Fannypack's PCT2001 April journal w/pics

April 4 thru April 12 was a warmup hike on the AT.

Wed, April 4 - 3.2 miles - start=1715 end=1830 David Lesser Shelter - Left Blackburn Trail Center at 17:15 hiking north on AT. Beautiful cool day, sun is setting to my left and great view of the farmlands to my right. Arrived at David Lesser Shelter at 18:30. 2 teenagers that I saw leaving Blackburn were at Lesser. They hiked down the hill (east) and returned to the shelter at 19:50. Talked to them, they live just down the hill but they had to return to their truck so they are off. I definitely will be getting a lighter sleeping bag. I to get a 1 lb. bag, mine is 3+ lbs. but it is 0 degree, I will probably end up with a 30 degree down bag. Well 20:15 now, time for bed & maybe a little radio, I am getting all 4 major TV stations from DC.

Thu, April 5 - 15.8 miles start=0830 end=1730 Ed Garvey Shelter  - A little chilly this morn hard to get started. The moon was very bright last nite and I saw it again this morning at 6am. At Keys Gap I met a thru-hiker flip-flopper who had just started from HF, his name is Victor Hoyt and he thru-hiked in 1979. I hope to see him again up in Maine after I finish the PCT. Visited the ATC HQ looking for FlutterBy but she was on vacation. Took an hr PB&J break at the train trestle crossing the Potomac River. Arrived at Garvey Shelter and promptly laid down & went to sleep (no supper) till 1930 when a Penn State group arrived, about 15 of them. This group is a senior English class, the class is "Appalachian Trail Studies" and they have read some books written by thru-hikers, as a matter of fact, earlier on Thursday they had spoken to Robert Rubin aka Rhymin Worm about his book "On Beaten Path....." . We sat around the campfire & talked till about 2300.

Fri, April 6, 10 miles start=0920 end=1500 Dahlgren Backpacker campsite - After talking to PSU group, I headed out for a Crampton Gap. At Crampton Gap I used the payphone to call Appalachian Trail Outfitters in Oakton, VA. I spoke to Charley, a AT & PCT thru-hiker, about getting a 20 degree sleeping bag. I will be going by to see him on April 16 when I return to VA. I hiked on to Rocky Run Shelter with threatening skies but NO rain. It poured down while I was resting there and I also met a married couple hiking south, it was her 1st day hiking and she was struggling. This couple had already done 8 miles which I think is plenty for your 1st day. When (15:00) I got to Dahlgren, I decided to hike down to Boonsboro to get some hotdogs & chips for a little cookout for the PSU group. I ended up getting a ride with Mashombo (sp?), AT thru-hiker 98 & 99. He took me to the grocery on the other side of town after picking up his wife, Sugar... Returned to Dahlgren at 1700 and PSU grp starting arriving. We boiled the hotdogs an everyone seemed to enjoy them. We stayed up talking to 2400 and lucked out cause the rain held off.

Sat, April 7, 14 miles - start=1000 end=1600 Cowall Shelter - During it rained pretty hard but my tarp worked fine. Also during one of the PSU students went to the hospital & ended up that her problem was that she was passing a kidney stone. The PSU grp decided to go home rather than continue on. So I left about 1000 trying to make it to Cowall Shelter before it was full, cause it looked like rain. I didn't rain during the day. Passed some SOBO kids (scouts, maybe) and another grp of 10 dayhikers. Stayed at Cowall with a couple & a grp of 3 guys from Boiling Springs.

Sun, April 8, 18 miles - start=0730 end=1900 Rocky Mtn Shelters - Looked like rain till Pen Mar. At Pen Mar I met a SOBO couple flip-floppers from VT, Lucky Ted & Nature Girl They started from Duncannon on their attempted thru-hike. Hiked on to PA16 as the sun appeared (stayed out till about 1800) & hitched to the AYCE at Mtn Gate Restaurant in Waynesboro, PA (about 5 mile hitch). Hitched back out on Old Forge Rd, so I skipped (aka yellow-blazed ) 5.5 miles of the AT, remember I am hiking to get in better shape for the PCT2001 hike. Arrived at Rocky Mtn Shelters at 1900 and found James from Philly there. James had been there for 2 days, his back was bothering him. James started hiking SOBO from DWG and was going very slow. One of the reasons that he may be going so slow is because he is carrying 3 22 oz. fuel bottles full. he is planning to hike to Springer or as far as he can get. Real nice guy, I hope he loses some of the extra equipment so he can move a little faster & be more comfortable.

