Day 26 – 17 Apr 19. MacDonald’s to power up the Hill

Today 34.3 km (21.3 mi), Total Distance 574.1 km (356.7 mi). 9 hours 50 minutes (0755-1815, 1.45 hours at MacDonald’s so 45 min deducted)

I woke up around the normal time but when I realised there was ice all over my tent I snoozed a bit, waiting for the sun to melt some of the ice. The train horns were still at it like they had been all night. The railway was over in the next valley but the noise travelled well and the trains here use their horns a lot.

On the trail I was feeling full of energy from my leftover pizza breakfast and the knowledge that it was not far to MacDonald’s.

The trail climbed up to a saddle, even spending a short time on a ridgeline which is unusual for this trail before returning to the normal side of the hill travel.

At the saddle the terrain was more grassy and open.

At the very edge was a steep cut-out where the ground had eroded but there was a fantastic view ahead with snow on the mountains on the skyline and then layered ridges which seemed to be different colours. There was also an area of really large rocks. Beautiful.

The trail switch backed up and over a small hill and then the view of multiple highways, roads and rail tracks opened up. I knew one of them was where I was heading. It was a beautiful descent down. There were flowers everywhere and the trail followed down narrow ridges before dropping into a valley and following the side of a small but steep canyon to the road.

There was a trail sign here pointing to MacDonald’s 0.4 mile (600 meters away and turned up the road. Just short of the MacDonald’s was a field full of orange flowers I am not sure if they were wild or planted but it was really pretty.

I arrived at MacDonald’s exactly when I hoped to, despite the late start. I had done the 7 miles (10 km) in 2 hours. I arrived at 1015 which meant I had the full breakfast menu to start and then the normal menu.

I got 2 Sausage and egg McMuffins, coffee and she gave me a free hash brown. I was the only hiker there and several of the staff chatted to me.
To my surprise FOG turned up. He had done a big day yesterday then stayed at the nearby motel for the night.

I went up for round two, enough for lunch and dinner. I got a Mc Chicken Burger, Double Patty Hamburger, 2 apple pies, 6 piece chicken tenders with 3 sauces and a Chocolate milkshake to have then. More hikers started trickling in and bb the time I was ready to leave the whole side of the restaurant had been overrun by us smelly hikers.

I filled up my water bottles ready for the 21 mile (33 km) stretch with no water. It was 1200 when I left.

Back on trail I went through the curved underpass, across some stones, under the low railway underpass and then a sharp right onto the track. I imagine a few hikers go the wrong way there as the route is not obvious.

Now it was through some neat rocks, under and then over some railway lines and a steep long uphill to a beautiful ridge with amazing views and lots of flowers. I could see where I had come from and the route ahead which was along the hill, across a road and then a constant uphill for the rest of the day.

Just after I started dropping to the trail along the hill I stopped for a break and had my first apple pie. Much nicer than my usual snacks.

The track along the hill went quickly and just short of the road was a big cache of water bottles. It had been hot but I had been conserving water so I gratefully took some water to top up my bottles. I took around a litre which was much appreciated.

Now it was a long uphill. Just before starting climbing was a register to sign for search and rescue.

The climb went around the hill then up beside a valley before switch backing back around the hill. Despite how intimidating the climb had looked from a distance it actually went easy. The gradient was perfect, except for a couple of small stretches where it was a bit steeper causing me to puff.

Once near the top it was back to the steady gradient. The views were lovely, looking back where I had come and in another direction the Morman Rocks, huge rock formations.

The trail wound along the side of the hill above a big valley with a road up it The road looked like a long sustained climb.

I stopped for another break and had my hamburger, I could definitely get used to these sorts of snacks.

Guthooks had reported the trail overrun with Poodle Dog Bush, very poisonous, in 2018 but the single comment from this year said it had largely one. I did not see any close to the track but there were some a little further off and I could finally positively identify what they look and smell like.

Poodle Dog Bush

I caught up to a couple just before a steep section. They looked pretty tired from the sustained climbing.

I continued ahead and the steep section looked intimidating from a distance. Up close there were a few patches where the trail had been destroyed by slips and I had to concentrate to get across. There was a big drop below the path. From the other side of the valley I watched the couple I passed get across the worst slip before I continued on.

The trail

Looking down from the trail

I was getting pretty tired now, approaching 20 miles. I had not been expecting to do that distance today with the longer MacDonald’s stop. Unfortunately this part of the trail was steep and there were no camping spots. There were some around 21 miles so pushed on and the last mile seemed to take forever.

The trail crossed a road and there were a couple of possible spots but I continued on to the marked camp spot.

On arrival to my surprise, again, was FOG. There was also an Australian woman called Owl. FOG moved over slightly and I was able to squeeze my tent in. It was very limited camping. FOG cowboy camps which means he doesn’t put up a tent. I am so used to the weather changing quickly I am not comfortable doing this, and I like my little home to spread out in. I may do it in the Mojave Desert where there will not be any chance of rain.

About 30 minutes later the couple turned up and after much discussion squeezed their tent into a little space between the bushes.

I enjoyed the rest of my MacDonald’s for dinner and had an early night. Tomorrow is town day and I am looking forward to a rest in Wrightwood.

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