Highway 74 to Fobes Saddle (Mile 151 to Mile 166)

Highway 74 to Fobes Saddle

Trailhead at Highway 74

Dave at my truck.

Mileage to Saddle Junction

Cool PCT sign for The Desert Divide

Back of Garner Valley

Garner Valley

Trailside Trees

First small pass to Live Oak Spring

Cattle Gate just before trail to Live Oak Spring

Canyon down to Live Oak Spring

The Spring

Tradition!

Campsites at Live Oak Spring

Mmmmmmm....Breakfast Burritos!

Junction PCT/Trail to Live Oak Spring

Palm Springs in the distance

Lake Hemet in the distance

First low peaks of The Desert Divide

Fobes Saddle

No idea WHY this sign was posted- it's just before Fobes Saddle and there's NO other trail around!

Fobes Saddle

Trailhead to Fobes Saddle

It's a STEEP 1-1/2 miles to the PCT!

Mt Laguna to Highway 74 (Mile 43 to Mile 151)

I did the PCT fro Mt Laguna to Cuyamaca with Bill and his grandson as a dayhike in February of 2004. 24 miles- all downhill! I didn't have a camera at the time and didn't have one until my hike NOBO from Highway 74.
When I hiked from Cuyamaca in April of 2004, I did this solo. I arranged a ride from Barrel Spring where I parked my truck back to where I left The Trail at Cuyamaca. My plan was to camp on the first ridge of the San Felipes and do the San Felipes the next day. But I picked the first heat wave of the season and by the time I made it down to The Borrego desert floor and to Scissors, I was wiped out. I looked up the switchbacks into the San Felipes and my legs said "No way Jose"... I got a ride back to Barrel Spring by a couple of off-roaders and camped there. the next day I did the Warner Springs to Barrel Spring 8 miles SOBO with Cpt. Bivy. I returned with my son to Warner and hiked to Canada Verde and back.
My next hike was from Warner Springs to Highway 74, 40 miles in two days with my friend Erik Yakel. He's a stronger hiker than I and he started his day from the north junction of the PCT and Highway 79, while I started from the south junction at the Fire Station, so he was ahead of me the entire day. I was solo until I met up with Erik at Combs Peak. We hiked further and camped at the north foot of Combs, The next day, Erik's leg was bothering him, and since he lives in Chihuahua Valley, he turned back and walked home while I headed NOBO toward the 74 where my truck was parked.
Since this portion of the trail is so close to where I live, I'm sure I'll be back to add photos here.

Oilcan's PCT Photos Mile 20 to 43

From Morena Reservoir to Mount Laguna - Mile 20 to 43

January 24th & 25th, 2004

Dave, Me and Bill

PCT Junction at Cibbets Flats Road

Cibbets Flats Campground

(Appox Mile 33)

Water, Pit Toilets, Fire Rings, BBQ Grills!

Tradition!

Temps hovered around freezing and it rained on us that night.

Long Canyon

Panoramic of Fred Canyon

Horse Meadow

Nearing Alpine!

Fresh Snow on The Trail


Mount Laguna

The Adventure Begins

At the Southern Terminus April 26, 2003

As you can see, I began my walk with my son's Boy Scout Troop. We did the first 20 miles to Lake Morena in two day hikes. The second day hike, from "The Windmill" (mile 10) to the lake, our group was significantly less. When I hiked north from Morena, I we were down to just me, my good friend Bill (The guy in the boonie hat in the back of the photo above), and my brother-in-law and best friend, Dave. I returned to the border in 2007 for the ADZPCTKO and re-hiked the first 20 solo. I'll try not to editorialize too much on this blog, as my intent is to provide viual references for the PCT as much as I can. If you want higher resolution versions of these files, please feel free to ask! I also have many, many more photos. Any info requested of me will be happily provided!

Photos in NOBO mileage order. With the exception of the next few photos, taken during my re-hike of the first 20, these are also in chronological order. I am not a Thru Hiker, nor a Section Hiker since I hike the PCT mostly in weekends that come available to me.

I hope these are of use to those who walk after my footsteps.

Enjoy!

-Oilcan

At the Southern Ternimus ADZPCTKO 2007

I helped "Lawrence The Spring Guy" erect the "1 Mile Marker"

The first PCT shelter! (TIC) Just off the road to the Terminus.

PCT Junction at Highway 94

PCT junction at train tracks just north of Highway 94

Looking back toward train tracks and Highway 94

Star Ranch

Mile 9 - Dirt Road Junction to "The Windmill"

"The Windmill" is a cattle pond. There's a trough and pond that's fed by the well pumped by the windmill. On this hike, during a very dry season, there was water in the trough (mucky- but filterable), water deep in the well (Too far to reach, but if you had a rope and bottle...) and the pond was bone dry. When I first saw the windmill, back in April `03, water was gushing from the loose fittings of the pump line. Do yourself a favor and pack enough water to get to Morena.

North edge of Hauser Canyon

Bottom of Hauser Canyon with "Oscar the Illegal Immigrant"

I was at Hauser during ADZPCTKO `07 with the guy who needed to be heli-lifted out due to heat exhaustion (It was freakin' hot that day). When I climbed to the top of the north edge of the canyon, I enjoyed the sunset and saw the helicopter buzz through the canyon.

Climbing out of Hauser looking south over the canyon.

Sunset over Hauser Canyon

Since it was so hot that day, I waited until the evening to climb out of Hauser. I was rewarded with this sunset. I walked the final 4 miles to Morena under a full moon and I could hear the evening festivities at the park 2 miles out! I strolled into the Park around 8:30 just after the slide show ended. Had me an oilcan and crashed.