Day 32 – 23 Apr 19. Accidental Marathon

Today 41 km (25.5 mi), Total Distance 708.4 km (440.4 mi). 10 hours (0705-1705)

The wind changed direction during the night. I had heard the wind roaring through the trees above us and when it changed I could now hear the wind roaring through the trees below us. By good fortune my site remained sheltered, even with the change of direction. I got a few more shakes but nothing bad.

I woke as the sun came up so from the same spot I had seen sunset on one side and sunrise on the other. I had a leisurely start and was on my way just after 0700.

As I took off the girl in the tent beside me was walking down the trail, obviously to go to the toilet. I made a noise so she knew I was behind her and she seemed surprised I was walking in that direction. I told her this was the trail and she headed back the other way.

It was really windy once away from the shelter of our campsite. In preparation I was not wearing my wide brim hat and had the hood of my wind shirt up.

The trail dropped slightly along the ridge then cut under and along the side of the hill, below my campsite. It was a 3 mile descent to the road and the gradient was nice enough for me to cruise at a nice pace. I was feeling good, no niggles at all and good energy.

At the road was a picnic area and toilets – perfect timing. Unfortunately the locks did not work, I jammed my hiking pole under the handle but this did not work as a guy in a suit opened the door and quickly backed off as I yelled. As I left he apologised again, not that it was his fault.

The trail crossed the road and now started a long climb up to the ridge then along the side of the hill. The gradient started quite steep then evened off and I was enjoying myself. There were views out to the desert flats and civilisation to my right and the hill to the left.

The vegetation seemed to be changing constantly. It would be dry desert scrub, then pines, then a burn area followed by healthy trees which were not pines, and then a burn area. I was enjoying the constant variety.

I passed a girl having a break. She had just started and was out for a 3 day hike. A little later at the first, and only stream of the day, I met No Plan. I last saw him at the campfire before Big Bear. We filtered some water and he took off first.

I started up the hill but then stopped to roll my sleeves up and apply sunscreen. It was cool in the wind but hot out of it.

There was a bit of up and down and then just after 1200 a big climb started. I was looking for a lunch spot but preferred to finish the climb before stopping, not realising how big a climb it was.

30 minutes later I was finally at the top and No Plan was in a nice sheltered spot having lunch so I joined him. We talked as we ate, mainly about me as usual, despite trying to turn the conversation back to him several times.

I finished first and left, having seen that there was a long downhill. I thought this would take me all the way to the KOA campsite. Some of this downhill was a little steep and I had to brace myself with my poles. My knees were a little achy with this type of downhill.

I had switched back to my wide brim hat and less a couple of big gusts, it felt safe. Unfortunately the hat is a fraction too big and I have to have the chin strap quite tight to keep the hat on. It often feels like it is about to fly away in the wind. I may have to look at a way to tighten it.

After a little while the descent changed to a climb around a hill before dropping again.

Just before the drop I checked my location and realised I had made an error in how far I thought the KOA Camp was. I assumed it was 20 miles (32 km) to the KOA Camp and then another 20 miles (32 km) to Agua Dulce. Instead it was 30 miles (48km) which I did not want to do. I was getting pretty low on water as I had thought the camp was closer. The nearest water was a stream in 6 miles (10 km), and I was already at 20 miles (32 km). It was still early and I was feeling good so I prepared myself to complete a Marathon today. 26 miles (42 km) was on the cards.

The descent was really steep, rocky and a little overgrown. I resisted the urge to rush and took my time, protecting my knees as much as possible. They have not been this bad on hills for a while, though most of the descents have not been as steep.

The trail was dropping along a steep hill, occasionally switchbacking and occasionally little climbs. This took me to a saddle where there was a Ranger Station.

I saw a person sitting down and it was Owl, the Australian I had met the night of MacDonalds stop. I used the toilet and filled up with some water which the ranger nicely left out for us hikers. Apparently if he is there you can buy a cold can of fizzy drink (soda) but he wasn’t there. I filled up with one litre of water as a contingency and continued on.

I could have stopped there but I was committed to the marathon, and it would mean only a 14 mile (22 km) day tomorrow instead of a 19 mile (30 km) day.

Owl took off just before me but I quickly overtook her. It was now a slight uphill then sidling along the hill.

Slowly the flowers started appearing and then got more abundant. By the time I turned around the hill there were flowers everywhere which was nice to see again.

From the turn the trail descended, again a little too steep to be comfortable, though my knees must have warmed up as they were not complaining now.

The trail dropped to a ridgeline which it followed briefly before switchbacking down to a dry creek, climbed up the other side then down the ridge to a final switchback at the stream.

There were several campsites and I chose the flattest one on the other side of the stream.

Once my tent was up I sat beside the stream soaking my feet while filtering water. It was nice to be able to give my feet and legs a good wash because, as usual, they were filthy.

Owl came down the hill and her husband arrived from the other direction. They continued on. About 30 minutes later No Plan arrived and he set up camp on the other side of the stream.

Dinner was my favourite, Freeze Dry Backcountry Pad Thai. That was followed up by M&M Caramel addition which is really nice. I then did video editing and my blog while listening to the gurgle of the stream right by my tent.

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