After much deliberation - while taking the two zero days...I decided for my health and well being to; "take the support while you have it" - a PCT hiker slogan. ..and Saturday, May 17th Moira drove me to Big Bear. Thus, I by passed 63 trail miles of desert heat. The temps on my zero days were 106 and 107 - with a thick all encompassing smoke haze on Friday, May 16th. So I could only imagine the next 4 or 5 days and the amount of water I would have to carry.

So day 16 began with me meeting the PCT trail at mile post 275. Which getting to wasn't the easiest! Moira had to maneuver Lula (her car) over 4 miles of a "maintained" dirt road to get me back to trail. I can still hear Moira mutterings...."Oh dear, I really do have to go slow...is that shade or a pothole? I wonder if next year's Prius model will have such a leave under carriage?!"

 Last view of Support Team West heading back east...I remember the lump in my throat seeing Moira leave and thinking...now I am really on my own!!

I just want to note that without these trekking poles I could not be doing this trail!!

They displace the weight off one's knees. (Michael! )

 These wildflowers lined the trail by the Holcomb creek on Sunday, May 18th.

 Tuesday, May 20: Trail here is mostly forested and shady with canyon views. 

Flannelbush, I just learned is the name of the showy bush in this section. 

 

More views of Deep Creek

I had a long lunch break under this bridge and cooled my feet off. Met several other hikers doing the same that had pasted me during the day.

 Different bridge....You can see now the changes into drier terrain. Hotter too!

Unclear of lizard type...but it was playing very still... ....so I zoomed in. ..I can see the dinosaur resemblance

These white flowers looked like blooms on an eggplant type bush...but smell fragrant. They are everywhere in these San Bernardino Mountains. 

My tent is the foreground. There was about 7 of us camped among the boulders. It was a matter of locating a flat area on sand with enough room to extend the tents. No sleeping past 6 a.m. hearing everyone's zippers in the a.m.

 

Crossing hwy138: 

Day 20 on the trail.  Wednesday, May 21- Move over Montana... the southern California skies are endless too!

Same highway but from the other direction.....still no red prius in sight....so I hike on...

     This is quite the rock pile...other wise known as the Cedar Springs Dam.

After coming out of dry Summit valley the landscape opens into views of Silverwood Lake, which is part of the California Aqueduct system. 

This is where I caught up with several hikers at the end of day 20 (May 21st). We camped at a day use picnic area called Cleghorn, near the shore of Arrowwood Lake.  It was a treat to have a picnic table nearby!

Another day ends on the trail...and once again I feel so fortunate to be able to experience the beauty and vastness.

To find the location in the park where we could camp...hikers leave notes for each other such as this....I never would have found it otherwise!

Always a relief to see a sign with mileage!

 This one of encouragement saying; "You're almost there!"

Easy to eat right out of the pouch. Just add boiling water. 

 May 22nd:  Storm clouds approaching from the direction of Horsethief Canyon. 

 

California poppies -  like the ones Georgia O'keefe painted. What a treat to see growing wild.

Ok...I wasn't ready for the first light shower...but I am now! Glad for the temp drop because I have another 7 miles to do today to get to the Cajon Pass near Interstate 15 and the Best Western Motel.

Wildflowers that reminds me of hard candy..,,growing with exposed roots 

So here is the update on miles. First time I have seen as sign like this....Well all I can say is that I probably will not be able to update the blog again until 31st of May

 

Nora and Jean patting a dog...that Irene would know the breed.!? Thanks Nora (former OLH camper and Cit) for your friends' cabin and hospitality. It was good to catch up and have time to regroup before getting back on the trail.