Hiker Heaven to Mill Creek Picnic Area
37.0 miles (1 off trail mile)
Sobo mile 2234.0
Total mileage 4886.6
At about 2:30am I rolled off the massive couch I’d crashed on in the guest house at Hiker Heaven to get my day started. Careful not to wake the other hikers sprawled about, I navigated the inside of the house with my headlamp until I was all packed up and ready to roll. By 3am I was walking down the mile stretch of residential road to rejoin the PCT.
Less than an hour later I passed through Vasquez Rocks County Park disappointed that the unique rock formations were hidden from sight in darkness. Next I passed under the Highway 14 pedestrian tunnel, which was spooky as hell, and popped out the other side to begin trekking into the mountains leaving the headlamps of the cars racing along the busy highway behind me.
The sun rose as I descended towards Soledad Canyon Road, where I’d exited nearly six months early to camp at the Acton KOA. Fond memories of the second night I’d spent with Paige at that campground flooded my memory as I hiked by it.
Pushing on, the next few hours were spent climbing back up into the mountains until I reached the North Fork Ranger Station. I stopped here to fill my bottles with the jugs of water they’d left out before continuing the climb.
The wind began picking up as I increased in elevation, making each step a challenge as a fought against a mighty headwind.
Once I reached the top the trail began to snake along a ridge line for the remaining ten miles until I reached Mill Creek Summit.
I stopped for the evening at the picnic area below the fire station alongside Angels Forest Highway. I found good water flowing from a spigot near the station before setting up camp. As I sat on a picnic table journaling about my day a car pulled up, and Mary and Philip hopped out with big smiles.
The couple had made the drive up from the LA area just to spend an hour hanging out with me. They brought strawberries, carrots and cookies too! I was glad for the company, they truly made my evening special.
When they left I chomped down two Complete Cookies, a Midnight Milkyway and a whole bunch of trail mix before passing out for the night.
Cheers!
I have been impressed by the number of great people you have met along this journey; both on and off the trail. (Like your friends Mary and Philip). I only met you when you were a small child (2ish) as your mother and I met in Wichita Falls when your dad was in pilot training. The point being.. I have no idea what your personality is like except from your writings and the number of people that you have befriended along the way. I imagine you are an awesome young man. Your mother is an awesome person and has been quite adventurous as well.
You are almost done… going North and South…. I wanted to let you know that I have enjoyed your journal and hope you keep writing once the PCT is over. My husband thinks you should write a book about your adventures. I will continue to pray for you.
Thanks for the kind words Debi! It’s been an incredible adventure. I’m sad that it’s ending, but already planning the next one! And I imagine a book will be in the works as well, cheers!
Mary and Philip thank you. Once again folks like you make everyone feel better. OK Austin there are lots of people staying with you all the way. Lv u G🤗
Thanks Gram! Love you!
I’ve been thinking of you when I get up to pee in the middle of the night… thinking you’re probably already hiking. I guess you don’t have much choice when the days are short. But damn.
Hahahaha that’s hilarious! I have an awesome technique that lets me take care of business without leaving my tent…maybe I’ll write an article about it once I finish hah
I found this blog 5 days ago and just now got caught up. Super cool that you’re doing a yo-yo. I’m planning on a PCT thru-hike in 2022 and every thru-hiker blog I read gets me more and more excited, although this was probably the best I’ve read so far. I was set on doing it NOBO but after seeing your SOBO pictures I’m not so sure, the trail looks absolutely incredible in the late summer/fall. What would you say the pros and cons have been for SOBO vs NOBO on this yoyo?
Thanks man! You’re going to love it out here. It’s a tough call on nobo vs sobo, but all said and done I think sobo is the way to go. No snow or dangerous river crossings in the Sierra, less people, perfect weather and no mosquitos! That said, backpacking through the Sierra on the way north in alpine conditions was amazing, so if you’re interested in that nobo is the way to go. I’ll be writing a full summary of the pros and cons of each direction once I’m off the trail, so look out for that. Cheers!
Austin, I have read every post since the first . . . relishing every word and picture. . . and I will be first in line to buy the book!
Thank you Becky!