Day 33
Start: Mattox Canyon
Finish: Agua Dolce, CA
Daily Mileage: 14.6
PCT Mile: 454.8
We wound our way down to a road and rail crossing into Acton. This is one resupply option, but we decided to skip it in favor of another about 10 miles on directly on the trail rather than hitching on a road that wasn’t busy.
Past the completion marker for the PCT in 1993, we went over some grassy hills in the beginning of fractured terrain around the San Andreas Fault which we would be crossing over through the day. Sporadic large outcrops were randomly thrust into the air and seemed quite misplaced. A nice refreshing change to the trail.
We then went along a highway before passing under it through a fantastically long stream tunnel with water flowing through the bottom of it. When I emerged into the light at the other side, I was in a different world. I was entering the edge of Vasquez Rocks which is the heart of jumbled terrain from the San Andreas Fault in the area. Tectonic plate movements uplifted huge slabs of rock which were slanted and thrust into the air.
The trail followed a stream past many groves of poison oak through a rift through the formations which was incredibly scenic. There were also more and more people as I progressed down the trail, and even tour groups. Not enough to upset the pristine nature of the area though; you can just always tell when you are nearing a popular trailhead.
I diverted slightly from the PCT to walk through the most scenic and famous area along the route where many movies and TV shows like Star Trek have shot scenes. I couldn’t quite recognize the terrain from that, but no matter. In all, everything reminded me much of southern Utah and the Hayduke Trail.
Then I popped out onto the road. The trail actually travels paved roads for a few miles here, which I think is the first time it has done that for more than a short stretch. I soon arrived in the town of Agua Dolce. There are 3 restaurants, and Cookie Monster and I stopped at the Mexican place for a good lunch and an enormous ice cold beer.
We went on to Serenity’s Oasis which is some facilities that locals set up in their backyard with everything a hiker needs, shower, laundry, campsites, resupply, shipping facility, etc. An amazing place where there is not much else around for hikers.
There were many hikers here already, and we quickly settled in and got most of our chores done. It was amazing how much different I felt in clean clothes after a shower.
Went to dinner at a tavern with ok food, then back to hang out for the rest of the night.
1 comment
Congrats on a shower. Hell yeah to the Trail Angels. 🤘💜 Be Well!