Can Do More Miles Going Downhill - (Starting Trail Mile 305.9 - Elevation 3699)

I'm finally doing the longer miles, partly due to getting my "trail legs" and partly due to the fact that I'm finally doing more downhill than uphill.  Over a 24 mile hike, I lose 214 feet.  I still wake up and hit the trail early.  I love the early mornings with a coolness in the air, plus there is more wildlife to see as it starts to get light.  This morning, I see a large herd of deer across the canyon.  They are too far away to get a decent picture on my phone.  The thing I enjoyed the most was a large hawk circling around and through the canyon, making that piercing sound they make.  I tried to get a video, but got dizzy trying to keep him in my sights.  I started to get off balance and was afraid I would fall off of the narrow trail and plunge to the canyon floor, so I gave up and just enjoyed the scene.

I hiked past several camps of other hikers sleeping.

Steep drop-off

Deep Creek

  I came upon Deep Creek Hot Springs.  It would have been nice to be near the springs in the evening for a dip.  It is a hot springs out in the middle of nowhere, and is clothing optional.  The springs exits the ground and runs about 40-50 feet downhill into a rock and concrete pool for bathers.  The first pool is very hot, but overflows into a second pool that mixes with cold creek water and is more pleasant to seat in for a longer time.  I'm too shy to shed my clothes and hop in a hot springs with a bunch of 20-30 year-old bodies anyway.  I hike on by and wave at some hikers I recognize.  I cross over the canyon on a metal and wood arched bridge over Deep Creek far below.

Bridge over Deep Creek

This person keeps following me.

The trail disappears in places and I have to CAREFULLY pick my way across the ledge.

Beautiful roots!

Had to crawl over several trees over the trail.

About 8 miles into my day, I come upon the Mojave River Forks Dam. The dam is empty, but a nice stream flows across the trail, so I stop to filter water.  I start talking to a day-hiker who tells me the history of the area.  Apparently, there is a newer dam, and this dam is used only in emergency situations, or when repairs must be done to the newer dam.  I google the dam and find that it never has had water in it.  It is a control dam, primarily built to protect the Arroyo Southwestern Toad.  I've seen signs about this toad over the last several miles.  I have the feeling that this toad is the reason there are no identified camp sites for PCTers.  There is an effort to discourage hikers from staying in the area and possibly disrupting the reproduction efforts of these endangered toads.

Empty Dam viewed from above.

As I leave the creek, it is wonderful to hike a few miles in shade under big trees.  It doesn't last long though and I'm back out to an exposed, hot ridge-line.  Shortly after noon, I decide to hike until I find some shade to take a siesta and eat my main meal of the day.  I finally come up a hill and around a corner and there are some huge trees, lots of shade and a nice sandy area to lay down and put my feet up on a rock.  I make my dinner and take a nap for about 90 minutes.  I have cell service, so I call Marv, check email etc.  Then it is back into the heat.

Resting my dirty feet

Beautiful Silverwood Lake

Wait, you are ordering pizza?!  "Save some for me!" I holler as these young hikers pull away on down the trail.

 The rest of my hike this day winds through ravines and gullies of chaparral, which provide no shade at all.  A couple of hours later, as I sit on a hot rock, eating a protein bar under my umbrella, a hiker named "Balloons" stops and introduces himself.  When I share my trail name, he tells me I'm a legend on the trail.  I almost fall off my rock, laughing.  It's funny that just being old can earn such accolades!  He tells me that if I can make it to the Cleghorn Picnic Area, a bunch of hikers are going to order pizza delivery.  (This picnic area is close to a town, so they will deliver pizza).  Now that is incentive!


I make it to Silverwood Lake near sunset.  I'm surprised that no one is at the picnic area.  A check of my GPS tells be that the picnic area I'm supposed to be at is still 2 miles further down the trail.  Since the sun has set, I put on my headlamp and hike those last two miles in the dark.  It was a bit intimidating, but luckily the trail is a bit wider and trail is not difficult.  It is also much cooler, which makes my steps easier.  My only problem is that I've hiked the last 24 miles with a very thin pair of socks due to the heat.  This was a mistake, because now the ball of my left foot is killing me.  I thrown on an extra layer of leukotape and keep going.  I did come across the biggest spider I've ever seen.  It is nearly as big as my palm and right in the middle of the trail.  I carefully skirt around him, too spooked to try to get a picture.  I find the pizza-eating group of hikers.  They not only have pizza, but also 7-up with ice!  I had been thinking about ice all day, wishing for 2 buckets of ice water; one to drink and one to put my feet in.  After drinking hot water all day, I savor every sip!

I am almost too tired to eat, but I manage 1 piece of pizza, visit with other hikers for about half hour and then find a place to pitch my tent.  I was too tired to put the rain fly on and since it was already dark, I just dropped into my bag and watched the beautiful starry night as I drifted off.