Mon, April 9, 23 miles - start=0815 end=1925 Ironmasters Hostel at Pine Grove Furnace, PA  - Got up at 5:30am so I could start early but we had heavy thunderstorms so I didn't get going till 8:15am. At PA30 I got a ride to the grocery store about 1 mile from trail, got choc. milk, Gatorade, & chicken salad sandwiches. Back on the AT by 1050 and stopped at Quarry Gap Shelter for a break & soaked my feet in the stream. On to Birch Run Shelters where I found a young guy from Texas who had just starting hiking from PA30 the previous day, he decided to stay there for the nite. Well the sun was out & I wanted to get a shower so I went on towards the hostel. As I approached PA233 it started raining so I ended up getting soaked as I walked the last 20 minutes in the rain. Got a shower, ate some rice & was in bed by 2130. There was a big grp of people there & one of them, a guy, in the bunk below me snored loudly all nite. Oh well the shower & bed were worth it.

Tue, April 10, start=0730 end=1520 Alec Kennedy Shelter  - Well today it looked like rain all day but it never did. I stopped at the Green Mtn Store about 8 miles north of Ironmasters for a sandwich. I was determined to avoid getting wet while doing a big day so rather than go to Boiling Springs I decided to stop early at Kennedy Shelter. By stopping at 1520 I was able to get plenty of rest & had a good nite of sleep (no other hiker came in).

Wed, April 11, 12 miles - start=0730 end=1300 Appalachian Trail Inn, US11, Carlisle, PA  - Climbed the 9/10 mile to Center Point Knob & there I found a grp of youngsters breaking camp. This grp had used 4 tarps as their shelter. I got some ideas on setting up my tarp, must try before leaving for PCT. Hiked on to Boiling Springs, and had breakfast at the Lakeview Cafe. Hiked the next 8 miles to US11 in 2 hrs 40 min, this has to be the easiest 8 miles on the AT. Had a bath and lunch. Just spoke to Dr Buckholder at PSU and found that it maybe 80 miles from Duncannon to PSU. I am hoping to leave from here at 5am & do the 18 miles to Duncannon & then hitch to PSU. Hoping to be able to visit Dr Buckholder's class on Friday, check out they campus, & maybe get a dinner. Planning to return to MD on Sat morning so I can hike back to my truck at Blackburn. I would like to arrive at Blackburn on sun, April 15 so then I can visit the outfitter in Oakton & my old AT&T worksite on Monday, April 16. Hoping to be back in Highland Springs (my parent's home) on Monday nite.

Thu, April 12 - 10 to 15 miles - start=0710 end=1930 Blackburn Trail Center - Got up at 4am & had breakfast at the Appalachian Trail Inn restaurant, buffet for $4.75, and the restaurant was packed, allot of truck drivers & military people. I decided to hitch back to VA via US15 south. I ended up walking 10 to 15 miles & had 6 rides to get back to my truck. Met the new caretakers at Blackburn & stayed the nite.

Fri, April 13 - 6 miles - start=1500 end=1845 Bears Den Hostel then Blackburn  - Up & out by 7am. Went to AT&T to visit and the out to Bears Den to dayhike. Hiked south on AT to Sam Moore Shelter and back. After talking with Melody, caretaker, and Just Playin' Jane '98, I returned to Blackburn & slept on a platform in the front yard. Pics for Aprl 4 thru 13.

