremely depressing previous post, here's where it's really at out here most of the time. Beautiful landscapes, fun and excellent people, good times all around. I think I have these generally in order, damn near anyways. I'm pretty sure clicking on the photos brings up the full size.

A lot of folks started hiking the same day as me. I'm front row second from the right, with K-Bomb

Burn area on our first day of hiking. Lots of flowers



Some dry hills



Acting stupid at the border



Almost to Lake Morena

This was one pissed off buzz worm. Scared the shit out of me, actually. 

Left to right: Ninja, Drop and Roll, K-Bomb, and Busted Magic at a restaraunt in Warner Springs

San Felipe Hills at Scissor's Crossing in the evening.
Dead tired getting here, almost injured, but still snapping photos.



Siesta time, and my huge tarp saves the day. Still hot as an oven under there.
Marc, K-Bomb, and Busted Magic 



Verdant valley full of cows and green, heading to Warner Springs.
Looked so welcoming after the deserts we've been in. Made me think of Rohan.

If you say the incantation just right, you can fly to Canada, and it still counts.
Sadly, Eagle Rock did not come alive for me, ready as I was.

Historic St Thomas chapel in Warner Springs.

Desert hills and clouds.

One of the several water caches out there, filled by trail angels.
These things are extremely helpful, this one was mostly empty.

Sunrise heading into the San Jacinto Mountains from Cedar Springs

Walking in a winter wonderland. But cold as hell.

The San Jacinto Mountains, all in ice

Rime ice



Me in the San Jacintos.