Got up and saw the leavers off again, before my final pack up. Larry ‘Commander’ Bevins arrived as planned at 8.30am and we had a pleasant drive to the trailhead with Larry pointing out landmarks and occasional glimpses of the trail as we went. He graciously refused any payment for the petrolI couldn’t quite believe it when I arrived at the monument, an exposed spot with high winds and the barbed wire of the Mexican border behind.I donned my Calum’s Cabin and BLF gear for the obligatory photos.

Soon found a small group to walk with which was crucial because my water filter is buggered! The filter won’t work if it is frozen, and unwittingly I put it in the hold of the aircraft! At least I think that’s what happened. But as always, the trail provides and I used another lad’s filter.The weather was excellent, not too hot at all and water was unusually plentiful.It turns out I’m not the only one with a little mascot…

Well, the time for prevarication is over. I packed up my ice axe and crampons for shipping to Idyllwild and purposefully marched to the post office.

The machine for sending parcels was out of charge….. so the time for prevarication was back! A nice Starbucks later I returned to successfully send the package.

Now the reason for this is that, rather unusually for this time of year, the San Jacinto mountains are still snow covered. While it may be gone when I arrive in a week or two, I can’t be sure. If it has gone, I’ll forward the package 500 miles to Kennedy Meadows, the gateway to the Sierra mountains.

A bowl of clam chowder later (I was in full scale avoidance mode), headed back and packed my sack to make sure all was fitting well. I then got ‘Guy on a Buffalo’ to give me a pack shakedown, he was ruthless so I sent some stuff straight to Kennedy Meadows as well.

Had some great conversations with former PCT through-hikers, who are below 😁

I won’t explain the trail names, except this one …

Guy on a Buffalo

I also saw the most impressive butterfly

Picked up from the hostel by Scout himself. Great chat while picking up others and back to the house for an orientation.

Unpacked the packages I had sent here (a few bits and pieces that were cheaper to send here).

Pretty jetlagged still, but stayed up for a fantastic meal by ‘Nom Nom’ (Everyone has trail names; I haven’t earned mine yet). After some washing up retired to bed.

22 hours later and I arrived in San Diego. Given my experiences clearing passport control in New York I booked a 7.30pm (ish) train from LA to San Diego. As it happened, I got through in about 5 minutes! So a quick hop on the coach to Union Station and a quick change of ticket had me hurtling towards the Pacific Surfliner 4.08pm departure.

Staff on the train were great, plied me with snacks and wine, and there was coffee on tap! I could have listened to the train announcer for days, lovely accent.

Lucky D’s hostel was my destination, cheap and friendly.

Today, getting picked up for a drive to Scout & Frodo’s, and trying to stay awake at the correct times …

Thanks everyone for the good wishes!

The sheep, not the beer!

Well, packed up and on the train to London tomorrow. Nervous and sad to be leaving Fleur but sort of excited….

Kit ready to be packed, minus a few odds and ends mailed directly to Scout and Frodo’s.

Anticipating plenty of snow this year on the PCT, I enrolled on a short Winter Skills course at Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms. It is a two day course and, as luck would have it, I chose the two warmest February days in recorded history to do it!

I was very nervous but the whole place had a great atmosphere. The participants were great and the instructors excellent. We practiced step kicking and cutting, self belay, crampon use, daggering and self-arrest – and probably more I can’t remember. It was so good I plan to go back next year for the 5 day version.