Sat, April 14 - 0 miles - start= end=   - Up at 630am & got a sandwich at Mickey Ds in Purcellville and then to Harpers Ferry & washed clothes at KOA. Then I started around looking for outfitters (have to buy more gear, right?). Went to Trail House in Frederick, MD, Hudson Trail in Gaithersburg, MD, then Appalachian Trail Outfitters in Oakton, VA. Well I bought some gear at ATO. Hey did u know GRIM '99 working at ATO? I was a great day, sunny, mid 70's.

Sun, April 15 - 0 miles - at parents in Highland Springs, VA

Mon, April 16 - 0 miles - at parents in Highland Springs, VA

Tue, April 17 - 0 miles - at parents in Highland Springs, VA

Wed, April 18 - 0 miles - at parents in Highland Springs, VA

Thu, April 19 - 0 miles - at parents in Highland Springs, VA

Fri, April 20 - 0 miles - San Diego - The 1st line of each journal entry will be the day, date, start hiking time (start=), end hiking time(end=), number of miles hiked, destination for the day (i.e., where i sleep), oftentimes this will be an approximate position using the PCT Databook, and also a summary of the weather for that day, also any comments. Most times i will use military time format, e.g., 1420 is 2: i am in Charlotte now, 710am ...we leave at 8am, will be in SD by 10am PDT.... talk later...Even though my body is moving in slow motion, i am starting to get very excited. BTW: when i talked last nite to Bob Riess in SD, i asked about the SD weather & he said that 74 deg, same as always, that is what I like to hear. Realized at Charlotte airport that i had left my Gatorade bottle on table at parents home, oh well, a hope that a bottle of Gatorade i all i left. Hope all my family is enjoying the VCU Children's Classic golf tournament at the Dominion Club just outside Richmond in beautiful Glen Allen, VA. BTW, i do have spellcheck on the Sharp TM-20 device so please excuse the spelling. Also i will be using plenty acronymns like, btw: by the way PCT: Pacific Crest Trail IMHO: in my humble opinion & more... Pls e-mail me at fannypack96@bigfoot if u have any questions about my journal or whatever. BTW, not all my journal entries will be this long. Bob Riess picked me up at Seaport Village at 1515. Phil Marshall, another hiker was with Bob... We went to Bob's home & had pizza for supper and Phil & I went to bed at 2000. Bob was chaperoning a dance at his high school. Pics from 2001-04-20

Sat, April 21 - 2.3 miles start=0755 end=0845 - San Diego - cool rainy 40 & then up to 70+ It rained during the nite & it is still drizzling while we get up at 0500. Phil wants to start in the rain but Bob listened to the forecast & it should rain off & on till 1400 (which it did). So Bob drove Phil & I to the PCT southern terminus and Phil & I stepped out into the 30 to 40 mph gusts & a driving rain to take a few pics. Phil & I then slacked north to Hwy94 (2.3 miles) & we got "lost" twice, i.e., could'nt find the trail a couple of times. At Hwy94, Phil got his pack on & hiked north (hope to see him in a few days). Bob drove by Lake Moreno, we stopped at Adventure 16,an outfitter, and i bought a 20 deg sleeping bag, i was just not sure that the 38 deg bad would allow me to get a good nite's sleep.. During the day Bob picked up Tony who is from England (he had been staying at International Hostel in SD) and White Root & his friend at the airport. At the moment, 1730, Bob, Tony, White Root & friend have gone to Adventure 16. they should return shortly & then w! e will decide on supper. I am still planning on hitching back from Warner Springs to the Lake Moreno KO party/get together. I hope to be at Warner Springs by Friday midday, btw, if anyone can stop by Warner Springs to give me a ride, pls e-mail me w/ phone # & i will call u from Mt Laguna... Also, Bob will be bringing my Warner Springs bounce box/food to Lake Moreno, THX Bob... Hope to stop at Lake Moreno tomorrow for water then hike north a ways to dry camp. Pics from 2001-04-21

