Thursday, May 9, 2024, Mile 361,7 to Inspiration point trailhead. 12 km, total km 473,19, 3:30 hrs.
It is very cold, just around zero degrees. I only have 12 km to the road where I am hoping to hitch a ride to Wrightwood for some resupply and to receive parcels I sent to myself. The first 8 km are hard. Right after the tent site, there is deep and icy snow. It is no fun to walk there, especially since it is a kind of ridge walk. On one side it drops steeply.
The snow is back:
Another uncomfortable thing is the icy wind that is blowing. I can see the flat and hot desert in the distance, but up here it is uncomfortable. I skip the walk to a water source along the way. I just want to get out of this.
The views are breathtaking as always though.
I pass two ski lifts and finally get to the road. I am glad when two other hikers show up hitching to town. I really don’t want to have to hitch alone here. We immediately get a ride halfway and then another ride into the town.
This town is very hiker-friendly. They created a space for hikers at the mountain hardware store with benches, toilets, lots of power outlets to charge equipment, etc.
At the hardware store I present my Darn Tough socks that got holes that an animal created. They took them and asked me to choose a new pair. That is life long warranty of Darn Tough! Since they did not have foxes I got bears now on my socks:
I expected three parcels to pick up at the Mountain Hardware store but only one arrived yet. I do my shopping, find something to eat, and do some planning. I have no idea where to stay tonight. Accommodation is expensive. I got some phone numbers of trail angels but don’t feel like calling. At around 4 pm, a guy named Jeff pops up and asks if anyone needs a bed, shower, and laundry. Me! I just go with him. It is on a donation basis.
Later he drops me in town and I get a pizza there while he is visiting his grandchildren. Frostbite sent me a message asking where I stay since he is getting into town tonight too. He meets me at the grocery store, does his chores and around 7 Jeff picks both of us up.
I share the room with Frostbite.
Add comment
Comments