Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - Day 15 April 22nd
Day 15: Monday 22nd April
Strawberry Junction Camp – Snow Canyon
I was woken at 5.30 by my alarm. To be more accurate I was already awake because the
alarm was so faint that it wouldn’t wake me up.
I walked with “Captain Cheerio” most of the morning. We filled up with water at Deer
Springs, as the next water would be in Snow Canyon 26 miles away at the end of a 7000ft
descent. I tried to lift “Captain Cheerio”s pack and decided it was too heavy to lift, let alone
carry. Admittedly he had just added 6 litres of water and had food to last him to Big Bear
City a week’s walk away. He said his pack weighed about 40lb when he checked it in at the
airport and that wouldn’t have included food or water.
The Fuller Ridge is a fantastic White-Fir covered spine with the path winding up and
down, in and out of rocky pinnacles. Not easy walking since you cannot get any rhythm in
this terrain, but the fabulous scenery was ample compensation. We got our first look at the
Gorgonio Mountains that we must cross en route to Big Bear City. These mountains looked
very dry and there was the little matter of an 8000ft drop to the valley before a climb back
to 9000ft.
The Los Angeles smog had been clearly visible last night encroaching on the mountains
and was still visible this morning despite the outskirts of LA being over 40 miles away.
I was surprised how few people I had seen in the San Jacinto Mountains. An area as
attractive as this close to a European city would be crawling with people, even in midweek
and it would be overcrowded at the weekend.
This morning it was warmer and by the time I stopped for my lunch break it was getting hot
again and I needed plenty of sun cream when I stretched out in the sun. This break was at
the lower end of the tree line on a rocky granite knoll, the last of the “Sierra type” terrain
before hitting the long descent back into the desert. “Captain Cheerio” continued on, as he
wanted to get down to the water in Snow Canyon, but I was happy with another dry camp. I
think he needed more water than me since he was both heavier and carrying a heavier pack.
The trail to Snow Canyon wound down the hill excruciatingly slowly with long
horizontal sections and very gentle gradients. It was designed to be easy for horses but I’m
sure the horses could cope with something steeper.
I camped at 7pm still a couple of hours above the water fountain in Snow Canyon. I used
up most of my water only leaving enough for breakfast in the morning. This was my longest
day so far. Walking downhill is very hard on the muscles and I stiffened up quickly after I
stopped walking.
Day 15: 19.3 miles 8.15 hours Camp: Snow Canyon
Strawberry Junction Camp – Snow Canyon
I was woken at 5.30 by my alarm. To be more accurate I was already awake because the
alarm was so faint that it wouldn’t wake me up.
I walked with “Captain Cheerio” most of the morning. We filled up with water at Deer
Springs, as the next water would be in Snow Canyon 26 miles away at the end of a 7000ft
descent. I tried to lift “Captain Cheerio”s pack and decided it was too heavy to lift, let alone
carry. Admittedly he had just added 6 litres of water and had food to last him to Big Bear
City a week’s walk away. He said his pack weighed about 40lb when he checked it in at the
airport and that wouldn’t have included food or water.
The Fuller Ridge is a fantastic White-Fir covered spine with the path winding up and
down, in and out of rocky pinnacles. Not easy walking since you cannot get any rhythm in
this terrain, but the fabulous scenery was ample compensation. We got our first look at the
Gorgonio Mountains that we must cross en route to Big Bear City. These mountains looked
very dry and there was the little matter of an 8000ft drop to the valley before a climb back
to 9000ft.
The Los Angeles smog had been clearly visible last night encroaching on the mountains
and was still visible this morning despite the outskirts of LA being over 40 miles away.
I was surprised how few people I had seen in the San Jacinto Mountains. An area as
attractive as this close to a European city would be crawling with people, even in midweek
and it would be overcrowded at the weekend.
This morning it was warmer and by the time I stopped for my lunch break it was getting hot
again and I needed plenty of sun cream when I stretched out in the sun. This break was at
the lower end of the tree line on a rocky granite knoll, the last of the “Sierra type” terrain
before hitting the long descent back into the desert. “Captain Cheerio” continued on, as he
wanted to get down to the water in Snow Canyon, but I was happy with another dry camp. I
think he needed more water than me since he was both heavier and carrying a heavier pack.
The trail to Snow Canyon wound down the hill excruciatingly slowly with long
horizontal sections and very gentle gradients. It was designed to be easy for horses but I’m
sure the horses could cope with something steeper.
I camped at 7pm still a couple of hours above the water fountain in Snow Canyon. I used
up most of my water only leaving enough for breakfast in the morning. This was my longest
day so far. Walking downhill is very hard on the muscles and I stiffened up quickly after I
stopped walking.
Day 15: 19.3 miles 8.15 hours Camp: Snow Canyon
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Fuller Ridge
Captain Cheerio
on Fuller Ridge
on Fuller Ridge
Beavertail Cactus