Day Hiking The Southern California PCT: April In Southern California 2010 (Part II)

As I said in my Previous Post (April in Southern California 2010: Part I) I went to Southern California to see my dad. While there, I spent a lot of time hiking parts of the Pacfic Crest Trail. The day after I arrived I went up to Idylwild and hiked up to the Pacific Crest Trail just below Mt. San Jacinto. I had heard that the snow was heavy this year and long lasting. My intent was to go 20 miles each day, but this day I only went 8 due to the amount of snow I had to trudge through once I got up to the PCT. In normal years at this time there would not be any snow on the trail, or very little. Here are some photos of the trail in and around Saddle Junction, just 2.5 miles above the mountain town of Idylwild.



After the snow experience, I decided I'd better find portions of the PCT to hike which were at lower elevations. Another PCT access point not far from my father's home was the PCT cross point at Highway 74 just before it descends down to Palm Springs. The starting elevation was 4800' and I was able to get the 20 miles I desired. I went 10 miles in and 10 back, with an elevation gain of over 2000'. The wildflowers were wonderful and I wasn't prepared to see such beauty. But, this is spring and that is wildflower season in any Southern California year. Growing up as a young man in Los Angeles I never realized such beautiful flowering occured in the deserts of California. Of course, at that time I was more interesting in the size of my biceps than I was in the wonders of nature. Here are some pictures from that trail that day...






When I arrived at my turn around point, 10 miles, I met three young men taking a break very near the trail. I asked if I could take my break with them and they were eager to accept my request and talk with me. They were three Israeli soldiers who had just been discharged from there duties in Israel. They decided together to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and were amazed at the scenery thus far experienced. The other hikers who started out with them at the Mexican Boarder gave them the trail name, "The Israeli Gears", because they marched in step with each other and looked very mechanical. They invited me to keep up with their blog on line and to join them for part of the hike once they got up around Portland Oregon where I live.

From Left to right: Tom, Yashov, and Ishai.

As I headed back to the starting point I encountered a not too friendly Western Diamond Back snake on the trail. He was lying right in the middle of the trail and I just about stepped on him. He was oblivious to me until I turned around and faced him. Then, he coiled up, shook his rattle at me and tried to scare me off. Hiking in Southern California is not all glorious, but he was a beautiful creature, even though potentially deadly.



I spent my last full day in Southern California hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Interstate 10 up through White River Canyon. This was desert hiking at its finest. The weather was mild, the flowers were at there peak blooming, and I put in 21 miles without too much strain. I was sore by the end of the day, but not too fatigued. One month later and I would have been drained from the intense heat. Here are just a few of the photos I took that day...

Trip To Southern California: April In Southern California 2010 (Part I)

Last week I went to Southern California for a spur of the moment trip to see my father and brothers in Southern California. My company insisted I take some vacation time since I am between projects, so I, "high tailed it" down to Hemet to see Dad, Lew, Paul and anyone else in the family with whom I could spend time. Here's a picture of the three youngest brothers and our 86 year old dad...



It was great to visit with Lew's daughters, Jessica and Chelsea, as well as his son, Brian. Brian is soon to be married to his finance, Angela and I will be officiating his wedding in July. I spent some time discussing the wedding plans with Brian and his planner. While I was visiting, Chelsea had a very successful competition in the discus and javelin in San Diego at the JC where she is attending. She qualified for the California JC State championships in these events and had the San Diego State coaches looking hard at her during the competition. Looks like she just might be attending San Diego State for both athletics and to study Kinesiology. It turns out that San Diego State has a great Kinesiology program and that is just what she wants to study before going on to teach Physical Education. Here is a picture of me, Dad, and Cealsea...



Speaking of Physical Education, Jessica is just about to complete her student teaching and will the be certified to teach Physical Education in the state of California. She is also getting married this summer! I had the pleasure of spending part of a day hiking with Jess at the nearby Wildlife Refuge of Santa Rosa Mesa. Here we are on our hike. This picture also includes Lew's girl friend, Kim, who went on the hike also. She's a great cook, by the way!




During the week I was also able to head down to see my brother Phil in Ramona. I had never seen his place of business, Plastifab, so I stopped in there before we headed over to his house. Here are pictures of his shop where they fabricate plastics for purposes too numerous to list here...


Phil just turned 63 and in the not to0 distant future will be getting his right hip replaced, which has been a sore subject for a lot of years. No pun intended! Ironically, his company fabricates the type of composite plastic used in artificial hips. Here he is with a piece of that plastic which some day might wind up in his hip!




Here are more pictures of Phil in his garage at his home where he keeps his antique car collection. Phil's been buying, restoring, and selling these cars since he was in his twenties. A real treasure and something to be very proud of.



But, the main reason I went to Southern California was to see my dad. For a week I spent the mornings and evenings with him, while during the day I visited others and headed for the hiking trails. He's doing extremely well and I am very proud of him. I hope to head down again soon to spend some time with him once again.