Mile 486 to 520

Section D
Hiker Town to Hughes Road – Sobo

Wall of Hiker Town Lounge

Miles: 34
Hiking with: Gary B. & Rob H.

Lodging:  We spent the night at the Palmdale Springhill Suites and camped one night on the trail.

Shuttle: A Dual Sport Bike (Kawasaki 250) that we put on the back of Gary's F150 Truck to shuttle ourselves!!!

Dining: We at the Coyote Taco Stand in Banning -- I think they know me by name.

Start:  Hiker Town.

End:  Hughes Road.

People along the trail: About 0!!!

Description: We left Phoenix Friday mid afternoon and stopped in Banning at the Fisherman's Market for dinner -- they just about know my name by now.  We spent the night at the Palmdale Springhill Suites.  It was really windy and cool in the morning as we left Palmdale and drove to hikertown.  I dropped off Gary and Rob then drove the truck to where the PCT crosses Hughes Road and parked it along side the road, unloaded my motorbike, and rode back to hikertown -- it was cold and windy!!!  We finally got on the trail about 9:30 am.  At first you hike next to a private hunting club and up and down some hills bordering the desert.  Then we finally started a major ascent up the mountains -- wow -- this was a very steep trail.  It was windy the whole way and clouds were blowing around but it never looked like it would rain.  We got about 1/2 way and camped close to the ridge line near a guzzler.  We had great views of the mountains while we ate super.  That night the wind blew pretty good and the fog came in.  Where I pitched my tent the fog had condensed on the neighboring tree and the was blowing off on my tent -- I thought it was raining.

The next day we continued our hike.  This part was really pretty as we were often going though pine trees as we traversed along the mountain side.  We got back to the truck around noon and headed back to hikertown and took a shower and then headed back to Phoenix.  Hiker town was cool as it was the first "trail angel" stop I stayed at.  It definitely adds to the "culture" of the PCT.

Since this hike there have been a pretty bad forest fire in this area and to the east.  I'm glad I got this section in before the fire.

Me at the PCT 500 mile marker

Gary B.

Typical Trail on the second day.

Rob & Gary

Rob and Gary were easily amused by the toy someone left in a tree.

Rob H.

We're all smiles after the hike.

Special decor on the ceiling of the Hiker Town Lounge.

Me in the Hiker Town Lounge.

Hiker Town -- Hikers sleep in these little cottages.

The start of the hike.

A view down to the Mohave Desert.

A view from the campsite.

Me reading in my tent.

Super hikers.

A very nice guzzler along the trail.