Prancing on the PCT: Urban hiking.. a strange route to Wrightwood

The past 100 miles has involved more urban hiking and strange experiences than any other section so far. A few highlights include:

* Deep Creek Hot Spring - a clothing optional hot spring complete with rope swing, slack line, natural shower, and 8 pools of varying temperatures

* Silverwood Lake - beautiful from above and deliciously refreshing to swim in. It was, however, disappointingly polluted with heavily used beaches and mounds of trash from the fishermen and Memorial Day motor boaters. I guess that isn't surprising in a state as crowded as California.

* A 28 mile day to reach Mc.Donald's fries and milkshakes

* Camping in a dry wash near the I15 overpass only to wake up in a two inch river of flowing water. Apparently the spring dries up in the heat of the day and starts to flow every night around midnight... surprise!

* reaching the 350 mile mark... halfway through the desert!

Beautiful sunset over Big Bear Lake - a nice fair well after several days in town

1500 calories of ice cream in this little afternoon snack... apparently hiker hunger has hit!

Beautiful old stumps are evidence of the natural cycle of burns and regrowth

Tea time in the shade!

Nap time in the shade

Fun misty views as we had down toward Deep Creek

Easy creek crossings, thank you to hikers ahead of us who put the rocks in!

Found a bench on the side of the trail, can't pass up on the opportunity to take a seat in the shade.

Rainbow bridge crossing Deep Creek... clearly there are some hippie locals around.

A one mile dam which appears to be absolutely overkill. The creeks that run down on either side are no more than a few feet deep and I don't believe the spill way has ever been used.

More creek crossings with happily dry feet

Silverwood Lake, a welcome sight after several miles of dry walking along side the highway. It's amazing what a world of difference can be found on the other side of a ridge!