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Countdown to What?

Continental Divide TrailApril 7, 2021

CDT Bound!

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Oops I did it again! 🤭 Canada 🇨🇦 to Mexico 🇲🇽 - (complete November 5th)! But this time I accomplished something less than 600 people have done; I finally received my Triple Crown! 👑 👑 👑

We heard drum and bass by the forest road and I knew immediately who it was! 😂 JeffR with his magical timing tracked us down and gave us trail magic before we made our way towards Warner Springs. It was awesome seeing you @jeff_rrrr ! The next day, I had to do my best “NeverEnding Story” impression when we reached Eagle Rock. That’s how this whole journey has felt. We saw a tarantula, ate incredibly well in Julien (the most hiker friendly town on trail), saw birds and planes on our way to Mount Laguna, got slapped with crap weather and slept in a flooded pit toilet to avoid freezing to death, then we were treated to champagne by the lovely owners of Pine House Cafe & Tavern in Mount Laguna. There’s been so many ups and downs on this thru hike and I’m pretty tired. I’m ready to end this chapter of my life and do new and different things. Onward to Mexico! 🇲🇽

It was a long, never ending climb towards Mount San Jacinto. At least our hard work was rewarded with a super cool hiker town the next day. Idyllwild was a blast! Especially since two of our CDT brothers, Coffeebreak and Tapeworm came out to hang with us. Whiskey Mama misses you guys already! 😂 Tape even hiked with us a bit the next day and took us to get Mexican food afterwards. 🌮 We were grateful to have some reliable water sources the next day as we headed towards Warner Springs. 💦

We stayed at the cabin to avoid the cold, then had some scenic desert climbs. The next day we passed the Whitewater Preserve. While walking through the Mesa Wind Farm, we caught a glimpse of the SpaceX rocket launch. Frisbee and I had seen the satellites fly by earlier on trail while going through the Sierra. We were stoked to get a ride to In-and-Out Burger and Taco Bell where we got to hang with our homie Tapeworm! It was awesome seeing you @doslove_ ! Later that night, we stopped a little distance after going under the overpass.

Had a great experience in Wrightwood and avoided the cold weather thanks to trail angels Emily and Dan! Everyone was so hiker friendly there! We took an alternate where walked to Cajon Pass the next day. Then we saw a lot of birds and coyotes the following day as we passed through Silverwood Lake and passed the dam near Hespia. Before night hiking passed the dam, we got a ride to Joshua Inn for hot subs and cold beer. The trail went from dry to green and lush as we took it towards Big Bear Lake. Less than 300 miles to go!

These trail towns keep getting friendlier and friendlier! The folks at 49ers Saloon in Acton were wonderful, and we got a ride in one of the cop cars used in the “Fast and the Furious” movies with Kevin who gave us a little Hollywood tour as he drove us back to the KOA. He showed us Tippi Hedron’s big cat sanctuary that drunk drivers have driven into by accident, a shack used in “Sons of Anarchy”, a property storing a gas station, motel and other things from Route 66 that are rented out for film, and rattlesnake filled gold mines. While taking an alternate toward Mount Baden-Powell, we met a pair of super rad Trail Angels, Loo (a NOBO PCT hiker) and Gabe. We hit the summit during a high speed wind advisory, but managed not to fly off the mountain.

Our alternate was pretty scenic and I acquired a license plate just as I did at the end of the #cdt. We were treated kindly in Agua Dolce and enjoyed the beautiful rock formations of Vasquez Rocks first thing in the morning. Vasquez Rocks and other areas around Agua Dolce have been used as a backdrop for dozens of movies and TV shows: Nope, Westworld, Star Trek, Blazing Saddles, Twilight Zone, and the Lone Ranger to name a few. This section of the PCT is gorgeous! 😍

With road walks come sun exposure and bizarre finds. After hiking through a massive wind farm out of Tehachapi, we made our way towards the LA aqueduct. Hikertown was welcoming, especially Neenach Market. Water is scarce so we took an alternate to Green Valley, which was even more hiker friendly! Saw a lot of awesomely strange things on the way in and out: bizarre statues on burnt down property, an ostrich farm, cool Halloween decorations, and my first bobcat on trail! The desert is weird and I love it!

Ah, I’ve missed the smells, sounds, and sights of the desert. The sunsets are extra special too! Trail Angels have been awesome by keeping us hydrated via water cache and Rolling Rock 😂 I’m so grateful for everyone’s kindness and support. After we started our journey through the wind farm, we reached the highway and got a ride into Tehachapi. Had fun at The Doghouse Saloon, a local biker bar, and the Apple Festival the next morning. Water has been limited, but we’re getting by.

Tag: ESL

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