Agua Dulce

5/17-
Day 37 - Back on the trail after a rushed day in Wrightwood. For a couple of days after deep creek, the "Wonders of Civilization" were exerting more pull than the chaparral-cloaked trail. The store at Summit Valley, the Del Taco at Cajon Pass were my prime motivators. I hiked my first back-to-back 20 mile days (24 & 23 miles actually) to get to Wrightwood. So far the San Gabriel Mtns. have been pretty spectacular. The PCT skirts the edge of rugged, trailless, snowy sheep and mountain wilderness. We have climbed 5,500' since Cajon Pass. Yesterday we had hail and snow, the needles of the pines encased in tiny sheathes of ice, which fell slushy on our heads all day. - Ezra

The Vegetables reunited in Wrightwood today at the Yodler Cafe. Mmmm, the Yodler Cafe. - Jonny

5/18-
Day 38 - Today's hike was a literal & figurative highpoint of the trip so far. The official PCT route topped out at 9,200 feet, just below the summit of Mt. Baden-Powell, Its highest elevation in S. California. It stayed high on a forested ridge for miles afterwards, in & out of the snow, giving us excellent panoramas over the San Gabriel Mountains. We saw Limber Pine atop Baden-Powell ( Giant, twisty Krumholz, over 2000 years old. Yow!) - Ezra

The climb up Baden-Powell consisted of 39 switchbacks over the course of 3.8 miles to gain 2700'. For those of you following ailing in the guidebook, check out the zigzags on map D5 - Jonny Statistician

Day 38 - Many folks along the way have asked us why we call ourselves "the Menacing Vegetables." We first encountered the phrase in our guidebook description of Scissors Crossing near Anza-Borrego Desert - "The trail winds fairly level past low shrubs, many of them equipped with murderously efficient, thigh-slashing, clothes-grabbing spines. Nearing a junction with Hwy. 78, find red metal pipe gate and cross Highway 52, safe from attack by menacing vegetables." - Well our curiosity was, of course, piqued. Being aspiring naturalists we set out for Scissors Crossing in search of these so-called Menacing Vegetables & these are what each of us found:
Cuddly Cholla (pronounced choya) was found by Kate. It's a miracle she survived the encounter, given this plant's dangerous nature. Cuddly Cholla is a type of cactus similar in appearance to teddy-bear cholla, only cuter. So much cuter in fact that its victim's cannot resist but hug and cuddle the thorny plant. Once in contact, though, this barbaric vegetable cuddles back and doesn't let go until its victim is subdued.
Jonny had the near death experience of discovering the Anvil Pine. This menacing vegetable looks much like a typical Coulter Pine with needles, bark, and surprisingly large cones. These cones, in fact, are over 18 inches in circumference, thorny, and grown to a density greater than lead. When its prey (Large mammals including humans) steps within striking distance the Anvil Pine drops a cone, fertilizing it's offspring in the remains of the victim.
Maria's first encounter Predatory Chaparral was actually in a waking vision, attesting to the mind-controlling capacities of this vicious plant community. Its primary prey are hikers lured down dead end paths into the brush. When the hiker turns around, the path has disappeared and they are confronted with an advancing and intimidating array of sharpened shrubs.
Ben was actually found by Bullwhip Ocotillo rather than the reverse. And again, it's a miracle he survived and can live to tell of it. This is the first documented account of an attack by this secretive and stealthy predator. Ben had just walked through what he thought to be a typical and admirable stand of Ocotillo in full blossom when he suddenly found himself flat on his face with a stinging thorn in his behind. He turned just in time to see the stalky beast rear back to strike another whip-like blow when suddenly a small earthquake shuddered the ground. Startled, the veracious vegetable hesitated just long enough for Ben to scurry to safety. After a bit of trail surgery handiwork with his pocket knife and stove fuel, Jonny had Ben fixed up and ready to hike a few more miles.
Ezra discovered one of the most fearsome vegetables in existence, Carnivorous Poison Oak. It was only through sheer will that he withstood the sirenous temptations of this plant. Flourishing in areas generally used by long-distance hikers, Carnivorous Poison Oak projects a natural holographic image of a burrito (Mission District Style) & exudes a chemical that imitates the odor of this food. When the naive hiker reaches for the object of his fantasies, this devious shrub attacks with a paralyzing poison, rendering the disappointed walker immobile. The itching oil of Poison Oak then penetrates the skin and the victim is slowly driven mad, unable to scratch the skin. Eventually the poison breaks the victim down to a digestible form.
We are all of course thankful to be alive and are in the process now of compiling a more complete field guide to menacing vegetables. A review of the historical literature has uncovered several other known species including the Burning Bush and the Psychedelic Mushroom. We must urge our readers though not to pursue identifications of menacing vegetables on their own. The scarcity of information on these dangerous species is due to the low survival rate of those who encounter them. - Ben

5/19-
Day 39 - Today we reached the most beautiful swimming hole sitting under a 30 foot waterfall. Wow! The water though is a bit on the cool side, so we only managed to dip for approximately 30-60 seconds each. Then Jonny made us a hot lunch of beans & rice ("it will thicken") with veggies and cheddar cheese. Yummy. Also did a little laundry - creek cleaning. Now everyone is lounging about on the rocks reading and writing. It's another wonderful day. - Maria : )

