Snowbound in Wrightwood

Our regular journal postings will be updated over the next few days. In the meantime, here is a quick update.

We arrived in Wrightwood, a mountain town located at about 6,000 feet, on Thursday afternoon. That night a snow storm rolled into the area and by morning about three inches of fresh snow had fallen in town. More fell throughout the day and our plans to leave today (Saturday) changed.

There is a 6-mile section from the split of the Acorn Trail, which we used to drop down into the town, and Highway 2. We didn't want to waste the day and decided we might as well hike that section. We are staying with a family, the Moore's, who open up their home to hikers. Bob Moore drove us up to Highway 2/Inspiration Point and we then hiked back the six miles to the Acorn Trail. It was another three miles down the Acorn Trail into town.

Tomorrow we plan on leaving Wrightwood and may end up taking the High Desert National Recreation Trail, also known as the Manzanita Trail, for 10.4 miles before reconnecting with the PCT. Several hikers have turned back because of the snow and the Desert Trail is at a lower elevation and therefore should be passable.