Mile 444 to 454

Vasquez Rocks State Park

Section D
Soledad Canyon Road - KOA Camp to Vasquez Rocks State Park – Sobo

Miles: 10
Hiking with: Sam & the Giffins

Lodging:  Best Western John Jay Inn, Palmdale, CA – This hotel is convenient to the end of section D and the first half of section E and I got a killer deal.


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

Dining: We tried to go back to Bayou Barbecue but it was closed...instead we went to Baja Tacos in the same center -- pretty good.

Start:  We started at 6am at Vasquez Rocks State Park.  We wanted to finish the hike before the temperatures started rising by mid morning.  The park was closed as they were redoing the parking lot so we parked along side the road.

End:  We ended at KOA Camp on Soledad Canyon Road.  The people we extremely friendly at the KOA and let us chain up the Motorcycle to their fence in their employee section.  The trail goes right by this section of the KOA camp too.

People along the trail: We saw one hiker that was running the trail in preparation of an ultramarathon.  He was doing an out & back from Vasquez Rocks -- it made me feel rather wimpy.


Description: The beginning of the hike goes through Vasquez State Park where they filmed a lot of movies/TV shows such as Werewolf of London, Outer Limits, Star Trek (original series), Bonanza, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.  The rocks are very interesting and the trail winds through them so you view the rocks from several different angles.  The trail then goes down into a shallow drainage and then goes under Hwy 14.  On the south side of 14 you start winding up and around some typical california hills and then it drops down to the Amtrak tracks right before the KOA camp.  This was a very nice hike.  This is a low section of trail and when we finished it was getting hot -- we were glad we started early.  The KOA camp has a store that sells ice cream, sodas, etc -- a nice break from the trail.

Vasquez Rocks State Park

Vasquez Rocks State Park looking north at Agua Dulce.

Vasquez Rocks State Park -- the rock in the middle looks like a profile of Elvis!!!

The trail under Hwy 14.

A frog in the Hwy 14 underpass.

On the south side of Hwy 14 (you can see Hwy 14 in the background).

Me on the PCT.

This is the "Golden Spike" for the PCT where Bruce Babbitt (Sec. of Interior -- from AZ)
came to commemorate the completion of the PCT.   This is alongside the PCT on the
north side of the railroad tracks next to the KOA.

Railroad spikes used as a directional guide  to cross the tracks.

Sam on the other side of the tracks as Amtrak sped by at 60 mpg.

The shuttle motorcycle parked at the KOA campground.

Loading up at the KOA campground ready to return to PHX.

KOA campground HQ & snack shop.  They were extremely friendly.

Mile 398 to 404

A tree along the trail.

Section D
Cloud Summit to Three Points – Nobo

Miles: 6
Hiking with: Sam & the Giffins

Lodging:  Best Western in Rancho Cucamonga, CA – This hotel was on the way to the PCT and I got a killer deal.  It was off the main freeway about 5 minutes...no big deal.


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

Dining: We ate the previous night in Blythe, CA...a dirty city at the AZ/CA border on I-10.  The only OK place to eat in this town is a Baja Fresh off of Intake Blvd.  As we drove there we saw a restaurant called "Steaks & Cakes" accross the street...it was too tempting (I think I've seen Drive-ins, Diners & Dives too many times) so we tried it.  It was OK...next time I'm back to Baja Fresh though.

Start:  We started at Cloud Summit where there along Hwy 2.

End:  We ended at Three Points at the parking lot next to Hwy 2.

People along the trail: We saw some thru hikers.  On this hike we passed over the section that was closed because of the yellow frogs.  They said they hiked through and that there were no signs warning of the frogs coming from the north -- go figure.


Description: I was looking for a 10 mile day and I decided on two 5 miles segments.  This was the second segment.  The trail descended down a canyon and was fairly scenic.  It was a beautiful day with great views. When we arrived at the Three Points parking lot there was a bus from an LA Japanese (or oriental) hiking club.  They were very friendly and were singing songs and shared their watermelon -- yummy!!!

It's amazing what your can do with scraps along the trail.

Wow!!!

Poodle Dog Bush -- stay away!!!

Camp Glenwood -- I found nothing on this camp.
One hiker said it was a summer kids camp...I doubt it.

Camp Glenwood outhouse.

Lizard Chasing.

Trail side flowers.

Crossing the road at 3 points.

Crossing the road at 3 points.

Mile 386 to 390

A view south towards the LA basin.

Section D
Islip Saddle to Eagles Roost – Nobo

Miles: 5
Hiking with: Sam & the Giffins

Lodging:  Best Western in Rancho Cucamonga, CA – This hotel was on the way to the PCT and I got a killer deal.  It was off the main freeway about 5 minutes...no big deal.


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

Dining: We ate the previous night in Blythe, CA...a dirty city at the AZ/CA border on I-10.  The only OK place to eat in this town is a Baja Fresh off of Intake Blvd.  As we drove there we saw a restaurant called "Steaks & Cakes" accross the street...it was too tempting (I think I've seen Drive-ins, Diners & Dives too many times) so we tried it.  It was OK...next time I'm back to Baja Fresh though.

