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Sunday May 13 I had hoped to push the 24 miles to Hiker Heaven ( www.hikerheaven.com ) but the group I’ve been with for days were focused on the KOA Campground in Acton, CA just 14 miles away.  After a rough sweat drenched hike of switchbacks that seemed to repeatedly direct us South and away from the cool pool ahead we each slowly fell into place on a lush green lawn under the shade of a large tree, happily just feet away from the welcoming door to the campground store – Ice Cream, Soda, Treats.  Yum.

Melissa, the store attendant was fantasticly friendly, although she failed to mention one little thing about the campground…. Monsters lurk near.  VERY near.

After showering, laundry, swimming and all of the rough things we end up doing on the PCT, most of us cowboy camped under the stars, set dreaming about the wonder of the Saufleys just ten miles ahead.

12:10 a.m. – Something horrid startles me awake.  I wasn’t sure what, but my senses were alive as I sat up staring past the entry drive into the darkness on the other side.  The hair on my arm stood up, angry growls and gutteral rumbling.  Loud.  Close.

It was soon clear that whatever was out there wasn’t alone.

What about the couple camping over there?  What about the food that’s laying here next to me?  What about the others out here around me?  Which of these hikers will chosen as a meal to these horrific monsters?  I pulled my camera from my pack, pressed record, and waitied…. THERE !!!  I heard them again, I pressed play to make sure the sound registered on the recording, slipped on my shoes, jacket, pants, dug out my knife, and stood….  What were they growling over? Were the monsters among us?  Were they standing over the bodies of the thru hikers in that direction? Is THAT what woke me from a deep sleep?  This is horrible… But I can’t just lay here and wait to fall prey to these beasts…. I head towards the darkness…

Stirs from the sleeping bags and tents around me give me sense that everyone else was hearing this too… But here I am, going in alone… I WILL be the one to get photos, and I’m willing to go down trying … Suddenly the weight of two cameras with me from the border was worth it ! I can get photos AND video simultaniously…. TRAIN THE MONSTER SLAYER (or train, slain by monsters) either way…. All On VIDEO !

I walked to the edge of the darkness… to afraid to go further I just waited for the monsters to show themselves…. The sounds died down, no sign of fallen victims….
I walked over to the sign bathed in light – Night Registery… I’ll wait here until they show themselves… here I’ll be safe… in the light.

Quickly I was distracted by all of the posters and messages on the board… my eyes fell on a yellow paper….

“Don’t be alarmed if you hear some roaring during the night.  It’s all part of the REAL wildlife experience we want people to have here at Acton KOA.”

At this point I was MAD…. Am I understanding this correctly !? They’re piping in these horror noises?  They’re playing sounds to make us THINK we’re experiencing some sort of wildlife ?  … Snap judgement, I read on….

“And in case you want to visit these roaring lions, feel free to make an appointment at the Shimbala Wildlife Preserve located next door.”

I had to laugh…. Lions?  OK… how was I to know.  By the time I walked back to the tent area, Gourmet was out of his sleeping bag freakin’ out about what was going on in the dark beyond… I explained the situation, and laughed as the roaring began again when I slipped into my sleeping bag.  Come morning, Scalpel, a seemingly fearless individual told me he was glad to know there was a stupid white guy in the group that wouldn’t think twice about heading into the dark in search of the frightening unknown monsters … camera in hand.

As we hiked out of the canyon at 6 a.m. we were treated to roaring lions (not just ANY lions, but lions once owned by Michael Jackson, on a ranch owned by the great Tippi Hedron of the classic “the Birds” ) until we reached the ridge crest and the sun beat down to heat up our day.

This is a story I will never forget, and is FAR more fun told in person… How can we not laugh and tell the tale ? When we all fell to sleep that fateful night, we THOUGHT we were in the comfort of a comfy KOA.

Just a quick update – Alex from Osprey sent an email further explaining their warranty policy and has offered to refund the cost of shipping the pack back to them.  As is important to me, the email was personal, kind, and professional.  It’s great to know they’re listening out there, and willing to work with weary thru-hikers and the limited time and resources that come with popping into a trail town, and getting out fully stocked for another section of rough hot trail.

Thanks Osprey, I DO love the pack.

-Today totally kicked my ass !!!  Definitely the dardest day on teh trail yet.  4500 ft. in elevation gain i think.  Lots of water but don’t feel well.  No energy.  Hot.

-Poodle Dog Bush – they say worse than Poison Oak and Poson Ivy.  It’s first to inhabit a burn area and I passed through more than two miles of it, trying to dodge its stalk hanging out over the trail and sometimes right on the trail.  It smells like pot…. kinda looks like pot come to think of it.  It sucks.  Hope I didn’t get it on me.

-This gown is SO heavy !! I knew it was gonna be rough.  That’s why it ended up on the 55 mile stretch, but WOW.  it’s HOT.

