Day 27 – Wednesday, May 7

I’m enjoying my second zero day on the trail at the Saufleys, Hiker Heaven, in Agua Dulce at mile mark 454. I spent the past several days hiking with Coach, a retired high school science teacher from Washington, and Hemlock, who has a PhD in Ecology and Evolution and now lives in Athens Georgia. Let’s just say much of the trail conversation was way over my head, but we had a great time together and covered 90 plus miles of trail in the past three and half days.

The Saufleys have a great spot here at their home for PCT thru hikers. Their garage is completely set up for receiving mail drops or sending packages out. They have boards up with all the current trail information and updates. After a shower, they’ll do your laundry for you as you enjoy sitting around and relaxing with other thru-hikers. They have large tents with cots spread throughout the back yard for hikers to sleep on. What a terrific set up they have! I’m always completely amazed what folks will do to help thru-hikers. In town we didn’t even have to hitch for a ride up to the Saufleys, a car just pulled over on the road and a man asked if we were headed there.  He told us to hop in and he’d give us a ride up the hill. Just awesome!

Of course, when you hit any town food is always your first stop.

Below is a video coming over Mt. Baden-Powell in the San Gabriel Mountains soon after leaving the town of Wrightwood.

Some additional photos from Wrightwood to Mt. Baden-Powell.

Little Jimmy Springs- water is always a great treat!

Hiking over and near the 400 mile mark through Camp Glenwood.

Trying to stay away from the Poodle-dog bush was very tough through the burned out areas from the Station Fire of 2009, one of California’s largest fires in history. We walked for an entire day through this area.  The Poodle-dog bush is an extremely  poisonous plant that grows abundantly in recently burned areas.

Horned Toad…finally one allowed me to take a picture of him!

Here are a  few additional photos from the past several days including the PCT completion monument of 1993 and the drainage tunnel that the trail travels through under the Antelope Valley Freeway 14.

Coming into Agua Dulce through Vasquez Rock Natural Area