Destination: Camp Glenwood
Starting Location: Little Jimmy Campground
Today’s Miles: 16.70
Trip Miles: 401.00
Little Jimmy Campground (384.0, 7450) to Camp Glenwood (400.7, 6400) ascent (3589) descent (4656)
Today was difficult and proved that the mind is much more powerful than the body. We were hiking along pretty well in the morning and then we came to a detour because a section of the trail contains critical habitat for the federally listed Mountain Yellow Legged Frog. Now don’t get me wrong I am a huge supporter of the endangered species act and have actively opposed Congressman Pombo’s proposed changes but I partially share the sentiment one hiker wrote that this closure is “frog poop”. Particularly since day hikers can access the area from another trail and the signage regarding the closure is inconsistent. And I doubt that thru-hikers have contributed significantly to the decline of this species considering world wide amphibian populations are plummeting.
Anyway, I was not mentally prepared for getting off the trail and walking sown Highway 2 for several miles but we wanted to respect the regulations and protect the species so we hit the highway. Fortunately we got a trail message that we should enter the exit to Buckhorn Campground to reconnect with the PCT versus going another mile to the campground entrance and walk another 1.5 miles on the road.
I really disliked walking down the highway and it screwed up my thinking for most of the day. I quit enjoying the hike and instead focused on walking down a highway. So we decided to take a “do over” and quit early so we could get back to a good place by morning.
As part of the road walk, you could continue down the highway and shortcut the PCT by several miles. Our group was not interested in this and I shared that if I wanted to take a road to Canada and save miles I would thru-hike Interstate 5. But that is me. Many disagree and took this and other shorter routes as they present themselves.
This is where Hike your own hike (HYPH) comes into play. Another thing that I have been surprised by is how much people jump around and skip sections on the trial. There is even a running joke, supported by examples, of some hikers trying to hike the entire trail going down hill. Basically you hitch hike up the hill to the trail head and then hike back down. Again not for me but whatever works.
Saw Ryan (Popsicle) who I met one month ago on his first day out. It was great to see him. He had a tick and we got him fixed up as we talked about eating tacos with my parents. Also hiked a bit with “Detour” today.
Lucky Liz just found a scorpion by our bed roll. We tried to relocate it but when it ran for my sleeping bag Weed nailed it with a 20 lb rock. Those things are scary looking.
Tomorrow is another day and hopefully I will get my head back. Because we stopped early we will need to pick it up a bit.
Destination: Camp Glenwood
Starting Location: Little Jimmy Campground
Today’s Miles: 16.70
Trip Miles: 401.00
Little Jimmy Campground (384.0, 7450) to Camp Glenwood (400.7, 6400) ascent (3589) descent (4656)
Today was difficult and proved that the mind is much more powerful than the body. We were hiking along pretty well in the morning and then we came to a detour because a section of the trail contains critical habitat for the federally listed Mountain Yellow Legged Frog. Now don’t get me wrong I am a huge supporter of the endangered species act and have actively opposed Congressman Pombo’s proposed changes but I partially share the sentiment one hiker wrote that this closure is “frog poop”. Particularly since day hikers can access the area from another trail and the signage regarding the closure is inconsistent. And I doubt that thru-hikers have contributed significantly to the decline of this species considering world wide amphibian populations are plummeting.
Anyway, I was not mentally prepared for getting off the trail and walking sown Highway 2 for several miles but we wanted to respect the regulations and protect the species so we hit the highway. Fortunately we got a trail message that we should enter the exit to Buckhorn Campground to reconnect with the PCT versus going another mile to the campground entrance and walk another 1.5 miles on the road.
I really disliked walking down the highway and it screwed up my thinking for most of the day. I quit enjoying the hike and instead focused on walking down a highway. So we decided to take a “do over” and quit early so we could get back to a good place by morning.
As part of the road walk, you could continue down the highway and shortcut the PCT by several miles. Our group was not interested in this and I shared that if I wanted to take a road to Canada and save miles I would thru-hike Interstate 5. But that is me. Many disagree and took this and other shorter routes as they present themselves.
This is where Hike your own hike (HYPH) comes into play. Another thing that I have been surprised by is how much people jump around and skip sections on the trial. There is even a running joke, supported by examples, of some hikers trying to hike the entire trail going down hill. Basically you hitch hike up the hill to the trail head and then hike back down. Again not for me but whatever works.
Saw Ryan (Popsicle) who I met one month ago on his first day out. It was great to see him. He had a tick and we got him fixed up as we talked about eating tacos with my parents. Also hiked a bit with “Detour” today.
Lucky Liz just found a scorpion by our bed roll. We tried to relocate it but when it ran for my sleeping bag Weed nailed it with a 20 lb rock. Those things are scary looking.
Tomorrow is another day and hopefully I will get my head back. Because we stopped early we will need to pick it up a bit.
Robert Francisco 
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