PCT from I-15 to 3N31

[Elwood]

Still skunked from the Angeles, I decided to bite off another chunk of PCT. I exited I-15 onto Cleghorn Fire Road, followed North Cajon Blvd to the Santa Fe (Railway) Fire Road, crossed the tracks twice, and parked at the clearing near the PCT crossing. The trail climbs to a ridge that carries around to the south slope of Ralston, just above Swarthout Canyon Road. It then descends, crosses the road and climbs to 5179' where it crosses 3N29. The PCT continues its climb, remaining on the north side of Upper Lytle Creek Ridge until it crosses 3N31 at 6293' It was a bit on the warm side to be at such low altitude, but beggars can't choosers. I saw a canopy, tent, coolers, chairs, pop-up, and pickup of a group of (presumably) car campers up on 3N31, before continuing to my turnaround point. This was slightly off-trail overlooking Stockton Flat. Over the course of ~ 10.5 hours on the trail I saw approximately 0.0 other hikers, ahhhh the solitude!



Mormon Rocks early in the morning.


A couple of Odocoileus Hemionus went springing uphill as I passed by.


These strange brown trees grow all over this area.


I can't even guess... down on 2N87 somewhere.


Are those storage bunkers, tunnels, or some preparation for armageddon in the hillside?


Looking WNW up Swarthout Canyon Road.


Pacific Crest Trail marker after crossing Swarthout Canyon Road.


What would a hike in the San Gabriels be without this fine foliage?


Junction of Lone Pine Canyon Road and Swarthout Canyon Road.


Lookout and relay tower near San Sevaine flat.


The big sweep in I-15 past Cajon Junction.


The north Devil's Backbone seen from the PCT.


Tighter view of north Devil's Backbone (Baldy, Dawson, Pine).


We are not alone, or firebreaks gone wild.


Relaxing on the 6410' ridge ~ .65 miles SE of Gobbler's Knob.


South Devil's Backbone overlooking infamous survival training camp.


Ralston Peak from up high on the PCT.


Juvenile C. L. Lateralis or ?


Juvenile Phrynosoma. The cutest horned lizard I've seen to date.


Pacific Crest Trail meets 3N29.


The bustling freeway that is Swarthout Canyon Road.


My Jeep is the tiny green speck on the clearing, left of the train tracks.


Suspension insulator strings, aeolian dampers and corona rings for those of us interested in power transmission.


Steel culvert that carries PCT under BNSF tracks.


GPS track and elevation profile; I'm skeptical about the cumulative elevation gain.

[edenooch]

Odocoileus Hemionus
Nice birds eye view...That would have been good sniping position for taco...

And why is there a red tape on the hiker badge on the PCT sign....

[mattmaxon]

why is there a red tape on the hiker badge on the PCT sign....

A good many Mtn Bikers think the PCT should be open to bikes....

Matt

[Taco]

Stockton Flat Secret Training Base FTW!

So, in that picture, it says no bikes, but no hikers as well? Huh?

[Hikin_Jim]

Odocoileus Hemionus
Nice birds eye view...That would have been good sniping position for taco...

And why is there a red tape on the hiker badge on the PCT sign....

Clearly this trail is for horses and cameras alone. Cameras must be on their own; hikers not allowed.


Secret survival training camp? Would that be for the dreaded Al Taco terrorist network? I hear that Esbit cubes can be used as a substitute for C-4...

[Taco]

Esbits are too hard to start sometimes to HEY JIM, you're gonna get me in trouble...

I gotta get one of them automaton cameras.

[MtnMan]

Nice, although I think you need a pedicure.

[Hikin_Jim]

And why is there a red tape on the hiker badge on the PCT sign....

Allow me to explain. This is OK:

This is not OK:

Any questions?

[EnFuego]

Nice TR. I like your pictures. Some strange stuff out there, especially the tunnels and the (possible) bunkers.