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[pct-l] Tales from the trail.

To the readers:

I recently read a journal entry about a trip on the PCT and found it to be a
really neat way share experiences and enjoy the trail.  I thought I would sit
down and compile some recollections of my trip so far from the MEX. border to
Lost valley road, outside Warner Springs.  I appologize to those who are
uninterested.

I was born in San Diego and have always wanted to hike the PCT, and have found
that short weekend trips are the only feasable way to start, time permitting. 
I started my trip with a Hungarian friend that had already hiked most the
length of the AT.  The border and southern most point of the PCT was a
fantastic place to ponder the length of trail and breadth of adventure that
lie beyond the horizon and around each new bend of the single dirt path to
Canada.  We were armed with left over pizza wrapped in tin foil and 4 quarts
of water each.  It was 5:00am in the morning when we set off down the trail
past the detention camp that my brother visited for a few months back in high
school.  The first sign we saw was on the road that leads down the a turn off
to Tecate, Mexico, a place I had visited a few times back in high school. 
Crossing the road we headed into a chapparal lined ravine with a small creek,
still flowing in mid summer.  A few turns and a hill or two later lead to a
traverse on a hill side with views back down to the telephone lines that
parallel the Mex. border, and a few houses down in the praire.  My hat is off
to those who can find the time to take off and complete the PCT non-stop. 
What a feeling.  The next few miles led up to a plateau and across a ridge
where the trail zigged and zagged down the canyon on Hauser Creek.  Passing a
metal gate, the trail was directed right on a dirt road leading down to the
canyon floor.  The view of the Hauser Mountain was awesome, the trail could be
seen crossing the hillside up towards Lake Morena.  My hike down the dirt path
was interupted by jeep headed up the path.  I figured that I would step off
the path to let the jeep pass by.  Just my luck that it was border patrol. 
They stopped, guns pointed, immediatly and yelled in Spanish, sientate!
Apparently they thought that I was an undocumented mexican crossing into the
U.S. or a drug smuggler.  They were wrong on one account.  Just kidding.  With
my freedom  and nerves now intact, I continued into the canyon and took an
hour nap by the creek.  The switch backs up the 1000ft grade to lake Morena
was brutal.  100+ deg. and no shade.  The plateau at the top lead through a
maze of fisherman trails to the lake and finally at 5-6 pm. we were back at
the parking lot of Lake Morena, a beautiful lake resort and sensible place to
park for those interested in the PCT by weekends.

Take care.  This is getting too long so I will postpone the next leg, from
Lake Morena to Bolder Oaks campground next time.

Alan.

P.S.  To those who wrote about the stove:  Left over pizza is great trail
food.  I have done my hike so far without a stove.  Almost everthing I have
taken so far has been available at 7-11, ie. wrapped bagels and sandwiches.



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