Sun, April 22 - 17.9 miles start=0835 end=1620 - Lake Moreno Campground - beautiful sunny day, 50 up to 75 or so Bob Riess drove White Root, Kathy, Tony & Ito the southern terminus. Tony, Kathy, & WR slacked to Hwy94. I started backpacking from Hwy94. I met Coaster from SD & High Country from Wyoming at Hwy94 & hiked w/ them all day. The hike was very easy today except for the 1.3 mi. hike up Hauser Mtn. Hauser Creek was a rock hop, it was barely running but u could get water there. When we got to Lake Moreno, we paid $2 each to camp. Ate supper & will be turning in by about 2045. Camped here are: WR & Kathy, Coaster, High Country, Frank & Linda (they are doing along section to KM). We are hoping to make Mt Laguna by tomorrow nite. Good day, feet feel fine. BTW, I am attempting to wash my socks each nite. I am wearing i pair of nylon dress ($1 a pr), I may have to start wearing 2 pair. Pics from 2001-04-22

Mon, April 23 -19.5 miles -start=0650 end=1710 - camped 1+ miles north of Long Canyon Creek - sunny all day Hiked with Coaster & High Country all day. Arms getting a little sunburned. Most of the day we were climbing. We went under I-8 about 1000 & we could see Lake Moreno about 1400. The last climb of the day was 5000 ft in a mile, not bad. Coaster plans to get off the trail in Mt Laguna tomorrow. We will go into Mt Laguna to buy food. In the next 3 days we will go thru 2 stretches of trail where water is not available except over 1.5 miles off the trail. The 2 waterless stretches are 25 & 23 miles. Meanwhile back at the ranch, Tex & Helen (FP's parents) were celebrating 52 years of marriage. Pics from 2001-04-23

Tue, April 24 -21? miles -start=0640 end=1745 - camped ?8? miles north of Pioneer Mail Trailhead Picnic Area- sunny all day, hi=90 Hiked with Coaster & High Country all day. BTW: my tarp blew down in high winds last nite so I have sent for my tent. We hiked 3 miles this morning & then went off trail to the store in Mt Laguna (.4 miles),. Got some Gatorade & pepperoni sticks. Back on trail at 0930, as we were leaving we saw the 2 girls, WR, Kathy, Frank & Linda, Doug come into town. We hiked to G.A.T.R. road & got water at the faucet .12 miles to the left (across Sunrise Hwy).. BTW: yesterday, i forgot to say that Long Canyon Creek was a rock hop, water is flowing. After G.A.T.R. road we hiked to Pioneer Trailhead where we filtered water from the 1000 gallon holding tank used b horses (ww dix filter the water). Here at Pioneer we saw Phil aka Wahoo from Charlottesville, VA, he started on 4/21 in the rain & snow. Phil camped at Hauser Creek this 1st nite. Phil left Pioneer before us saying the was going to hike till1930,- we never saw him again. During this afternoon, the back of my left knee! started to hurt so much that was only doing 1/2 mph, so i stopped & took 600 mg of Vitamin I. About 45 minutes later i was able to hike at 2mph again. will betaking 600 mg before bed & 600 mg in the morning. Coaster, High Country (HC) camped 7 to 6 miles north of Pioneer. We are camped next to the trail & Not using tents. At Rt78, Scissors Crossing, we plan to hitch 13 miles west to Julian & share a motel room. U know in the 1st 60 miles of this PCT hike I have seen more beautiful scenery than i saw on all 2168 miles of the Appalahian Trail. Today we constantly looking out to our right at mountains & valleys. Hey, Slyman, u were right, each day is better than the day before. Pics from 2001-04-24

