June 29
Day three
If you are following you have noticed yesterday was a skipped day. After planning this week with Ryan I learned that Camp Tahquitz, where I served on camp staff three years as a youth, was having their 125th anniversary yesterday. The timing was perfect. My friend Chuck picked us up from Wrightwood and brought us to camp, close to Big Bear, and then returned us last night. It was an awesome day with very dear memories. We woke up this morning got our stuff ready and we’re picked up by a Trail angel named Christy who we contacted yesterday. Christy gave us a ride a to where Highway 2 is closed close to inspiration point trailhead our first steps were a 1.3 mile road walk starting at 9:15.
We arrive at Inspiration Point and rejoin the PCT.
As we walk through the burn scar from last September’s fire, the trees have significant devastation; however, with the resilience of nature you see much of the ground cover returning and the beauty of color on many of the returning flowers coloring the mountain side.
I always enjoy coming across the signs that list the Canada and Mexico distance miles
We have about a mile and a half more to the base of the Baden Powell ascent. We stopped to eat second breakfast so we could digest a little before we start hiking up.
We’ve reached Vincent gap. I camped here in 2023 on the shoulder in the dirt patch seen in the picture we had about 15 to 30 tents on that little piece of real estate. We all sat out here at the tables of the parking lot for breakfast then began our climb. You’ve come across some inspiration By a trail angel. Today we will go 4 miles with an elevation of 2300 feet to the top when I did it in 23 there were no switchbacks. It was a straight up the side in the snow kicking boot tracks. I am very curious to see the difference in time and effort today.
We arrived at the Lamel spring side trail. This is 2 miles up took us 47 minutes to get up here so for the elevation climb 1200 feet or so I believe in 47 minutes it’s just about 25 minutes a mile. It’s a pretty good uphill pace I am pretty pleased with. Typically I’ll drink 1 L of water every 5 miles I actually drank a full liter on this 2 mile uphill so I’ve got a lot more water going in, but my shirt is drenched so I have a lot more water going out as well . I’m going get 2 L of water here at the spring so I’m adding 4.2 pounds to my pack, but I’m definitely going to need it. The views up here are amazing, I’m off to get water.
After stopping for a couple more short rests, we’ve reached the junction for the Mount Baden Powell Summit Trail. We are going to take that as an alternate and have lunch on top of the summit. From there the trail drops right down the spine and reconnects with the PCT.
The Summit on Baden Powell not only sports amazing views, but also has a monument to the man who founded scouting. It has four sides each with a different plaque.
After a long section with both uphill and fairly steep downhill we arrive at little Jimmy Spring with filled up all of our water bags and took 6 L .2 miles to the little Jimmy Campground. We were surprised by how nice it is. There’s a pit toilet for us to use in the morning and a good spot for our tent with lots of picnic tables, and we have it to ourselves.
Tonight‘s dinner, sweet pork and rice with an orange Creamsicle shake to wash it down.
Today’s distance 16.9 miles with 3856 feet in elevation and 3737 feet in decent. A lot of up and down.
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