PCT - Southern Terminus Plus Seven Miles

Me at the Southern Terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail

PCT Section: U.S./Mexico International Border  (32-35-23.00N 116-28-01.08W) to +7 miles (32-37-48.20N 116-30-51.00W)

Location: Campo, California

Date: 22 December 2011

Weather: Cool.  Upper 40s.  Wind Advisory.

PCT Completion to Date: Northbound: 0011.0 miles; Southbound: 0011.0 miles; Overall: 0011.0 miles

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a National Scenic Trail in the United States that spans 2650 miles (4265 km) from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington.  This is from the U.S./Mexico Border + Seven Miles (11 km) that I recently completed in my quest of completing “sections” of the trail.  I doubt I will ever complete the entire trail, but I relish having a physical outdoor recreational “goal” to keep me occupied.

Historical Railroad crossing with the Pacific Crest Trail

This is my first time to this area and apparently it has an historical railroad running along the border here that crosses the PCT.  There is also a museum here, which I did not visit.  The United States Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have an office here and apparently the PCT is frequently used by illegal immigrants and smugglers to enter the U.S. from Mexico.  This was evident to me by the CBP presence on a quad-runner as soon as I entered the area and by multiple agents in the area observing me upon returning to my vehicle. 

Scenic overlook of a ranch near the Pacific Crest Trail

My start on the trail was cold and windy but as soon as I starting moving I warmed up quickly and needed to ventilate.  I made quick time of the first quarter of my hike and then started slowing, mainly since I started out downhill before ascending again.  I only made it seven miles (11 km) before I decided that I should turn around at about 11:30.  It didn’t occur to me until about this time that being the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere, that it was also the shortest day of the year.  Being that I haven’t been on any really serious hikes for at least a couple of months and starting to celebrate the holidays with U.S. Thanksgiving in November, I was not physically prepared for this hike either.  These factors were very apparent at my turnaround point with another seven miles to get back to my car.

Campos Creek Crossing the Pacific Crest Trail

For some reason I kept going a little further, which I’m glad I did for two reasons.  Firstly I found a nice Thermarest accordion style waffle mattress and secondly, it rounded out the distance to seven miles (11k).  Still, my feet were already burning and my legs were already starting to lock up and I knew I had at least three miles of uphill back to the car.  Fortunately I am a little more aware of my ability to push the envelope after my attempt and eventual summit of Mount San Jacinto this last summer.  For anyone reading this who doesn’t know their limits, be very careful and always hike with a partner.

I have to say that the last three miles (5k) were a slow brutal accent, but I made it.  And as I stated earlier, I was eyed by the Border Patrol on multiple occasions which was of no concern to me since I was only hiking so I made every attempt to show that I had nothing to hide.

For more photos and satellite overview click on Pacific Crest Trail - U.S./Mexico Border + Seven Miles

Me at the top of Mount San Jacinto Peak.

PCT Section: Saddle Junction (33-46-26.88N 116-40-22.79W) to Wellman Cienaga Trial Junction (33-47-19.70N 116-40-38.13W)

Location: San Jacinto Wilderness Area, Idyllwild, California

Date: 17-19 August 2011

Weather: Warm.  Upper 80s.

PCT Completion to Date: Northbound: 0004.0 miles; Southbound: 0004.0 miles; Overall: 0004.0 miles

A few months ago I made a failed attempt to summit Mount San Jacinto Peak, 10,834' (3302 m), due to a critical equipment failure and the discovery that I wasn't physically prepared for high altitude excursions. Since then I have been hiking and backpacking the area in preparation of another assault. This goal has now been completed in a three-day, two-night solo-backpacking trip.

My campsite above Tahquitz Peak.

The first day, I left Humber Park in Idyllwild, California via the Devil's Slide Trailhead at about 9:50 AM. I reached Saddle Junction by 11:30 where I fueled up on beef jerky, crackers, cheese and water. I then proceeded north on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to the Mount San Jacinto Peak State Park Wilderness Boundary and set up camp at about 9000' on the ridgeline of Marion Mountain near the junction of Wellman Cienaga Trail.

On day two I hiked out of camp at 8:30 AM still sore from the day before. I managed to reach the peak by noon. I only saw one man and his son as they passed me on the way up and they were at the peak when I arrived. They left shortly after I arrived and I had my lunch. I started back at 12:30 and saw more people who I think were hiking up from Terminal Station (aerial tram from Palm Springs). My logger died about a mile before I returned to camp. I'll have to check the settings or make sure I'm properly charging the unit as this is not the first time I've had this problem.

Emergency shelter on San Jacinto Peak.

On day three I managed to break down my camp, pack up and start down about 9:00 AM. Of course, when I got back to Idyllwild I had to make my ritual stop at Arriba's Mexican Restaurant. This time I had the beef taquitos. This was my third time at this restaurant and again, OUTSTANDING. If you are ever in this area and you enjoy Mexican food, you have to eat at this place.

For more photos and satellite overview click on Mount San Jacinto Peak.

PCT; Skunk Cabbage Meadow; Chinquapin Flats; Tahquitz Lookout

My nephew and I

PCT Section: Saddle Junction (33-46-26.88N 116-40-22.79W) to Little Tahquitz Trail 3E41 (33-45-38.89N 116-39-56.47W)

Location: San Jacinto Wilderness Area, Idyllwild, California

Date: 22-23 July 2011

Weather: Warm.  Mid to Upper 80s

PCT Completion to Date: Northbound: 0002.2 miles; Southbound: 0002.2 miles; Overall: 0002.2 miles

My nephew and I hiked this 2.2 mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail going southbound as part of a lollipop loop backpacking trip to Skunk Cabbage Meadow in the San Jacinto Wilderness Area.  We started in Humber Park at the Devil’s Slide Trailhead and hiked up to Saddle Junction.  He and I proceeded east along the Willow Creek Trail 3E02 to Skunk Cabbage Junction where we headed south on Trail 3E42 toward Skunk Cabbage Meadow.  We set up camp to the south between the meadow and Caramba Trail 3E04.

Skunk Cabbage Meadow Campsite

After camp was set up and water was filtered, he and I set out on Caramba Trail 3E04 heading west toward Saddle Junction and the PCT.  On the PCT we headed south 1.4 miles to Chinquapin Flats (33-45-26.84N 116-40-18.08W).  We then took a side trip on South Ridge Trail 3E081 to the Tahquitz Fire Lookout, the oldest standing lookout in California.  The lookout is now a museum and is staffed by volunteers during the day.  We were able to see an active fire to the south outside the local fire district.

Tahquitz Fire Lookout

We returned to Chinquapin Flats and hiked east down the PCT 0.8 miles to the junction of Trail 3E41 to Little Tahquitz Valley.  We exited the PCT and proceeded north along that trail past Little Tahquitz Valley, through Tahquitz Meadow and then to the junction with Caramba Trail.  From there it was a short hike east back to our camp where we spent the night and then returned to Humber Park the next morning.  We had an early lunch at Arriba Mexican Restaurant across from the ranger station and the food was outstanding, I highly recommend it and plan to eat there again soon.

For more photos and satellite overview click on Skunk Cabbage Meadow and Tahquitz Lookout