Day 37: Passing Wrightwood

My 37th day on the PCT was an easy one, where I climbed about a thousand feet and hiked only twelve miles, staying high on top of Blue Ridge, far above the town of Wrightwood, and camped in a real campground with a picnic table.

From PCT mile 360.0 to 371.6 Total: 11.6 miles 10/17

I wasn’t in a rush or anything, but I woke up early just the same. In mid-October, the nights are longer than the days, and there’s only so much sleep that I can tolerate. I’m a Get Up and Go kind of guy, not a slugabed. So of course I woke up before dawn. Just the same, I didn’t rush or hurry. I ate my hot oatmeal breakfast in peace, and watched the sun rising out the door of my tent.

The city lights of Riverside glowing below dawn's first color, with San Jacinto Peak above them — The city lights of Riverside glowing below dawn’s first color, with San Jacinto Peak above them

This was a great spot, and I didn’t want to leave, but I had to. Why? Because I had very little water left, and there wasn’t any nearby. I packed up my gear and got ready to go. I didn’t leave until the sun struck my face. That’s rather late for me! Maybe I was becoming a semi-slugabed? Nah, I told myself. You’re just pacing yourself, adapting to the conditions and demands of the moment. When the Going got Tough, I would get Going. Surely I would.

I have to pack my tent last, and put it in my backpack first, so my gear always spreads out near the tent

After yesterday's long, hot climb, I had less than a liter of water to get five miles to Guffy Camp Spring — I had less than a liter of water to hike five miles to Guffy Spring

I left camp just as the sun began peeking out over the San Bernardino Mountains, at PCT mile 360

I only had a mile and a half to go before reaching the eastern end of Blue Ridge Road, and it was less than a thousand feet of climbing. The air was cool and I was hiking through a wonderful pine forest up at the 8000 foot elevation level. This is where I wanted to be, where even a heatwave couldn’t harm me. And the views were great.

Looking southeast down the North Fork of Lytle Creek from the Pacific Crest Trail near mile 361 — Looking southeast down the North Fork of Lytle Creek

I made it up to the plateau along Blue Ridge near the eastern end of Forest Road 3N06 at PCT mile 362 — I made it up to the plateau along Blue Ridge near the eastern end of Forest Road 3N06

Looking northeast toward Cajon Pass and I-15 over Lone Pine Canyon from high on Blue Ridge — Looking northeast toward Cajon Pass and I-15 over Lone Pine Canyon

It felt great to be up in the pines of Blue Ridge, with great views southeast toward San Jacinto Peak

The PCT remained a distinct trail along the top of the ridge. It paralleled the forest road but didn’t join it, making the hike a far more pleasing experience. I met a couple of Bow Hunters along the way, but the gun guys mostly went home two days ago when I started this hike. It was Tuesday now, rarely a busy time in the forest, even in Deer Season. The young hothead beer drinking hunters had to go to work so that they could recharge for next weekend’s hunt.

As I continued onward, I passed by Wrights Peak, namesake of the ski town of Wrightwood. Almost every PCT thru hiker visits Wrightwood on their journey, as it is a very hiker-friendly community. They have food, places to stay, and several ways to resupply. A great town. As for me, I’d been there many times, but on this trip I had all the supplies I needed on my back. So I didn’t hike down the Acorn Trail, and I didn’t hitch a ride into town on the western end of the Blue Ridge. I just hiked on. OK, maybe I waved at it down below me from the trail.

The Pacific Crest Trail runs parallel to Forest Road 3N06 along the top of Blue Ridge, near Wrightwood — The PCT runs parallel to Forest Road 3N06 along the top of the ridge, high above Wrightwood

I came to the junction of the PCT and the Acorn Trail, which leads directly down the hill to Wrightwood — I came to the junction with the Acorn Trail, which leads directly down the hill to Wrightwood

Looking north over the Mojave Desert, with the town of Wrightwood down below in the valley — Looking north over the Mojave Desert, with Wrightwood directly below in the valley

A mile further on from the Acorn Trail was the 0.4 mile side trail down to Guffy Spring. This spring was the key to my plan for the day. In fact, when I got down there I discovered that I only had a swallow or two of water left in my bladder! That was really cutting it close, and I vowed not to let this happen again. I filled up all of my containers, for a total of five liters of water. Ten pounds of weight well-carried, I reasoned. This would be enough to get me all the way to tomorrow night, at Little Jimmy Campground, which had another excellent spring of water. There were a few other options for water between here and there, so I probably didn’t need all five liters. But the honest truth is that I hate filtering water. It’s boring, slow, and annoying. I feel that a good spring has good water and doesn’t need filtering as it comes right out of the ground, pure and unsullied by humans and animals. The ground does the filtering for me, in other words. Tap water is the same way, but with chlorine. Either way, I won’t get sick drinking it, and that’s what ultimately matters.