Start:  We started at Islip Saddle where there is a parking lot next to Hwy 2.

End:  We ended at Eagles Roost at the parking lot next to Hwy 2.

People along the trail: We saw a troop of boy scouts who looked pretty fit (their leader looked like he had too many oreos).  We discussed Poodle Dog Bush and warned them of its dangers.


Description: I was looking for a 10 mile day and I decided on two 5 miles segments.  This was the first segment.  The trail had a quick climb and then almost as fast it decended back to Hwy 2.  It was a beautiful day with great views from both sides of the ridge line.

Today's hikers at the trail head.

The trail close to the top of the mountain.

The hikers.

Hmmm.....

A view down the ridge to the south.

Fun Hikers.

Serious Hikers.

Eagles Roost.

Steaks n Cakes in Blythe, CA -- I looked like a Diner, Drive-in & Dives find...but it wasn't.

Mile 347 to 356

Looking north into Lone Pine Canyon.

Section D
Lone Pine Canyon Rd to Gobbler's Knob – Sobo

Miles: 9
Hiking with: Chris


Lodging:  Best Western Cajon Pass, Cajon Pass, CA – This hotel has the easiest access to Wrightwood and the Eastern Part of Section D.  It's right next to the highway and still pretty quite.  There is only a subway  and McDonalds for food in the area unless you want to travel 20 minutes north to Hesperia where there is a mall and all kinds of restaurants.


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

Dining: We ate the previous night in Wrightwood at the Grizzley Cafe. We had a burger -- pretty good.  I have since talked with a Wrightwood resident who claimed that all the restaurants in Wrightwood are respectable...nothing outstanding & nothing you need to avoid.

Start:  Sheep Creek Truck Trail (or Lytle Creek Rd) off of Lone Pine Canyon Road.  This is a pretty rough road that is closed in the winter.  I was fine in my 2 wheel drive Excursion -- but it was bumpy, rocky and slow going.

End:  Swarthout Canyon Road off of Lone Pine Canyon Road.  I parked my motor bike about 1/8 north of where the PCT crosses this road behind a hill...it was pretty well out of sight.

People along the trail: We saw 2 groups of PCT through hikers going north.  It's always inspiring when you cross paths with these hikers.


Description: Other than the bad dirt road to the trail head this was a great 9 mile section with great views down to the Lone Pine Canyon.   There was a lot of Poodle Dog Bush in the area (we were in shorts) but we were always able to go around it or step over it.

The Shuttle Bike parked at Swarthout Canyon Road.

The Trail the beginning.

The Excursion parked at Lytle Creek Road.

Indian Paint Brush.

A view west up Lone Pine Canyon.

A view north towards Hesperia (I-15 is visible).

A view down where Lytle Creek Road meets Lone Pine Canyon Rd.

Poodle Dog Bush -- avoid!!!!

Chris where the PCT crosses Swarthout Canyon Road.

Mile 369 to 374

Clounds blowing over the mountain ridge
near Inpiration Point.

Section D
Inspiration Point to Vincent Gap – Sobo

Miles: 5
Hiking with: Chris


Lodging:  Best Western Cajon Pass, Cajon Pass, CA – This hotel has the easiest access to Wrightwood and the Eastern Part of Section D.  It's right next to the highway and still pretty quite.  There is only a subway  and McDonalds for food in the area unless you want to travel 20 minutes north to Hesperia where there is a mall and all kinds of restaurants.


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

Dining: Friday night we got in rather late so we didn't eat anywhere.

Start: Vincent Gap Trail head just off of Hwy 2 (Angeles Crest Hwy).  This is also the trail head to go up Mount Baden Powell...it was fairly empty when we were there but I hear it can get pretty full as the Mount Baden Powell hike is very popular.

End: Inspiration Point off of Hwy 2 (Angeles Crest Hwy).  This trail head is on the north side of the road.

People along the trail: We saw a couple pushing their baby in a stroller close to Grassy Campground...go figure.  There were also some campers at the Grassy Campground which looks like a great place to camp.


Description: I have been having lower back pain recently so I decided to do a short hike to see how much pain would result from hiking.  This hike fit the bill as it was relatively short.  We got up in the morning an it was extremely cold (low 40s) and we assumed it would be in the 30s in the mountains.  Being good desert dwellers we planned on hiking in shorts & t-shirts so we drove up to the Kohl's in Hesperia and bought some sweat shirts and got breakfast at McDonalds.  It was so cold that we decided to hit an 11am movie before the hike too.  We finally got on the trail after 3 pm....it was still cold.  The clouds were hoovering the mountain ridges and the wind was still blowing from time to time.

Chris at the Vincent Gap Trail Head.

The trail.

A view north of the Mohave Desert -- the south side of the mountain
ridge was packed with clouds.

Grassy Hollow Camp Ground

There were many wind swept trees along the hike.