Tina had a huge day today hiking 27.5 miles (from mile 342 to 369.5) climbing 6700 feet and descending 2500. She's definitely got the twitchy legs tonight! I tried to get her to try out my Skins compression tights which are supposed to help with that but she was already horizontal and so it was a "no go" ;-)
I had a milder day although it was 100% climb for ~5000 feet over 17.5 miles up to Inspiration Point where I met Tina. From there we had a bone chilling but thrilling 5.5 mile ride back down to Wrightwood averaging 43mph with a peak speed over 48. It was getting close to sunset but we were lit up like a Christmas tree with lights and max reflective gear. It must've been a sight. :-} Speaking of Inspiration Point on Highway 2 northeast of LA -- wow, really really awesome. Unfortunately we had some miscomm with me thinking Tina had pictures and Tina thinking I had pictures! We'll have to try again when we get back there this afternoon or early tomorrow. Right now we're in Wrightwood, CA at about 5800 feet. It's a near perfect hiker town with everything close to everything else and a *very* pro hiker populace. Very friendly folks up here. If Tina goes back out tomorrow afternoon it'll be an 84 year old trail angel taking her. She was one of more than a dozen angels listed at the hardware store (where the hiker register is kept). They all offered various combinations of rides, internet, laundry, and beds to hikers. Nice to see. Tonight we're in a very pleasant four room inn that gives a good discount to PCT hikers. Changing subjects, let me give a bit of a primer on how we're navigating the trail and how you can look at the very same thing. We use the maps and GPS data created (for free) by a hiker known as "Halfmile". He's an awesome guy who does very nice work. The hallmark of his maps is that they have a blue dots placed every half mile along the depicted trail. That makes it super easy to see where you are, how much further you have to go to water, campsites, towns, and so on. His GPS data is then keyed to his maps so when you fire up your handheld GPS you see an exact match to the printed maps. When I say that Tina hiked from mile X to mile Y, that X and Y are references to Halfmile's maps. Other maps and data books vary quite a bit from his. If you like maps or want to understand how things relate, etc, please go to his site: http://www.pctmap.net. For those of you who use Google Earth, a really nice way to explore the PCT with all of Halfmile's path and waypoint information is by loading his KMZ file: http://www.pctmap.net/pctdownloads/halfmiles_pct_tracks_waypoints.kmz. Just a few pictures today. A couple looking back at Cajon Junction (trains trains trains), a typical PCT transit under a railroad and an unidentified salamander (Kevin?)./David
