May 20, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Silverwood Lake State Rec Area

Miles: 22

Adrian: We saw seven rattlesnakes on the trail today. Take your eye off the trail for one second, and BAM!, you are in BIG trouble if far from help. Don't tread on me, aye?

We continued the hike down Deep Creek Canyon. The trail left the springs and climbed about 200 feet above the river. Steep loose cliffs dropped away from the trail as it weaved in and out of ridges and ravines.

We came across two dams today, one held backwater from the Deep and Mojave creeks and the other Silverwood Lake. They both had dam roads on top. Sometimes I think there are too many dam roads.

Apparently, people hang out in the desert and make root beer and orange soda floats with Breyer's vanilla ice cream for PCT hikers (thanks Marlene, you rock!!). They use top-notch ingredients too.

Shortly after that there was a stocked water cache from which we drank 1 liter, which was another treat. Marlene told us that hikers Gary and Clockwork saw a black bear on the trail very near her van. Maybe he smelled the ice cream?

We walked well today...

Kirsten: Have you ever woken up and thought, "Today, someone is going to give me a root beer float" and then it actually happens? No? Me neither because I'm not psychic. When I woke up this morning I was thinking about the trail and my breakfast. I was not contemplating the perfection found in an ice-cold mug filled with ice cream and root beer. And then it happened.

We hiked through the canyon for a couple of hours until reaching the river.

We took a dip in the aptly named Deep Creek with some other PCTers and then hit the trail once again. We made it about two miles before reaching a road and a little slice of hiker heaven. Marlene, a woman from nearby Hisparia, waved us over to some chairs in the shade. Once we were settled, she offered our choice of drink - root beer or orange soda floats.



Really? People actually drive to random and remote dirt roads just to hand out ice cream and soda to hikers? Yup. And every time I stumble upon a piece of trail magic my faith in people grows.