150 Homes, Part 4

Mile to 383.9 to 517.59

This section took us through three of the most famous trail angel establishments, each almost within a day’s hike of the next: Hiker Heaven, Casa de Luna and Hikertown. It felt like a much-needed final party before we enter the vast mountain wilderness of the high Sierras. Our hike is about to become a mountain survival expedition, which is why our beer intake has increased severalfold this week.

 

 

 

 

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Night 32: Mile 383.9 Little Jimmy Campground is the first developed camp site after Mt Baden-Powell. A nearby spring is the first water for miles. We were at 7400 feet, which made for a very cold night, but it was worth it in order to have a picnic table and a privy. The ability to sit comfortably is gold dust on the trail. #150homes #pctclassof2017 #pct2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 11:16am PDT

 

 

 

 

 

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Night 33: Mile 400.6 Camp Glenwood is a cool scout camp with a shockingly powerful spigot. We shared a spot with a bunch of knackered hikers, one of whom had carried a carton of wine for 50 miles so that he could enjoy it here. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 11:38am PDT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Night 34: Mile 418.6 We slept in a parking lot below the Mill Creek Fire station, serenaded by the mellifluous cars on the Angeles Forest Highway. The parking lot toilet – which smelled like death – contained packaging for a small apple pie, a tube of KY jelly, a single wet wipe and a knife sharpener. Reconstruct that story if you dare. #150homes #pctclassof2017 #pct2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 11:50am PDT

 

 

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Night 35: Mile 436.1 The North Fork ranger station provided a cooler of sodas and granola bars, run entirely on the honour system. We bought two sodas each and chugged them on the spot. We fantasize about cold and fizzy things constantly on the trail. The view from the tent was pretty spectacular. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 11:58am PDT

 

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Night 36: Mile 444.3 A short day's hike took us to the Acton KOA by lunch. We set up the tent under a big tree and spent the day doing chores (laundry, showers, dishwashing) while idly people-watching. There must have been 50 other hikers at the KOA. You can go a day without seeing another hiker, and then you converge on one of these pop-up townships. It feels very surreal. #150homes #pctclassof2017 #pct2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 12:06pm PDT

 

 

 

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Night 37: Mile 454.4 The famous Hiker Heaven, a free trail angel retreat run with military efficiency by Donna Saufley. Hikers are treated to shade, laundry, wifi, footbaths and regular runs to town for french toast. We slept next to three beautiful horses, who wuffled with consternation whenever we left the tent to pee. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 12:12pm PDT

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Night 38: Mile 468.2 We left Hiker Heaven at exactly the wrong time in order to hike one of the hottest sections of trail in the mid-day sun, which is why Tim forgot to take a picture of the tent when we finally collapsed. Pictured are our trek poles and sun umbrellas, both of which were sorely needed today. Powerlines buzzed soothingly overhead, and there was a small maze of bushes behind the tent which served as a pleasant trail bathroom. Always pack out your TP, hikers! #150homes #pctclassof2017 #pct2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 12:17pm PDT

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Night 39: Mile 468.21 Another short day led to a magical night at Casa de Luna, run by trail angel Terrie Anderson. Our tent was nestled in a manzanita maze that ran seemingly forever behind Terrie's house. The front garden was party central, but back here everything was serene and quiet. We slept well, aided by Terrie's taco salad and the twelve-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon we had imbibed earlier. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 12:25pm PDT

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Night 40: Mile 498.22 This is our friend Ryan's tent the morning after a truly wild night at Sawmill Campground. Heavy wind and choking fog tested everyone's staking abilities to the limit. By morning, our tent walls resembled the cheeks of an emaciated octogenarian who had just been dunked in a bucket of dirty water. #150homes #pctclassof2017 #pct2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 12:30pm PDT

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Night 41: Mile 517.59 Hikertown was the weirdest in a chain of increasingly bizarre trail angel establishments. It was decorated to look like an old Western town, complete with jail, city hall and saloon. We camped out back to avoid the mice and spent most of the next day in the local diner eating vast burrito lumps. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on May 27, 2017 at 12:34pm PDT

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