(Sunday May 4, 2008)
I'm only a week or so in, but this trip keeps surprising me. From the moment I set foot on the trail, the scenery and mountain vistas were much more amazing and beautiful than I expected, and it all came much sooner than I imagined.
I expected that it would be "Eh" with a couple of Ooos and Ahhs mixed in until I started climbing into the Sierras and then I figured it would get real spectacular.
But every day I'm surprised by what I see, so much so that I've almost gotten used to it. That really isn't true at all, but I've stopped taking so many pictures because 1) I'll run out of memory and 2) even though it's all extremely beautiful and worthy of an depression-abating cubicle nature poster, it can all start looking the same after a while. And that's the real beauty. It rarely ever stops (okay, maybe in the godforsaken desert).
You get these uninterrupted views that go for miles and miles, 180 degrees or more and the mountains stand before you one clear range, one hazy range beyond that, another one still more vague and finally the tallest one above all the rest only a shadowy outline.
Everything is green, even the desert to a great extent. But its all a deceiving green. Except for a few stretches, much of what you think is forest covering the landscape is what's called chaparral. Chaparral is what sprouts up after a forest fire - of which there have been many in the last decade - and while pretty from a distance, up close it's dense, short and sharp.
And so if you can get past what can be sometimes ugly and oftentimes annoying when it starts crowding the trail, you see things at every turn that you've probably never seen before in your life.
Hiking the PCT has been what I expected, and like nothing I imagined. I'm meeting great people, seeing wildlife, experiencing awesome towns which I might never have known about without the hike.
Idyllwild is one of those towns. Real quaint, a big fish in a small pond (population 3500 surrounded by towns with less than 500 a piece), but someplace you'd love to have as your summer home if you had the money.
You're right in the middle of a state park, so it's nice and quiet, there's a good downtown area with a bunch of bars and restaurants, a movie theater, homegrown shops, pretty much everything you could need in a little self contained community.
You wouldn't need AC because the nights are cold and even on the hottest days you'd just sit in the shade and it will be 30 degrees cooler than in the sun because there's no humidity.
There's a sign as you walk (I should say "I" because you'd most likely drive) into town that says "Idyllwild - Entrance to America's Cleanest Forest" and they mean it. The place is clean in every sense of the word.
People always say "I'm going to get some fresh air" but this is the only place I've ever been where I can truly say that. The air is so fresh and clean up here it's hard to describe. It's like that frigid January morning when you go out to warm up your car and the world hasn't started moving yet, that refreshing inhale before you open the door and turn the key. It feels almost delicious to breathe.
The hike is hard, no doubt about that. Since the trail is closed for almost 30 miles, a group of us hiked like the world was on fire to Idyllwild along roads. My feet and knees are beat to shit right now, but the experience of the ups and downs, good and bad have made the trip worth it already, even if I've only been here a short time.
Remind me of this post in a couple weeks when I claim that I'd rather be at home lying naked watching Disney movies with Cheetos residue covering my lips and fingers...actually I would rather be doing that right now. Well, remind me if I start to wish for anything other than nude Disney Cheetos afternoons.
Showing posts with label Warner Springs to Idyllwild. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Warner Springs to Idyllwild. Show all posts
Friday, May 9, 2008
I Love Idyllwild...and So Should You
(Sunday May 4, 2008)
I'm only a week or so in, but this trip keeps surprising me. From the moment I set foot on the trail, the scenery and mountain vistas were much more amazing and beautiful than I expected, and it all came much sooner than I imagined.
I expected that it would be "Eh" with a couple of Ooos and Ahhs mixed in until I started climbing into the Sierras and then I figured it would get real spectacular.
But every day I'm surprised by what I see, so much so that I've almost gotten used to it. That really isn't true at all, but I've stopped taking so many pictures because 1) I'll run out of memory and 2) even though it's all extremely beautiful and worthy of an depression-abating cubicle nature poster, it can all start looking the same after a while. And that's the real beauty. It rarely ever stops (okay, maybe in the godforsaken desert).
You get these uninterrupted views that go for miles and miles, 180 degrees or more and the mountains stand before you one clear range, one hazy range beyond that, another one still more vague and finally the tallest one above all the rest only a shadowy outline.
Everything is green, even the desert to a great extent. But its all a deceiving green. Except for a few stretches, much of what you think is forest covering the landscape is what's called chaparral. Chaparral is what sprouts up after a forest fire - of which there have been many in the last decade - and while pretty from a distance, up close it's dense, short and sharp.
And so if you can get past what can be sometimes ugly and oftentimes annoying when it starts crowding the trail, you see things at every turn that you've probably never seen before in your life.
Hiking the PCT has been what I expected, and like nothing I imagined. I'm meeting great people, seeing wildlife, experiencing awesome towns which I might never have known about without the hike.
Idyllwild is one of those towns. Real quaint, a big fish in a small pond (population 3500 surrounded by towns with less than 500 a piece), but someplace you'd love to have as your summer home if you had the money.
You're right in the middle of a state park, so it's nice and quiet, there's a good downtown area with a bunch of bars and restaurants, a movie theater, homegrown shops, pretty much everything you could need in a little self contained community.
You wouldn't need AC because the nights are cold and even on the hottest days you'd just sit in the shade and it will be 30 degrees cooler than in the sun because there's no humidity.
There's a sign as you walk (I should say "I" because you'd most likely drive) into town that says "Idyllwild - Entrance to America's Cleanest Forest" and they mean it. The place is clean in every sense of the word.
People always say "I'm going to get some fresh air" but this is the only place I've ever been where I can truly say that. The air is so fresh and clean up here it's hard to describe. It's like that frigid January morning when you go out to warm up your car and the world hasn't started moving yet, that refreshing inhale before you open the door and turn the key. It feels almost delicious to breathe.
The hike is hard, no doubt about that. Since the trail is closed for almost 30 miles, a group of us hiked like the world was on fire to Idyllwild along roads. My feet and knees are beat to shit right now, but the experience of the ups and downs, good and bad have made the trip worth it already, even if I've only been here a short time.
Remind me of this post in a couple weeks when I claim that I'd rather be at home lying naked watching Disney movies with Cheetos residue covering my lips and fingers...actually I would rather be doing that right now. Well, remind me if I start to wish for anything other than nude Disney Cheetos afternoons.
I'm only a week or so in, but this trip keeps surprising me. From the moment I set foot on the trail, the scenery and mountain vistas were much more amazing and beautiful than I expected, and it all came much sooner than I imagined.
I expected that it would be "Eh" with a couple of Ooos and Ahhs mixed in until I started climbing into the Sierras and then I figured it would get real spectacular.
But every day I'm surprised by what I see, so much so that I've almost gotten used to it. That really isn't true at all, but I've stopped taking so many pictures because 1) I'll run out of memory and 2) even though it's all extremely beautiful and worthy of an depression-abating cubicle nature poster, it can all start looking the same after a while. And that's the real beauty. It rarely ever stops (okay, maybe in the godforsaken desert).
You get these uninterrupted views that go for miles and miles, 180 degrees or more and the mountains stand before you one clear range, one hazy range beyond that, another one still more vague and finally the tallest one above all the rest only a shadowy outline.
Everything is green, even the desert to a great extent. But its all a deceiving green. Except for a few stretches, much of what you think is forest covering the landscape is what's called chaparral. Chaparral is what sprouts up after a forest fire - of which there have been many in the last decade - and while pretty from a distance, up close it's dense, short and sharp.
And so if you can get past what can be sometimes ugly and oftentimes annoying when it starts crowding the trail, you see things at every turn that you've probably never seen before in your life.
Hiking the PCT has been what I expected, and like nothing I imagined. I'm meeting great people, seeing wildlife, experiencing awesome towns which I might never have known about without the hike.
Idyllwild is one of those towns. Real quaint, a big fish in a small pond (population 3500 surrounded by towns with less than 500 a piece), but someplace you'd love to have as your summer home if you had the money.
You're right in the middle of a state park, so it's nice and quiet, there's a good downtown area with a bunch of bars and restaurants, a movie theater, homegrown shops, pretty much everything you could need in a little self contained community.
You wouldn't need AC because the nights are cold and even on the hottest days you'd just sit in the shade and it will be 30 degrees cooler than in the sun because there's no humidity.
There's a sign as you walk (I should say "I" because you'd most likely drive) into town that says "Idyllwild - Entrance to America's Cleanest Forest" and they mean it. The place is clean in every sense of the word.
People always say "I'm going to get some fresh air" but this is the only place I've ever been where I can truly say that. The air is so fresh and clean up here it's hard to describe. It's like that frigid January morning when you go out to warm up your car and the world hasn't started moving yet, that refreshing inhale before you open the door and turn the key. It feels almost delicious to breathe.
The hike is hard, no doubt about that. Since the trail is closed for almost 30 miles, a group of us hiked like the world was on fire to Idyllwild along roads. My feet and knees are beat to shit right now, but the experience of the ups and downs, good and bad have made the trip worth it already, even if I've only been here a short time.
Remind me of this post in a couple weeks when I claim that I'd rather be at home lying naked watching Disney movies with Cheetos residue covering my lips and fingers...actually I would rather be doing that right now. Well, remind me if I start to wish for anything other than nude Disney Cheetos afternoons.
The Desert Sucks
(Saturday May 3, 2008 - 3:53pm)
The desert is hot as balls. No shade. Cool wind occasionally. Rattlesnakes, lizards, an extremely blue bird and some groundhog looking thing are all the animal life I've seen. Even the desert crows sound pretty crappy compared to the ones back home. Like they've been chain smoking for 30 years or have too much dust on their caw-ing muscles. Needless to say I don't like the desert much.
The desert is hot as balls. No shade. Cool wind occasionally. Rattlesnakes, lizards, an extremely blue bird and some groundhog looking thing are all the animal life I've seen. Even the desert crows sound pretty crappy compared to the ones back home. Like they've been chain smoking for 30 years or have too much dust on their caw-ing muscles. Needless to say I don't like the desert much.
No Mountain Partying for Me
(Saturday May 3, 2008 - 1:00pm)
Last night I camped at a guy named Mike's house. He's someone who's known as a trail angel and although it sounds vaguely pornographic, it's just someone who helps hikers out.
The guy wasn't even there when we rolled in around 7:30pm and actually never showed up during the entire time I was there.
But who did show up was a truck full of Spanish-speaking guys who started unloading stuff from the truck that I couldn't see.
I of course start fearing for my life, picturing myself in the wrong place during some kind of drug or contraband exchange that was about to go horribly wrong. But I just fell back asleep hoping I wouldn't wake up with a black bag over my head chained to a wall.
As it turns out, they were Mike's friends coming in with beer and 100 lbs. of chicken for a Cinco de Mayo party that they were throwing tonight.
The guys were really nice and good hosts while Mike was away, offering us coffee and a home cooked breakfast. And if these guys were secretly the bad men I had originally suspected, they were the nicest bad men I ever met in my life. The type of bad man I one day aspire to be.
But unfortunately, I did not stick around for what I'm sure will be a night filled with debauchery and exposed flesh.
If I hadn't just stayed two nights in Warner Springs maybe, but I had to get moving or I'd never make it out of Southern California.
So tonight it's another 10 miles, then a ride into Idyllwild, then I get to figure out what to do about the trail and the fire closures.
Not as exciting as getting hammered at a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but what can you do?
Last night I camped at a guy named Mike's house. He's someone who's known as a trail angel and although it sounds vaguely pornographic, it's just someone who helps hikers out.
The guy wasn't even there when we rolled in around 7:30pm and actually never showed up during the entire time I was there.
But who did show up was a truck full of Spanish-speaking guys who started unloading stuff from the truck that I couldn't see.
I of course start fearing for my life, picturing myself in the wrong place during some kind of drug or contraband exchange that was about to go horribly wrong. But I just fell back asleep hoping I wouldn't wake up with a black bag over my head chained to a wall.
As it turns out, they were Mike's friends coming in with beer and 100 lbs. of chicken for a Cinco de Mayo party that they were throwing tonight.
The guys were really nice and good hosts while Mike was away, offering us coffee and a home cooked breakfast. And if these guys were secretly the bad men I had originally suspected, they were the nicest bad men I ever met in my life. The type of bad man I one day aspire to be.