Wed, April 25 -17/78.1 miles -start=0625 end=1330 - sunny all day, 39 we got up, hi=100 (BTW: the 17/78.1 above means we hiked 17 miles today we have hiked 78.1 total miles on the PCT so far, i.e, the cumulative mileage) Hiked with Coaster & High Country all day. Saw Phil Marshall about 0930 & he hiked with us to Rt78. It was so hot today that all of us thought we were going to pass out. I had 1 gallon of water for the day. We were in the sun all day & the last 2 miles or so on the desert floor. When we reached RT78 we walked left up to S2 & RT78 intersection to hitch to Julian. We decided to do this because it was sooooo hot & the next 24 miles are waterless so in the heat of the day & we wanted town food & to relax. We got a ride at !425 in the back of a pickup from a couple of guys from Arizona. BTW: there was 30 gallons of water at Scissors, thx to the local PCT member for your generosity. Coaster is going home. High Country & I arranged a ride to Scissors at 0600 so we should be on trail by 0630 & we are shooting for a 20 mile day so we will have a short day on Friday into Warner Springs. We will be carrying 2 gallons of water tomorrow since the next water is 24 miles. Also! we will be exposed all day, no shade, not like the green tunnel on the AT. Hope to get a ride from Warner Springs to Lake Moreno (for the PCT Kickoff) on Friday or i will be hitching down RT79. Also today Jordan (FP's niece) celebrated her 6th birthday. Pics from 2001-04-25

Thu, April 26 - 23.8/101.9 miles -start=0625 end=1715 - suuny all day, hi=98 - campsite at Barrel Spring. High Country & I got up 0500 & packed. I got in touch with Prehistoric Tony & he will pick me up on Friday at 1300 in Warner Springs at the country club grill & the we will go to Lake Moreno PCT KO. I will probably return to the trail on Sunday morning. A lady who worked at the restuarant picked us up at 0600 & we began hiking at 0625. HC & I saw our 1st rattlesnake today, on the trail, I almost stuck him with my hiking stick. We got a picture & moved on. Today we are hiking a 23.8 miles waterless stretch. This stretch begins at RT78 & "parallels" the road called S2. We were exposed to the sun most of the day. After passing 44 gallons (11 were empty) of water, we did the final 10.5 miles in 4 hrs. When we got to Barrel Spring. Phil Marshall was already there. As we setup camp, Phil decided to camp here & will go to the Warner Springs PO with us. Phil & HC are talking as I go to sleep. Pics from 2001-04-26

Fri, April 27 - 10.5/112.4 miles -start=0625 end=1000 - sunny all day, hi=90s - Hiked to 2nd crossing of RT79 north of Warner Springs & camped at Lake Moreno High Country, Phil & I got up 0530 & packed and were off. The trail today to Warner Springs is very much the AT near Atkins and other places in SW VA, i.e., meadows, allot of trees. About 3 miles south of Warner Springs, we met a SOBO hiker, it was AsABat. He was dayhiking looking for me to give me a ride to Lake Moreno PCT KO "party". We all hiked up to RT79 & AsABat took Phil & my pack over to the next crossing of RT79 where he met us. While we were loading AsABat's truck, Frank & Linda pulled up. Frank & Linda had hiked from Campo to Julian but Linda hurt her leg so they got a ride home to Los Angeles & today they were here to pick up their maildrop in Warner Springs. Frank bought HC & I burgers & fries at the country club, thx Frank. Also linda mailed some my stuff on to Big Bear City (this stuff, clothes, etc. I gave to her at Julian cause I needed the space in my pack to carry my gallon jug of water), thx Linda. After eating ASABAT & I came to Lake Moreno after dropping off some water at several water caches along the way. There are several AT hikers here that I know: Tripod (98), Swiss Miss (98), Griz (99), Cobweb (99). BTW: someone asked about Vitamin I, Vitamin I is Ibuprofen, a "pain killer" commonly used by hikers. For each of the last 3 days, I have taken 2400 mg for a pain behind behind my left knee. The knee is feeling better this afternoon, probably because I only walked 10.5 miles today. I hope to be hiking again early Sunday morn. FYI:, I have a healthy hiker appetite now, today I ate 4 hamburgers, a chicken sandwich, a large bag of doritos & 3 qts of Gatorade. I hope to ice the back of my knee all day on Sat before starting to hike again at Warner Springs. Going to sleep now about 2100. Pics from 2001-04-27

Day 8- Sat, April 28 - 0/112.4 miles -start= end= - sunny all day, hi=70s -Camped at Lake Moreno. I iced the back of knee, which is swollen and I starting taken Alleve instead of Vit I. There were gear contests during the afternoon for the hikers. H aka Brian Brown was there, I know him from the AT in 1996. A few of us stayed up till midnite talking around the firepit. Also one PCT hiker from 2000 sang a few songs. Pics from 2001-04-28

