Day 30 – From Acton KOA via Hiker Heaven/Aqua Dulce to tentsite, mile 462

May 20

The sky was covered with clouds in the morning. Hiking the first 10 miles to Aqua Dulce / Hiker Heaven took us into the clouds, but the temperature was really nice for hiking. I heard from other hikers that this section was much hotter with temperatures above 100 Fahrenheit/more than 35 degree last year around the same time.
Coming into Vasquez Rocks just before Aqua Dulce/Hiker Heaven.

Aqua Dulce is actually the first community that is located right on the trail – the PCT leads through the small town on the main street.

And again amazingly friendly people welcomed PCT hikers. We were all invited for a Taco Salad lunch in the community center.

After lunch, we were offered rides to the trail angels at Hiker Heaven right in town. It is as professionally organized as Scout and Frodo in San Diego. On arrival, we got a quick tour on all the offerings.

I used the opportunity to fix a button of my shirt

But with just 10 miles hiked, we left Hiker Heaven around 3pm to resupply and make more miles.

The weather kept changing. With the rather cold and wet air, we raced up the mountains to pitch the tents just before darkness at mile 462.

Day 29 – From North Fork Ranger Station to Acton KOA, mile 444

May 19. Woke up around 6am in the horse stalls with lots of condensation water on the inside of the tent and on my sleeping bag. I had pitched my tent on long grass – no wonder.

So we took our time with packing up, hoping the sun would dry our stuff soon. Had a chat over coffee with Artemis another hiker and Ron who volunteers at the ranger station. As a previous PCT and AT hiker, he enjoys feeding the hikers with goodies like soft drinks, apples and ice cream. In the morning, he prepared free hotdogs… Thank you! Had a chat with him about Germany. He had been stationed in Flensburg in the North of Germany so he spoke some German – so close to Eckernförde where I have been born. And Ron once met a celebrity from Flensburg – every man 18+ should know… Guess! 😂

So we had a really late and lazy start and started walking just around 9am.

Around 12pm, we came after 8 miles to the Acton KOA campground with a small shop, swimming pool…

The longer we enjoyed the pool, the clearer it became that today would become a Nero… Instead of hiking the planned 10 more miles into Aqua Dulce / Hiker Heaven, we decided to enjoy the rest of the day here on the lawn.

Day 28 – Tentsite to North Fork Ranger Station, mile 436

May 18. Started us usual around 7am. Planned to be at a fire station in 7 miles – there were supposed to be either softdrinks available or the opportunity to get pizza delivered. Arriving there, we realized that the station was basically dead. We could have ordered pizza, but considering opening hours and wait time, we just filled up water and moved on.

Camped at the North Fork ranger station at mile 436. Since the designated tentsites were full, we moved downhill into some old horse stalls. Everyone got his own little stall to set up his tent.

Song of today: Ginuwine – Pony

Under peer pressure, I tried wiping my feet clean – after three days on dusty trails, not that easy.

When going to bed, I already noticed humidity settling on the sleeping bag… Camping on the grass might after all be not a great idea.

After 24 miles, too tired to change the setup of the tent.

Day 27 – Little Jimmy’s campground to tentsite mile 412

May 17. We left camp around 7am, walked two miles to a highway crossing. We decided for a 6 miles road walk to avoid the endangered species detour of the PCT.

The PCT itself is closed around here for several miles to protect the habitat of an endangered frog species actually. Walking along the highway was a new experience including some tunnels. Now I know why my headlamp has a blinking mode as well.

Coming back to trail, we quickly reached the 400 miles marker! That’s 640km… 😁👍🏻

The gang at mile 400 marker

We pushed on to water at mile 411, camped shortly after at 412.

That was a good and long day. I feel I keep pushing my limits. Good feeling to be really tired in the evening and looking back at a 20+ miles day.

Song of the day: Her – We Choose

Day 26 – Wrightwood via Mt Baden Powell to Little Jimmy’s campground, mile 384

May 16. Started with a great breakfast at Grizzly’s Cafe, then got a hitch to the PCT trailhead at mile 369.

Started hiking around 9am. Climb up to 9400 feet to Mt Baden Powell.

At the peak of Mt Baden Powell, 9400 feet

All PCT hikers at the peak at that time

A supposedly 1500 years old tree just below the peak.

We made it to Little Jimmy’s campground around 6.30pm. Quick dinner…. It got cold quickly when the sun was setting, but the sleeping bag in the tent was welcoming and the night was quiet.