Romanticizing the Trail

I was unsure of how this blog thing worked until the end of Day 3... we do not talk much out here.

I love hiking... before I hike and after I hike. But I downright loathe it 80% of the time I am doing it. It has been a balance of pain and pleasure, mostly pain. These have been 3 of the most painful days in a long time, but at the end of the day it has all been worth it... so far.

No trail name... yet.

I lost my primary hiking socks yesterday, left them baking on a rock near a creek, idiot!

Total rattlesnakes seen: 2

Total fire ant hills I have stomped: 18

Best gear so far: Ibuprofen

Most useless gear: Pancho

Best Food: Pizza Burritos (tortilla, pepperoni, cheese stick, with tabasco sauce)

More to come.

-Caleb

43 Miles

Well, today's 22.2 miles put us 43.0 total miles into the trip. Today wasn't as bad, except, we were very disappointed to arrive in Mt. Laguna only to find everything closed. Dinner ended up being at a visitors center that was closed on a picnic table. Three big pluses today, 1. we went 22.2 miles, 2. we found gas for our stove at a campground, 3. Found electricity to charge our electronics. Gaining 3000 ft still was not as bad as the first day. We did have to stealth camp off the trail. I'm under some pine tree. Caleb found a but of a better spot, he is a better outdoorsman I suppose, for now.

Let me answer a couple of your questions. "Why do you wear a CAT hat?" CAT has been a Blevins family company for generations. Mainly through my Papaw, who worked there his entire life. It was he who was the man to introduce most of his grandkids to the outdoors. While he truly enjoyed hunting and fishing, I think my experience turkey hunting with him might have been considered hiking. After getting tired of sitting, I convinced the man who has been turkey hinting (successfully) to move from his spot and hike miles over the mountain all day. At the end of the day he simply said "How about next time we try my way".

On the Trail #1

Wow. What a day. My dad is right, 20 miles is a heckuva long way to walk. Add my two hours of sleep on top of a cold and you've for a tired, satisfied Brandon Blevins.

Leaving San Diego at 6 am via a Terramoto service (by the way, they own entirely hybrid vehicles, ours was a Toyota Highlander). They went the extra miles to drop us off right at the border, saving us 1.5 miles just to start officially. Good business.

The day wasn't that bad up until lunch, in fact, we were moving. That was until we encountered Hauser Mountain. Dropping down a steep cliff only to climb right back up a steeper cliff that is fully exposed to the sun. Yes, it was 100 degrees today. Drink it in. (I did to the tune of 7 liters of water and a powerade)

So to answer the big question, yes I got my butt kicked today. We saw hundreds of lizards, several squirrels, 3 border patrolmen escorting 2 illegals, and 0 rattlesnakes. A couple of small blisters.

Camping tonight at Lake Morena. It's beautiful, $5 and includes a hot shower, which will help with these leg cramps) It is hard to eat in the heat. We are heading to Mt. Laguna. 22 miles away.

-Brandon

May 15

PHOTOS

I cannot get the photo link to work, so here it is...

http://picasaweb.google.com/blevinschurch

caleb: man its been a rough couple of hours. Its too real
Brandon: I'm on an emotional rollar coaster.
Caleb: I'm ready to get into it.

Me too brotha.

Next Resupplies:

We will be resupplying at Warner Springs (109 miles in), Idyllwild (178 miles in), and Big Bear City (265 miles). It's probably always best to think about sending any post cards, etc., to the last resupply listed, and then commenting to let us know to expect something. We both somewhat assume that we are going to have this resupply thing figured out by Idyllwild. Or we better anyways. If we make it. Kidding, we'll make it. I think.

Caleb is pondering Trail Names

The idea of "trail-names" kinda makes me ill. Most avid hikers , especially thru-hikers have these silly hippie often nature themed nicknames which they go by while on the trail. "Happy Feet and Cocoa Puff started hiking last week." Yuck.

Explaining why I hate this to every hiker i meet this summer will become tiresome and probably make me angry in the process. SO i just want to tell people something when they ask, so as to avoid the discussion all together. But it clearly has to be a mocking nature. Any Ideas?

"The Breeze" would be solid because it would be a reference to great Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Call Me the Breeze" but no one would likely get the awesome southern heritage props... I'm assuming most people on the trail would not be huge Skynyrd fans.

My Vegas moniker seems too sacred, plus people might think its my real name.

I'm at an impasse.

-Caleb, just caleb