Day 9- Sun, April 29 - 15.9/128.3 miles -start=1230 end=1935 - sunny all day, hi=90s? -Camped at Chihuahua Valley Rd Got up & had a hot breakfast served by the PCT KO volunteers. I drove a hiker's van to Warner Springs & left it locked behind the PO. On the way, I filled my water bag in Mt Laguna & left it there. I didn't realize I left it till I got to Warner Springs which is an hour away. I will buy another one in Idyllwild. I started hiking with my poles strapped to my pack & I was holding a pint water bottle (used to drink since I don't have the water bag with tube that i can suck on to get water. For the 1st 3 hrs I hike this way & my feet go to sleep & my hands swell. So I said I must use my sticks (hiking poles), so I put the pint bottle of water in my pants pocket. This worked much better. i hiked faster & the swelling went down & my feet did not go to sleep. I hiked with Fix-It from NY, Baraq from Israel, and Mindy from No. CA. I wanted to make it to a road about 16 miles away because H, Hollywood & Star, Tapeworm, Trashy Spice were going to be there with burgers, etc! .., i.e., some trail magic. It was hot & mostly uphill but I was motivated & so was Fix-It & Mindy. Stooped at Lost Valley spring to filer a gallon of water & the box was full of water but it didn't appear that any more water was flowing into to the box. We all got there between 1935 & 1950. I ate a couple of burgers & hotdogs. BTW: for the last 7.8 miles I only drank 1 pint of water because I didn't want to stop to fill the bottle with water. Also there were PCT hikers: Coppertop, Joe Moon, kamikin (sp?) & Skywalker. Actually Skywaker was up on top of a ridge 2 miles north of the cookout but H went up there after dark to take SW some food & SW decided to back down to join the cookout. Intent asleep by 2330. Great day but long. Meanwhile back at the ranch, Dan (FP's brother, EDS SE & part-time Hiker.com webmaster) celebrated his birthday. Pics from 2001-04-29

Day 10- Mon, April 30 - 22.4/150.7 miles -start=0830 end=1840 - sunny all day, hi=90s? -Camped just off the trail about 3 miles south of RT74 Up at 0600, had cold hamburger, banana & doritoes for breakfast. I talked with everyone & took my time getting packed. I just want to thank H for organizing the cookout, Star & Hollywood for providing the grill & more, Trashy Spice for cooking, Tapeworm for getting H to the cookout location. Within the 1st hour of walking I saw 2 rattlesnakes on the trail. Actually I walked right by the 2nd one & Fix-It saw it, I walked within a foot of this 4 foot rattler. Fix-It & I walked & talked for the 1st 7.5 miles & then took at 25 minutes break. Fix-It is a little down cause he wants to have more socializing on the PCT like it was for him on the AT in 2000. He doen't seem to be enjoying himself. After leaving Fix-It at 1135 I did not see another hiker all day. The hike today had very few views except early in the day we saw a snow covered peak to the north which was probably San Jacinto Peak. We will hike below San Jacinto Peak in the next few days. I did not stop at the Tule Canyon Truck Trail for water but found water at Nance Canyon Creek. There were several pools about 1 foot deep within 30 feet of the trail. I filtered a gallon of water & then began the 1/2 mile climb out of this canyon. At 1450 I took a 30 minute break & drank 2 qts of water & I felt great. The trail was very non-descript & it was difficult to tell where I was (just not reference points). In the Terwilliger valley near a sandy jeep road before Table Mtn was a water cache of over 100 gallons of water left by Paul Miller, the host of a hostel in Anza. I hiked on trying to get near Rt74, as I hiked I could see houses down in the valley, I assume this was Anza. I tented for the 1st time by myself about 30 yds off the trail in a sandy area. I went to sleep about 2100. I would like to mention again that if u are going to hike this section of PCT be prepared to carry 2 gallons of water, staying hydrated has become a very important item for me. Pics from 2001-04-30