Day 25: Trainspotting

Best Western hotel at Cajon Pass - windy ridge of San Gabriel mountains
Mile 342 - 356
Total 14 miles

After a good sleep I stayed at the hotel until 11:00 am checkout time, enjoying hot breakfast, hot tea, cold swimming pool and hot tub with other hikers. A well deserved rest day!

But it's time to head back on the trail. At lunch at Del Taco I caught up with Cleansweep - a very good hiker because just like me, he picks up and takes the rubbish that some forgetful hikers forgot on trail - and higher up in shade Cleansweep and his buddy Toasty catch up again with me.

Through the Cajon Pass long diesel power cargo trains go in both directions, many of them with 3 pull locomotives, a push locomotive, and 100 double decker container cars.

After climbing on narrow ridges we cross the San Andreas Fault - an active rift zone where tectonic plates are moving.

The following climb up to the ridge of the San Gabriel mountains is one of the most rewarding climbs on the PCT. The PCT climbs gradually along the steep hillsides, and with every switchback new views open down into the pass and valleys. The busy interstate and railroad are deep below.

The weather is pleasant and cool as evening approaches. I hike late into the night, watching bright lights of San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and other big cities in the distance. The slopes are steep and there are hardly any places to crush. Finally I found a little flat spot up on a cold windy ridge. A few other hikers have pitched their tents on the ridge and are already in deep sleep. I just huddle in my sleeping bag with all clothes on as the full moon rises on the horizon. It is 10 pm, long after hiker midnight.