But unfortunately, I did not stick around for what I'm sure will be a night filled with debauchery and exposed flesh.
If I hadn't just stayed two nights in Warner Springs maybe, but I had to get moving or I'd never make it out of Southern California.
So tonight it's another 10 miles, then a ride into Idyllwild, then I get to figure out what to do about the trail and the fire closures.
Not as exciting as getting hammered at a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but what can you do?
No Mountain Partying for Me
(Saturday May 3, 2008 - 1:00pm)
Last night I camped at a guy named Mike's house. He's someone who's known as a trail angel and although it sounds vaguely pornographic, it's just someone who helps hikers out.
The guy wasn't even there when we rolled in around 7:30pm and actually never showed up during the entire time I was there.
But who did show up was a truck full of Spanish-speaking guys who started unloading stuff from the truck that I couldn't see.
I of course start fearing for my life, picturing myself in the wrong place during some kind of drug or contraband exchange that was about to go horribly wrong. But I just fell back asleep hoping I wouldn't wake up with a black bag over my head chained to a wall.
As it turns out, they were Mike's friends coming in with beer and 100 lbs. of chicken for a Cinco de Mayo party that they were throwing tonight.
The guys were really nice and good hosts while Mike was away, offering us coffee and a home cooked breakfast. And if these guys were secretly the bad men I had originally suspected, they were the nicest bad men I ever met in my life. The type of bad man I one day aspire to be.
But unfortunately, I did not stick around for what I'm sure will be a night filled with debauchery and exposed flesh.
If I hadn't just stayed two nights in Warner Springs maybe, but I had to get moving or I'd never make it out of Southern California.
So tonight it's another 10 miles, then a ride into Idyllwild, then I get to figure out what to do about the trail and the fire closures.
Not as exciting as getting hammered at a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but what can you do?
Last night I camped at a guy named Mike's house. He's someone who's known as a trail angel and although it sounds vaguely pornographic, it's just someone who helps hikers out.
The guy wasn't even there when we rolled in around 7:30pm and actually never showed up during the entire time I was there.
But who did show up was a truck full of Spanish-speaking guys who started unloading stuff from the truck that I couldn't see.
I of course start fearing for my life, picturing myself in the wrong place during some kind of drug or contraband exchange that was about to go horribly wrong. But I just fell back asleep hoping I wouldn't wake up with a black bag over my head chained to a wall.
As it turns out, they were Mike's friends coming in with beer and 100 lbs. of chicken for a Cinco de Mayo party that they were throwing tonight.
The guys were really nice and good hosts while Mike was away, offering us coffee and a home cooked breakfast. And if these guys were secretly the bad men I had originally suspected, they were the nicest bad men I ever met in my life. The type of bad man I one day aspire to be.
But unfortunately, I did not stick around for what I'm sure will be a night filled with debauchery and exposed flesh.
If I hadn't just stayed two nights in Warner Springs maybe, but I had to get moving or I'd never make it out of Southern California.
So tonight it's another 10 miles, then a ride into Idyllwild, then I get to figure out what to do about the trail and the fire closures.
Not as exciting as getting hammered at a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but what can you do?
Love and Steven Segal
(Saturday May 3, 2008 - 12:49pm)
The other night when I was up writing in a towel and snow hat, i was probably the only awake person out and about. There were no hikers or other non-hiking guests, no employees, no one. Just me and a raccoon that I initially thought was a cat.
So I come out of the resort's computer room and I hear this cheesy music playing over the loudspeakers in the lodge. It was that Kenny G-type elevator jazz saxophone playing wordless pop hits. I think the tune I heard then was Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston.
Then I remembered that this was the same music that was playing down at the hot spring when all of the hikers were there swimming and drinking.
I remember walking in, and I see a quiet pool with steam coming off, surrounded by soft lighting, people swimming slowly back and forth to the shitty music. The whole scene made me feel like I was an extra in what was about to be a Steven Segal love scene.
But aside from that, if you ever have a chance to do a southern California road trip, make the Warner Springs Ranch one of your stops. Someone's bound to leave there pregnant.
The other night when I was up writing in a towel and snow hat, i was probably the only awake person out and about. There were no hikers or other non-hiking guests, no employees, no one. Just me and a raccoon that I initially thought was a cat.
So I come out of the resort's computer room and I hear this cheesy music playing over the loudspeakers in the lodge. It was that Kenny G-type elevator jazz saxophone playing wordless pop hits. I think the tune I heard then was Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston.
Then I remembered that this was the same music that was playing down at the hot spring when all of the hikers were there swimming and drinking.
I remember walking in, and I see a quiet pool with steam coming off, surrounded by soft lighting, people swimming slowly back and forth to the shitty music. The whole scene made me feel like I was an extra in what was about to be a Steven Segal love scene.
But aside from that, if you ever have a chance to do a southern California road trip, make the Warner Springs Ranch one of your stops. Someone's bound to leave there pregnant.
Back to It
(Friday May 2, 2008)
Finally hit the trail again after two nights in Warner Springs. Wasn't planning on one night's stay let alone two, but fire has a way of changing plans.
Now I'll still end up in Idyllwild on Sunday, but it will most likely be the afternoon instead of the evening like I had originally hoped. Hopefully the Mt. San Jacinto campground is open because I heard the entire town was flooded with hikers either trying to wait out the fire or get alternate hiking plans set.
I just don't feel like spending money on a hotel room after two unbudgeted days in Warner Springs. The campground is only $2 a night so that would be clutch.
I heard that the town was swamped with hikers while I was at the cantina getting drunk with about 50 other hikers.
An old guy with about three teeth says that the fire was messing with his funds which were waiting for him in Idyllwild. So he asks me to buy him a drink and I oblige. Anything to help out a fellow hiker.
We all sit back down at our table and he comes over with us, sits in an empty seat and starts picking through our eaten baskets of food for leftover fries.
He was digging through chicken bones and greasy wax paper, gobbling up every last one. I wished I hadn't bought him the drink and got him some food instead so I didn't have to witness what was ocurring in front of me.
"Ohhh! A pickle!"
I look over and there he is, caught a gerkin on the end of his line, head tilted back mouth open, pickle going in...appetizing!
Watching him try to eat the pickle with his one sharp incisor at least made up for all the rest.
Speaking of food, I'm done with my lunch now, just waiting for my socks and shoes to dry out as I just had to cross a river with no rocks to hop on.
But I don't know how much longer I want to wait because these two flies won't stop bothering me. Probably because I killed their one friend and now they're his avenging angels.
Either way, I'm out until I'm back in. Hasta luego.
Finally hit the trail again after two nights in Warner Springs. Wasn't planning on one night's stay let alone two, but fire has a way of changing plans.
Now I'll still end up in Idyllwild on Sunday, but it will most likely be the afternoon instead of the evening like I had originally hoped. Hopefully the Mt. San Jacinto campground is open because I heard the entire town was flooded with hikers either trying to wait out the fire or get alternate hiking plans set.
I just don't feel like spending money on a hotel room after two unbudgeted days in Warner Springs. The campground is only $2 a night so that would be clutch.
I heard that the town was swamped with hikers while I was at the cantina getting drunk with about 50 other hikers.
An old guy with about three teeth says that the fire was messing with his funds which were waiting for him in Idyllwild. So he asks me to buy him a drink and I oblige. Anything to help out a fellow hiker.
We all sit back down at our table and he comes over with us, sits in an empty seat and starts picking through our eaten baskets of food for leftover fries.
He was digging through chicken bones and greasy wax paper, gobbling up every last one. I wished I hadn't bought him the drink and got him some food instead so I didn't have to witness what was ocurring in front of me.
"Ohhh! A pickle!"
I look over and there he is, caught a gerkin on the end of his line, head tilted back mouth open, pickle going in...appetizing!
Watching him try to eat the pickle with his one sharp incisor at least made up for all the rest.
Speaking of food, I'm done with my lunch now, just waiting for my socks and shoes to dry out as I just had to cross a river with no rocks to hop on.
But I don't know how much longer I want to wait because these two flies won't stop bothering me. Probably because I killed their one friend and now they're his avenging angels.
Either way, I'm out until I'm back in. Hasta luego.
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