DAY 9, Sunday, May 4.Total Miles to date: 151

This morning I hitched a ride to a local market. Then got a ride to Idyllwild, a beautiful town a few miles west of the trail. Trail angels, Daryl and Ellen, chauffered us and then drove me back to the market because I left my hiking poles. I then caught up with four hikers and hiked back into Idyllwild to spend the night. Had pizza for lunch. I'll stay the night and get caught up on laundry and take care of the blisters on my heels. Should be an interesting day.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 8, Saturday, May 3, 24 mile day, TOTAL 127

I passed 3 water caches today. Came to Highway 74 crossing and found that part of the trail was closed because of a fire. The fire was due to humans smoking. So I stopped at Paradise Cafe 1 mile off the trail. Ate supper with 4 other thru-hikers - Sidewinder, Ross, RS, Brad and Gopher and spent the night on public land sleeping underneath a huge, beautiful pine tree behind the cafe. Will see what tomorrow brings.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

PHOTO ALBUM

Photobucket Album

DAY 7 - Zero mile day

I'm spending the day with my baby today. Resting up, getting laundry done and nursing the blisters on my heels. I think I am going to have to get a bigger size shoe. The sand on the trail affects our shoes and socks and wears into the skin more so than hiking the AT terrain.

Shirley returns to Louisville in the morning and I'll be northbound again. Canada here I come!
Keep hiking,
Greybeard
p.s. Shirley will be giving me a fund raiser report on Monday.

DAY 6: May 1, '08. 17.5 miles. Total to date 127.1

Shirley got here around 8am and we enjoyed breakfast at the Grill. It was good to see her.

After breakfast she drove me to Lost Valley Rd and I slackpacked south back to Warner Springs. Lost Valley Rd is a Boy Scout road. It is a dirt road that winds up to 4,170 ft elevation. I carried a daypack with water and 4 McDonald breakfast sandwiches to snack on. This southbound section gave me a good taste of higher rocky terrain. I was glad to put the miles away carrying a light weight load.

We met up with "Gator" and had dinner at the authentic Mexican restaurant 8 miles west of Warner Springs. Food was A-plus.

Plan to zero (no hiking) tomorrow.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 5, April 30: Hiked 18.3 miles - To date 109.6

Today was a short day. I hiked into Warner Springs, CA around 1:00pm. Spent the night at the resort with 4 other hikers, Kelly, Annie, Matthew and Glo Worm: great people. I'm waiting for Shirley to show up tomorrow. She has been staying with our long time Air Force friends in Montbello, Clell & Betty.

Everyone has been so geniunely friendly which makes for a great hike.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 4 - April 29: 22.3 Miles - TOTAL 91.3

What a great day to hike. I enjoyed my third water cache & believe it or not, managed to order lunch on the trail. We found a menu in the register box* and called a local mexican place. They delivered burritos and iced tea at Highway 52 crossing. Umm good!

I am learning quite a lot about the vegetation. The purple bar tree is Manzanita (sp?) and the scrub oak has very small leaves about 1/2" long. Photos to be added later.

Keep hiking.
Greybeard
*Note: There are registers along the trail where hikers can leave notes, updates, etc. Just another way to log their whereabouts and location in case of emergencies.

DAY 3 - April 28 - 25.4 Miles - TOTAL 69

My right heel is complaining. I thought I took a wrong turn today after dropping into Oriflamme Canyon. Cost me 30 minutes. Walked the highest and steepest ridge to date. It was gorgious (pretty too). I've met several hikers along the way. Keep hiking guys/gals!
Greybeard

Day 2 - April 27 - Miles hiked 23.6 - Total 43.6

Another "slack packing" day. I had a GREAT breakfast prepared by the volunteers and ADZPCTKO planners. I got on the trail around 7:00 am on my way to Mt. Laguna, CA. Shirley has registered us at the Mt. Laguna Mountain Lodge (hiker friendly)for one night. I saw (and enjoyed) my first water cache today. There was lots of water and one Gatorade. I decided to enjoy the Gatorade and had the privilege of sharing it with another hiker who came up behind me.

What I found interesting today is how far you can see from the trail. At one point I looked out over a valley and could see a mile and a half in front of me. The elevation on Mt. Laguna peaks at 6,000 ft. It was a beautiful day for a hike.

I arrived at the Sunrise Valley Picnic area around 2:45pm and Shirley was waiting for me. She had fried chicken dinners prepared by the Blue Jay Lodge http://www.bluejaysandiego.com/ in Laguna Recreational area. Those folks in Laguna know how to treat hikers.

I'm in for the night,

Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 1 - April 26 - Miles Hiked - 20.6

I have always wondered what desert hiking would be like. I am definitely going to find out first hand. Shirley (my wife and hike supporter) drove me and 2 fellow hikers to the Mexican border. We take pictures at the southern terminus monument - 2,655 miles to go.

This is going to be a 1 day hike from the border to Lake Morena Campground. What I am doing today is "slack packing." That means I will not spend the night and will carry a light load in my backpack - water and snacks. The desert is is full bloom - such beauty. The vistas are incredible. I look at a mountain and think "wow, that would be something to hike over." And I discover that I do just that. The view is over the Laguna Mountains. I hike through the Saddle of Morena Butte.

Shirley is posting my journal entries and will update the postings with photos as soon as possible.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard