Day 45 Dam information

 We woke up at the Joshua Inn temperatures were comfortable, and the sun rise was pretty. 

There is an amazing couple that live in the hills above the bar they have seen hikers getting up in the morning and thought breakfast would be a good idea. They make breakfast burritos and fruit cups and sell them at cost not as a business but it’s Trail angel’s one of the better burritos I’ve had.

Joshua Inn staff gave us a ride back to the trail and we started uphill. 

Chaparral Whitethorns are a new plant that are blooming with their purple tinted flowers the smaller, Purple Nightshades grow close to the ground.

Less than a mile, and we’ve already made a good climb we started by the trailers in this picture.

The beauty from Yesterdays hike is continuing today as we dip into valleys, and find small, seasonal streams, and have expansive views of the Valley off of the hillside.

I came into this nice green tunnel with stream and flowers seen in this video

These are pictures of the Cedar Creek Dam and dam spillway that creates Silverwood lake. It’s also the answer to why there was not water on either side of the dam on yesterday’s post. The dam from yesterday was constructed as part of the cedar creek dam project as a direct flood control measure. The cedar creek dam is built on the San Andreas fault line and if this dam were to ever fail the secondary damn would protect Hisperia. Now I know.

The trail follows above the shore of Silverwood Lake created by the damn previously picture

As we continue on, we leave Silverwood lake in the distance. And climb up over the pass on the side of the mountain range.

We found this cute little guy sunning himself in the middle of the trail. He did not move so we picked him up took a couple pictures and placed him on a rock so he would not get stepped on.

We dropped down to the opposite side of the mountain to a creek bed below, where we made camp next to a peaceful river.

Today’s miles 21.5 Total trail miles 536.5

(PCT mile mark 335.8 due to Flip completion of 200.7

Day 44 endless river

 What started out as a very warm evening turned a little chilly around midnight. We got packed up and started on the trail at 6:45 this morning. Hoping to warm up soon. Got one last view of the bridge.

These Mountain Mahogany’s are starting to bud and the yellow Bigelow‘s Tick seed line the trail as the sun pokes its way up the mountains in front.

This big oak is a blow down over the trail. I have a choice of scampering down the side and back up or going slightly up and ducking under the branches.  I chose up and duck.

We’re hiking along the river today. The sound is beautiful and music the sights are amazing.

As the river of vears away from us, the sound begins to fade, and I noticed these tall, Purple Dicks sprouting up along the trail.

This morning we hit a major mile stone. PCT Trail mile 300 but for us with 200 completed in the Flip we have hiked 500 miles!

The river and trail quickly round them selves back together, and we are again parallel the beauty and powerful sound. 

Today has been one of the most beautiful days we have had on trail following the river. We stopped at this tributary, feeding the main river to refill our water at mile three.

High up on the canyon side is this bridge spanning the Canyon.

We continued down trail along the main river, seen in the video at the end of this post, and are now refilling our water the second time at this tributary stream.

Sitting right alongside the river is the deep creek Hot Springs we took a break I have lunch, sat in a couple of the natural hot springs, hot tubs, and then continue on our hike

After paralleling the river for 11 miles we come to our first crossing, which is this arched bridge.

3 miles from the bridge we crossed the spillway of this dam. Not sure of the purpose of the dam since it is empty during one of the heaviest rain years we can remember.

Back to deep Creek where we actually did our first crossing of it not too bad just upper thigh deep in the cold water was refreshing.

We arrived at Highway 174 and called the Joshua in a local bar and deli to come pick us up for a ride. They offer camping, hot shower, bathroom, and food. There are about 20 other hikers here, many we have crossed paths with before.

Today’s miles 15.8 Total trail miles 515.0

(PCT mile mark 314.3 due to Flip completion of 200.7