I woke up before 5, actually, and tried to go back to sleep, but finally got up at 5:10. The frog serenade from the previous night had given way to bird song. I had a leisurely breakfast, and toured the RV park. Apparently, there’s some history to the site, and there’s a famous windmill house on the property. I left at 8:45 am.
Alpine is a larger town, with shopping centers. When I pulled in at 10, it was too early for lunch, but I decided to eat anyway, since I had more climbing ahead.
I checked into the Pine Valley Inn at 3 pm. Lucky I went there first – I got the last available room.
On the way back to my room, I met a backpacker. He had major equipment failures, so was looking for a way back to San Diego. He was also looking for Frosty’s, so I pointed him in the right direction.
When I got back to my room, I realized that the San Diego Bus might stop here, and take him right back. I turned around and caught up with him at Frosty’s, where he was buying dinner. I passed along the information, and also asked where he was staying. He said that he planned to check in to the Inn. Realizing that the Inn was probably full, I told him he could share my room if he wanted to. Same price for 1-2 people, so it would cost him nothing. He accepted. Hallelujah! A chance to return a portion of the kindness shown to me on the road.
I was able to hear some of his stories of the trail, such as how he likes to hike at night when it’s cooler, broke his headlight, and since he had misplaced his duct tape, fixed it with band aids. He carries a lot more water than me at times, depending on how far it is to the next water. He relies on an app to tell him this, but he dropped his phone down a ravine, and it partially broke. He also lost some of his gear due to a backpack malfunction – including critical items like sleeping pad and rain fly. It gets cold in the mountains.
I hadn’t eaten, so walked out. It had suddenly turned cold and foggy in those few minutes. I went to Calvin’s Family Restaurant and Sports Bar (Family side).
When I got back to the room, I found that Seamus was able to book an Uber back to San Diego for just $50. His phone was at 9%, and something was wrong with the charging, so he just barely was able to arrange it. His ride picked him up at about 8 pm. I recommended the Beach Bungalow Hostel to him in San Diego.
Miles today: 27.8, 4300′ of climbing
(Visited 266 times, 1 visit(s) today)
Wow, I had to reset my password in order to comment on your blog. People might wonder why your wife doesn’t write to you. It has been good to read about your adventures, if I had been with you you might not have got lost so often, but then I might not have been able to handle some of those hills. I liked the paint night picture. Glad you were able to help out Seamus.
Hi, Sweetheart!
I could have used your navigation skills around UCSD, definitely. The day of this post was straightforward, pretty much all on one highway. I’m glad to be out of the city.
Glad you were able to reset your password. The “Merrianne” login is the same one that was created for our 2010 trip. I also noticed a new one called “TheArtTeacher”, which should work, too.
I took the Paint Night picture especially with you in mind.
Seamus was able to call an Uber with the last remaining 9% of charge on his phone. Something had broken, and he was not able to charge, even plugged into an outlet. For $50, the Uber took him all the way back to San Diego, where he will re-provision himself to continue his trek.
Wow, I’d say that Seamus was having a worse time of it than you are thus far (not to make light of your various misadventures). Glad you were able to help him out.
Although hikers tend to walk alone on the PCT, they always meet up at campgrounds, and help each other out. In this era of cell phones and apps, another person found his rain fly and put it in the box at a certain mile marker (they have these boxes spaced along the trail). The question is how he will retrieve it, now. Another Uber? Losing his sleeping pad was really bad. He had a 30-degree bag, but that assumes a pad underneath to keep you off the cold, hard ground. Also, a 30-degree bag in 30-degree weather means survival, not comfort. When I checked out the next morning, the cleaner told me there was an iPod in the bathroom, and it wasn’t mine (I don’t carry music, other than the kind in my head). I texted Seamus that it would be in Lost and Found if he wanted it
Wow, I had to reset my password in order to comment on your blog. People might wonder why your wife doesn’t write to you. It has been good to read about your adventures, if I had been with you you might not have got lost so often, but then I might not have been able to handle some of those hills. I liked the paint night picture. Glad you were able to help out Seamus.
Hi, Sweetheart!
I could have used your navigation skills around UCSD, definitely. The day of this post was straightforward, pretty much all on one highway. I’m glad to be out of the city.
Glad you were able to reset your password. The “Merrianne” login is the same one that was created for our 2010 trip. I also noticed a new one called “TheArtTeacher”, which should work, too.
I took the Paint Night picture especially with you in mind.
Seamus was able to call an Uber with the last remaining 9% of charge on his phone. Something had broken, and he was not able to charge, even plugged into an outlet. For $50, the Uber took him all the way back to San Diego, where he will re-provision himself to continue his trek.
Wow, I’d say that Seamus was having a worse time of it than you are thus far (not to make light of your various misadventures). Glad you were able to help him out.
Although hikers tend to walk alone on the PCT, they always meet up at campgrounds, and help each other out. In this era of cell phones and apps, another person found his rain fly and put it in the box at a certain mile marker (they have these boxes spaced along the trail). The question is how he will retrieve it, now. Another Uber? Losing his sleeping pad was really bad. He had a 30-degree bag, but that assumes a pad underneath to keep you off the cold, hard ground. Also, a 30-degree bag in 30-degree weather means survival, not comfort. When I checked out the next morning, the cleaner told me there was an iPod in the bathroom, and it wasn’t mine (I don’t carry music, other than the kind in my head). I texted Seamus that it would be in Lost and Found if he wanted it
The way he seems to keep losing stuff, you’re making me worried about his welfare on the PCT…