-” And so we meet again “   Words of a trail crew man.  They’d been back at barrel Springs (mi 102) working on trail, and they were now out here in the heat of Mission Creek.  I passed several of them along the way and they all asked how the gown was working out for me…

-I haven’t seen any other hikers since Zig/Bears.  It’s nice.  The Trail Crew said some 20 or more passed by the day prior.  WOW.

- I passed up a killer photo opp.  A tree dead from fire, most of it’s burnt bark shed, the contrast of the black against the beautiful wood tone was amazing.  But I was wiped out and had little energy.  The thought of dropping my pack and picking it back up didn’t seem like a good one at the time.  I got a  pic of the tree, but not with me in it.  My creative juices just don’t flow out here on the trail.  Maybe that’s a good thing, keeps me moving.

-I sure hope i feel better tomorrow.  2 days and 20 or so miles to go to Big Bear Lake.  Neil sent a text that said the trail after the hwy where i exit for B/B/L is a piece of cake.  I may meet ProDeal at the Deep Creek Hot Springs around mile 300… hot springs are something to look forward to.  Neil also said to watch out for Rattlers in that section.

-I saw lots of snakes today, 2 rattle snakes.

-I took a LOT of breaks today.  Sometimes I didn’t go more than 10 miles.  Rarelly did i take off my pack, just look for somewhere to sit and rest it.  Around 2:30 I was yawning and feeling ready for a nap.  I didn’t want to set up my tent (to keep snakes out) so I just kept going, although I should have noticed the signs… I needed food and water.  After eating I felt a lot better.  It’s just so hard to eat when you’re hot.  Funny thing is, I climbed from the desert floor and now my fingers are freezing up here in the mountain.  It’s crazy the diversity of this trial, and crazier that i’m reaching such heights via my own two legs.  My calves are shot.  I couldn’t go much further once I found the campsite at mile 238.  It’ll be interresting to see how they feel tomorrow.

Hi Everyone! It’s Anna with an update.

Ron had lunch yesterday (mile 152) at the PCT-famous Paradise Corner Cafe west of the trail. He really seems to be “roughing” it in this picture, doesn’t he? =) Sounds like a well-deserved good meal though – he is still plagued with aching feet. The owner of the Cafe was expecting Ron – seems his reputation precedes him!

He told me a funny story about aggressive cows on the trail. I thought he might have embellished the tale, until I read this alert on the PCTA website from another hiker: “On 3-8-12 I was attacked by about 35 cows south of Eagle Rock.”  Hope Ron’s version of the story makes it into his journal!

For those of you following on the map, today he is detouring around Mt. San Jacinto because of snow and ice conditions. He doesn’t have his snow gear and ice ax with him at this point in the trip. Next stop Idyllwild. According to the guide, that means SHOWER, laundry and grocery store for some fresh food.

This just in! Mile 164 - Mt. San Jacinto! (Photo sent at 4:22pm on April 17, 2012)

PCT Journal Day 7 – Warner Springs – PCT Mile 109.6 – 8.5 Miles hiked – 1.1 mile to P.O.

-What a BEAUTIFUL green valley I found myself stolling through.  Carl got a short jump on me but I quickly caught up to him. There’s a photo I want to get at Eagle Rock – Mile 106, but I’d have to get to the P.O in Warner Springs, get a prop my friend Gary mailed me, then head back to the Eagle, all in all an 8 mile round trip, then get back to the P.O. for my 2 p.m. ride….That didnt’ happen.

-Just before I reached the end of the trail, I met 3 fire fighters all dressed up in their gear with packs full of hoses.  They mentioned what a nice day it is, and I replied “I see I’m not the only one dressed odd for a hike today”… we laughed, they were cool, and on their way.

-Todays hike was a breeze after yesterday, and very little climbing… Love it.

- I picked up my 4 boxes, sorted through stuff and mailed back my flip-flops and inflatable matress (that was a hard thing to do, but extra weight… I’ll have it mailed back to Kennedy Meadows before i head into the snow… well high altitude and cold, as well as snow)

-Many people stopping into the P.O. told us of snow and rain on the way.  This doesn’t sound good.

-Carls parents, Diana and Fritz, who I met on the trail, day 3, drove us to a motel just outside of Julian.  It was cheap and had limited wi-fi so that was good enough for me.  The room – Pink with olive green tastled drapes and beadspread.  Wow… THis is roughing it.  3 channels on the TV, which is good, so it won’t distract me…

-Hours on line with lots of disconnects, unable to get my hotspot working on my phone has left me a bit frustrated.  I can’t go through this time consuming process every resupply…. I’ll have to figure something out.

- a nap – dinner from across the street (2 pizzas) – more work on photos, and tomorrow i’ll see what’s up – there’s a bad storm rolling in, but I don’t want to spend more money or time off the trail… Still so much to do on line… Grrrrr…. But again, after a 24 mile day, I could use some down time….