I made it to the side trail to Guffy Spring with a few sips of water left to spare, at PCT mile 364

The old pumphouse at Guffy Spring, which used to pump water up to a big tank in Guffy Campground — The old pumphouse, which used to pump water up to a big tank in Guffy Campground

Lovely stream of clean cold water pouring out of a pipe into a tub at Guffy Spring, PCT mile 364 — Lovely stream of clean cold water pouring out of a pipe into a tub at Guffy Spring

That's all the water I had left after climbing 22 miles and thousands of feet, so I filled up everything — That’s all the water I had left after climbing 22 miles and thousands of feet

After getting all that water, I had to schlep the weight of it back up the side trail to Guffy Camp. There was no one camping there at the moment, but many PCT hikers do it. It was daytime now, and all good PCT hikers should be hiking. I hung out at a picnic table, ate some snack, and read my book on my Kindle. It was a mellow spot. When Vicki and I hiked the Blue Ridge, back in 2019, we also stopped here for lunch. It was colder then, and Vicki cooked up some hot ramen to eat. That time, Guffy Spring was iffy, so I pre-stashed water near the Acorn Trail junction.

Pines and shade at the Guffy Campground on the Blue Ridge above Wrightwood, at PCT mile 364 — Pines and shade at the Guffy Campground, a perfect spot for a break

This is the now-empty water tank that used to serve the campers at Guffy Campground — This is the now-empty water tank that used to serve the campers at Guffy Camp

I headed out after that, hiking along the ridge, the trail gently going up and down. Views were good, especially to the west, where mighty Mount Baden-Powell stood. The PCT climbs up (almost) to the top of that peak, in a series of 42 switchbacks and several thousand feet of climbing. I’d done that climb years ago, when my sons were scouts, and I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to do it again. It was a tough one. But it was tomorrow morning’s problem. So on I hiked. Today was mellow, just the way I liked it. I passed by the Blue Ridge Campground, and there were a couple of RV’s there. They were probably hunters, but I didn’t care, especially with my bright orange poncho on my back. Meanwhile, the miles went by. Easy hiking.

Looking east toward Guffy Camp from the Pacific Crest Trail — Looking east toward Guffy Camp as I hiked along the ridge

The Pacific Crest Trail was cruisey up along the Blue Ridge as it ran parallel to the forest roads — The Pacific Crest Trail was cruisey up on the ridge as it ran parallel to the forest roads

Mount Baden-Powell to the west, and Vincent Gap the cleft on the right, from the PCT at mile 367

Soon enough, I arrived in the region of the Mountain High Ski Resort. The tops of the ski lifts were here on Blue Ridge, and the trail went right across one or two of the ski runs, which were all grass-covered now. There were also a couple of man-made reservoirs, lined with rubber and filled with water, that they use for making snow in the Winter. As well as for fire fighting when needed, of course. Let’s face it: Skiing is what really makes the town of Wrightwood hum. Summer tourists and backpackers are always welcome during the slow season, after all.

This is the top of one of the ski lifts at Mountain High in Wrightwood, near PCT mile 368 — This is the top of one of the ski lifts at Mountain High

This is the Pacific Crest Reservoir, part of Mountain High Ski Resort, at Pacific Crest Trail mile 368 — This is the Pacific Crest Reservoir, part of Mountain High Ski Resort, but no hiker-access allowed

The trail eventually crossed Angeles Crest Highway (the ACH as the locals call it) and I cheated a bit by walking on the dirt road rather than pointlessly climb up and over a small promontory of land. I only had a few more miles to hike that day, and I was truly feeling the sun’s heat. Along with the water weight in my backpack, which I was drinking rapidly. No need to be dehydrated now!

It was hot, so I decided to road walk the final quarter mile to Inspiration Point

Mount Baden Powell in the distance from Highway 2, Angeles Crest Highway, at the Blue Ridge Summit — Mount Baden Powell from Highway 2, Angeles Crest Highway, at the Blue Ridge Summit, PCT mile 369

I was feeling lazy, so I road-walked on the nearly deserted highway to the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center. This was one of the known spots with a water tap, and I lucked out that they hadn’t turned it off yet for Winter. That time would be coming soon, I knew. I also knew that I was luxuriating in some unseasonably balmy weather at the moment, and I was making the most of it. Some years, these mountains get heavy snow, even in October. I filled up my main water bladder at the tap, and hiked on.

I knew that there was water at the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center (which was closed) at PCT mile 370

A mile or so further on was the Jackson Flat Group Campground. This was my planned camping spot. I had a feeling that there would be no groups on a Tuesday, and I was right. The caretakers were known to let PCT hikers camp there for free, and I was taking advantage of it. Having a picnic table was rather nice. Sadly, the flush toilets were all closed for Winter, but the water tap was still on. I could handle this compromise.

I hiked a bit further and camped at the Jackson Flat Group Campground, at PCT mile 372

My tent under the pines at the Jackson Flat Group Campground, complete with picnic table - luxury! — My tent in the shade under the pines, complete with picnic table – luxury!

Once again, I set up my tent in the shade in late afternoon, and took a nap immediately. This was the good life, right here. I didn’t have cell signal, so I texted Vicki through my Garmin InReach satellite device. That would have to do. I made and ate my dinner, then checked out the map on my phone. I had a big decision ahead of me tomorrow morning regarding the climb up Baden-Powell, and in the end I voted to sleep on it and see what I felt like when I got there. That would have to do, for now. And then I fell asleep, even before the sun went down.

For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page

For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page

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