May 25, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Snowcrest Ski Area
Miles: 22

Adrian: Today, we hiked through lots of snow. We started at mile 369 on Highway 2 named Inspiration Point. The clouds limited visibility and there was about 3 inches of snow on the ground. The temperature hung in the 30s.


In the first 5 miles before the Baden-Powell trailhead at Vincent Gap we knew we would not be able to climb the mountain due to weather. It was a tough decision but a wise one as visibility and wind were extremely harsh and the temperature would continue to fall in the afternoon.

What do you do when you've been snowed off the mountain? Road walk. The Highway 2 was closed to cars so it wasn't too bad.

As evening time came we found an old defunct ski operation that offered a little dry patch of ground for us to set up on. With us were Justin and Albert. It was a cold night and I didn't sleep so well.

Tomorrow we hit the trail again!

Kirsten: This morning we hiked for five miles on crusty snow-covered trails before reaching Vincent Gap/Highway 2. Those five miles were amazing. During the storm days before, the wind had shaped the snow on the pine needles and branches into long slivers. As the sun warmed the trees these ice shards fell to the ground and covered the trail. It was kind of like walking on shaved coconut.


After Vincent Gap the day went down hill for me. We roadwalked, which - for lack of a better word - sucked. Highway 2 from Vincent Gap was closed for about 15 miles because of rock fall. Walking along a winding, desolated mountaintop highway with rock fall every few steps and thick clouds was sort of post-apocalyptic. We slogged through several miles of slush, which left our feet soaking wet and cold.

May 24, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Moore's House, Wrightwood
Miles: 6

Adrian: Today we are staying with amazing trail angels Bob and Maria. They gave us their whole basement, beds and all the food and drink we could consume. Bob works for the National Forest Service so we get good updates on weather and trail conditions on demand.

We wanted to leave town today but the snow put those plans on hold. Instead, Bob drove us up to Highway 2 and the PCT so we could log at least a few miles and see what the conditions are like. We basically walked 6 PCT miles and then hiked the Acorn trail back into town for a total hike of 9 miles.

There are snowdrifts up to 3 feet deep and the average trail coverage is about 3 inches. There was thick fog and visibility was about 50 feet for most of the hike. We good gear though and cruised it.

Tomorrow we are hitting the trail northbound again. We have the option of 3 trails all at different elevations, so we can pick how much snow we want to hike in.



The PCT would take us up to 9,900 feet to the summit of Mount Baden-Powell, named after the founder of the Boy Scouts. It is a major pilgrimage for Scouts, and I was one back in the day. There are Limber pines up there that are over 2000 years old too, so obviously taking the PCT would be the best option.

The other options are hiking the closed Highway 2 at a lower elevation or the High Desert National Recreation Trail. Both would be safer than the PCT and at a significantly lower altitude.

We've heard of hikers being turned back on Baden-Powell due to icy chutes and too much snow so everything is up in the air right now. Well except for one thing, and that is that we are heading north again tomorrow.

Next stop, the Saufley's!

Kirsten: I never thought I would be making a snow angel in SoCal in May. The snow up above the town was wet and heavy and blanketed the pine trees. It was beautiful. I am still a little scared about the trail tomorrow. It rises to a higher elevation - if we follow the PCT to Baden-Powell. I know Adrian wants to take the trail. He won't push it though.

The Moore's are amazing. Maria made us lentil soup and then a yucca and green bean salad. She also made these homemade taquito-type things and a huge salad. Oh, and homemade Spanish rice. The people we've met continue to surprise me with their generosity.

May 23, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Pines Motel, Wrightwood
Miles: 0

Adrian: Usual zero day except it snowed 3 inches in town and more than 8 on the ridge. Our hike out tomorrow might be delayed due to this storm. News crews from Los Angeles were here doing live reports.

I like snow but it couldn't have come at a worse time as we are at our highest altitude between Mexico and the Sierras. Just when we make up some time, something like this happens. Such is life on the PCT.

Kirsten: Adrian's superhero trail name has rubbed off and it appears he is developing powers. Some might even call them super powers.

Adrian woke up and before jumping in the shower said, "I had this dream last night that it snowed like 4 inches up on the ridge."

Ok, so it snowed more like 5 inches and it was in town and on the ridge. But hey, what a prediction.

We spent the rest of the day talking about what we were going to do about the snow.

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.