This is part 17 of the “Why We Hike” Series
Monday, May 4th / 15.8 miles / Elevation gain: 3,286
Agua Caliente to Mike’s Place
We are moving on the trail at 5am and begin our morning crisscrossing over the Agua Caliente Creek again and again. It was a really nice start to the morning and when we made the climb out of that canyon, the Cleveland National Forest region we were entering was quite beautiful in the morning light.
But it was obvious that today was going to be a hot one from the building heat as we made our way into the Lost Valley area not to mention today was all about climbing uphill all day long. With the temperatures rising, we decided to load up with a lot of water at the Lost Valley Spring.
So now we are over laden, its uphill and hot. A perfect time for Bobby and Eden to pass us up and kick in Kelly’s competitive nature! So for about a mile Zach and I gasp for air as Kelly tries to keep up with these guys. Eventually she backs off, disappointed that we can’t keep up with them and their ultra light packs. When Stacy and Bernie pass us she lets them go without a chase.
As we leave Lost Valley the trail takes us into an area that has been completely burned out. All of the intermittent pockets of shade disappear completely; nothing but mile after mile of hot misery. We switch Zach over to his cooling vest and begin the routine of dousing and watering him every half mile. Even though we had loaded up with water I’m getting worried that we didn’t get enough at the last spring. The guidebook and water report say that Mike’s house (the one that had the party yesterday) was up ahead and offered water and shade. Kelly and I hoped to load up on water and retreat from the shade for an hour or so once we got there.
When it’s miserable, the miles drag on forever and so by 3pm when we got to the dirt road leading to Mike’s house, we were spent. Not really knowing what to expect, we were sort of confused when we approached the house and were greeted with a stereo cranking out Ozzie’s “Crazy Train” here in the middle of nowhere.
Kelly and I looked at each other and asked simultaneously; “party?”
Apparently the party from yesterday never stopped. Mike was still there, finishing grilling up the 200 pounds of chicken he brought up. There are a dozen or so hikers spread out in different states of sobriety and we got a warm welcome as we approach.
We fill our bellies with chicken, tortillas and beans, do laundry in a bucket and then basically slack while the afternoon actually turns cool, cloudy and windy. Our resolve to get back on the trail today slowly melts with each hour we stay. Zach is being pampered by all the other hikers as we sit in a circle telling stories, he must have eaten dozens of chicken pieces with a lot of skin. Normally we wouldn’t allow that but it’s hard to say no on the trail.
As the evening falls, we start looking for where we will sleep where Zach won’t be annoying to the others. Mike suggests the “Hikers Honeymoon Suite”, a musty old shed on the other side of his driveway. After picking up the dead mouse and putting the rat poison away it’s perfect.
The series continues here: Hiker’s Oasis