So Jonny's photography has basically been cursed so far on this trip. For starters he insists on carrying a huge, heavy camera. He also has been carrying the Tannercam until this week (note: yellow does not necessarily mean waterproof). The first two rolls of B&W were developed by hand. Unfortunately, Kodak put out a new B&W film that looks just like the stuff that Jonny has been using all his life. This film, however, requires color processing. Those two rolls were destroyed.
A week later Jonny sent Gabe one roll of the real B&W film and then shot four more rolls in two weeks. When he spoke with Gabe on the phone he was informed that the camera has been banged around too much and is leaking light. These photos all have streaks. Now the camera is duct taped.
At the hot spring the Tannercam was dropped about 20 feet into the water (Ezra caught it on the first bounce). The problem with the camera, though, is that is wouldn't advance anymore and when Jonny went to rewind it, the handle broke off. He ended up rewinding it by hand that night in the darkness of his sleeping bag. When he told Tanner that the camera had broken and was thrown away he was informed that it had been busted already, double exposing many pictures on the last few rolls! The ones that came out were limited. This was disheartening news to Jonny until he found out that the photo of Ben and Ezra in the back of the truck came out. That was probably the best photo in the bunch. - Squirrelfight

Camel up - to drink lots of water at a source in order to carry less. Same as glug glug.

5/20-
Day 40 - Six thru-hikers camped at a picnic area on a mountain highway. Just as we were settling in to our sleeping bags at dark, a car pulled in quickly, a door opened, lots of screaming girls were heard, the door closed, and the van was gone. It's Saturday night. We felt boring. - Squirrelfight

Given the bleak state of presidential politics, we have decided to run Staggerin' Willie (Ez) for president this year as the Hiker Party's candidate. Squirrelfight (Jonny) will be his running mate, with Kaptain Krumholz as top advisor. Possible campaign slogans include:
"Staggerin' Willie - He's got a clean white shirt!"
&
"A catfish in every pot!"

-Willie/Squirrelfight in 2000! - Vote Hiker!
Official Presidential Candidate of the Boston Red Sox.

Day 40 - 1997 was the first year that Maria walked 100 miles. January 2000, Maria walked her first 100 mile month. And on this day, the 20th of May, she has walked 100 miles in one week's time. Congratulations Maria Stavrakas. - Statistician

"Smell you later" - Nelson Muntz

5/21-
Day 41 - You know it is hot when you are wearing shades, applying sunscreen, and soaking your clothes in cold water at eight o'clock in the morning. - Squirrelfight

For the last two nights, I have had explicit dreams about an eggplant parmesan sandwich, the way they make 'em in New England. I no longer have sex dreams, I have food pornography dreams. - Ez

Gear Woes:
Maria and Jonny have a broken tent pole. North face should replace it. Last night they rigged it with the aluminum foil heat shield for the stove.
Jonny's sole is coming off his left boot. With only 600-700 miles on the boot, Limmer will replace the soles and screw them on.
The fiberglass ski pole that Jonny uses is three or four inches shorter than when we started. Gabe is sending him the spare. - Squirrel

5/22-
Day 42 - My body is definitely evolving into a hiking machine this week. In the past three days I have walked 18 miles by 4 PM, 12 by noon, and 18 by 2. Came pretty close to heat exhaustion today in the 100+ temps. but found timely refuge in a tunnel under freeway 14. And my toenails are falling off (translation: less weight to carry) Have landed in hiker heaven in Agua Dulce and plan to rest for a couple days. - Squirrelfight

145 miles in 9 days?!? That's over 16 miles per day since the last hot springs! At this rate we'll make it all the way to Canada! Then what will we do? Watch those numbers. - Statistician

Day 42 - Today wuz, no kiddin', the hottest day of the trip so far. Ben & I were up at 3:30 am, and hiking by 4:00, and already there was a hot breeze blowing up the valley. By 8:00 am, the heat was becoming near-unbearable, and by 10:00 there was virtually no shade. We rested for an hour in a highway culvert before pushing on to town & cold beers - 18 miles before lunch. We must be turning into hiker or something! - Ez

5/23-
Day 43 - For the next couple of days we will be staying in "Hiker Heaven," the wonderful home of Donna and Jeff Saufley in Agua Dulce. These folks are true trail angels, and this place has it all - showers, beds, Internet, stereo, air-conditioning, TV&VCR, & a full kitchen. Today we listened to ZZ Top & Greek dance music. What an awesome place to rest and recuperate before heading down into the Mojave! - Ez

Day 43 - Kate left us ten days ago now and today is scheduled to fly to France. I wonder if ten days was enough time for such a huge transition. We did get word from San Francisco that when she got to town she ate more burritos than Gabe and then a lasagna or something ridiculous like that. Good for Kate, way to represent!
By the time this gets on the web site, Tahoe Katie Mae will be on a boat in the South of France and we will be entering the High Sierra, but we will still be thinking of her. Miss you Kate, don't forget to write - Jonny

Register entry at Pink Hotel 5/3/00
I had no plans to stay here last night, but I was sucked in and corrupted by this crazy New England Gang. Beware of these hikers! They will suck you into their way of life and then you're done for!
Semper Fi - Drew

< Previous - Menu - Next >