Mile 374 to 386

Section D

Gary, Chris, Myself & Marvin at the Summit of Baden-Powell

Vincent Gap (Mt. Baden-Powell) to Islip Saddle – Nobo

Miles: 12 
Hiking with: Tennis Friend Dan C., Health Club Friend Marvin D., Father-in-Law Gary, & my son Chris.

Lodging:  We spent the night at the Cajon Pass Best Western.

Shuttle: A Dual Sport Bike (Kawasaki 250) that I put on the back of my Excursion & shuttle myself!!!

Dining: We ate at the Fisherman's Market in Banning on the way in and at the Grizzley Cafe in Wrightwood.

Start:  Vincent Gap.  The PCT crosses the road at this point.

End:  Islip Saddle.  The PCT crosses the road at this point.

People along the trail: About 40 -- a record!!!  This included about 10 through hikers.

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 Cajon Pass Best Western.  I was rather surprised the manager said they do about 15 thru hiker rooms a night.  They even had a food dump/share box for hikers at breakfast.  Most of the thru hikers I talked mailed their packages to Wrightwood....which is 3.6 miles and 2,400' elevation drop detour to pick up their packages.

Saturday we drove up to Vincent Gap where I dropped of everyone & took some pics then I drove onto Islip Saddle, parked the car and drove my motorbike back to Vincent Gap.  Everyone started hiking when I dropped them off except my son Chris.  Chris is a quick strong hiker and we caught up with the other after 1-1/2 hours.  The trail is consistently steep the whole way up with pine trees shading you all the way.  I can see why this is such a popular local hike.  At the top there was a monument to Lord Baden-Powell....founder of the Boy Scouts of America (and also the first census taker of India to include all classes of people).  The hike down also had a moderate amount of shade but it was a cool day so even with the sun shining we never go hot.  The up was about 4 miles and the down 8 miles.  If I lived in the LA area I would make this a regular hike -- a great workout.  We decided to return home early on Sunday and so I deferred my hike planned on Sunday.

Dan C. with a thru hiker.

The Crew -- Dan C., Myself, Chris & Marvin.

Chris just starting up the trail.

A gnarly tree along the path.

Wow -- a patch of snow close to the summit.

Junction sign about 1/2 from the top.

Gary, Chris, & Myself at the Summit.

Dan C. resting on the Baden-Powell monument.

Trail graffiti on the way down.

Chris.

Gary and Dan C. on the final descent to Islip Saddle.

Yahoo -- mission accomplished!!!