Friends on the trail

Maverick says, "These are our trail mates, Althea and Dave that also resupplied in Big Bear and stayed at the Big Bear Lake Hostel."

Everybody at the hostel was pretty happy to get cleaned up and off the trail for a day. That night it didn't get above 20 degrees and it snowed. And, of course, pigging out in town is pretty great!"

Bears, lions and mountains! Oh, boy. . .

Maverick says, "Never thought I would be so happy to hang out under a bridge, but it sure
does beat the heat."

"Went through a windmill farm after a short trip at trail angles that were ziggy, and a bear!
It was quite windy through that section."

"but it did lead to an awesome camp spot at the Whitewater Trout Farm."

"Treating the warm giardia ridden water with the the Steri Pen. Just another part of trail life."

"There has been a lot of burned out desert--but even those sections have their beauty."

"BEAR TRACKS!!"

"The day we got to the town of Big Bear, we walked by a place way up in the mountains, where
they train wild animals for the movies. There literally were lions, tigers and bears in the forest!"

Moving on from Idyllwood

Maverick, "After a resupply in Idyllwild, we start heading over a little snow. At almost 9000
feet it doesn't feel like the desert anymore."

"Forester Pass."

Onl

"only 2450 miles left to go."

Maverick and Lodge Pole get cold.

Maverick says, "this was an extremely beautiful place to camp but the craziest night on trail so far. Temperatures in the high 20s but the wind was insane all night. It sounded like we camped right next to a jet engine or  under a high speed train.  The next morning a day hiker told me that the news reported 92mph wind gusts on the ridge I was camped."

"Up 

 "Up over 8000 feet"

"Mountain Lion tracks in the snow following the Canadian hikers we had been traveling with. We know the tracks were fresh because they went right over the top of their boot prints!"

"This was really weird, but it must have been made by some kind of snake in the snow."

"Coming down the mountain into Idylwild."

Meeting friends on the trail

Maverick says, "We got some camping companions in the desert. Beve in front,
Spitfire, Drew and Lodge Pole."

  MMMM DINNER TIME

Riding the Eagle on the Pacific Crest Trail

New words from Maverick!

"First day in the dessert was not as dry as I thought.
the dessert was a lot prettier than I thought it would be
old photo from day one, we mad it to the lake our first day
cooking burritos in the dessert
there are a lot more mountains we will be climbing in the dessert than I thoight
thers one right up ahead
now it's starting to get hot
I think I found a good shelter for the rest of the day
eagle rock
we got some camping companions in the dessert. Beve in front, then Spitfire, Drew, and Dad
dad and I right before it started snowing
dad and Drew on his last night on the trail. Drew you are a great guy and will be missed by all
so it got a little chilly last night, maybe around mid 20s
the wind was blowing so hard it made little ice rasors on every branch and twig
climbing up pretty high above 8000 feet
this was an extremely beautiful place to camp but the craziest night on trail so far. Temperatures in the high 20s but the wind was insane all night. It sounded like we camped right next to a jet engine or  under a high speed train.  The next morning a day hiker told me that the news reported 92mph wind gusts on the ridge I was camped.
Mountain lion tracks in the snow following the Canadian hikers that we have been traveling with. We know the tracts were fresh because they went right over the top of there boot prints!
this was really weird but it must have been made by some kind of snake in the snow.
coming down the mountain into Idyllwild
met up with some friends from the trail
after a long cold couple of nights on the mountain I felt I deserved a reward
and I enjoyed it :)"

 "The desert was a lot prettier than I thought it would be."

"Now it's starting to get hot."

"I think I found a good shelter for the day."

Slow Tales from the Road

Apparently 4G doesn't mean much on the Pacific Crest Trail. Information is slow to arrive.
As of today Maverick and Lodge Pole are in Imperial Valley. They ascended their first 9000
foot peak, hit 100mph winds, camped during the night to find a place to sleep, met many friends
on the road and seem to be doing well. More info as it comes in. . . .

A MAP of The Pacific Crest Trail

This might make it easier to see what our travelers are up to.

First Steps

7:45am. Easter Sunday. March 31st 2013

Maverick and Lodge Pole begin their trek.

It's a beautiful morning as our heroes move forward.

Disappearing from sight the story now becomes their own.

The Trail Head

7:30am. Easter Sunday. March 31st 2013

The trail head is reached.

Lodge Pole call's Mrs. Lodge Pole to let her know everything is going fine.

The official PCT log book is signed.

Words are carefully chosen.

The journey of a lifetime begins.

The Fence

A bit past Dawn. Easter Sunday. March 31st 2013

Everyone takes a deep breath and checks out the notorious border fence.

10 foot high slabs of metal with razor blades on top.

Through the cracks we can see beautiful Mexico.

Maverick, Lodge Pole and Battery pose for family photos.

New Beginnings

Dawn. Easter Sunday. March 31st 2013

Maverick, Lodge Pole, Battery and DNA arrive at the Border of Mexico and The United States.

A hole is dug underneath the fence and hands are held on Mexican soil.

Border Patrol makes sure we are who we say we are.

Backpacks are secured.

And put on for the long walk ahead.