April 24& 25:

The next couple days of my hike I spent at Lake Moreno at the AZDPCTKO, which stands for Annual Zero Day Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off (quite a mouthful) or simply "kick off".

Held at the Lake Moreno campground, it's similar to Trail Days on the AT. There are vendors for people who are rethinking their gear after the first 20 miles, or for people who forgot things. There is a shakedown tent for people with 55 pound packs who need help deciding what stays and what goes. Theoretically, hikers can obtain permits here, either for the thru- hike ( though those were gone a couple months ago) or fire permits ( but since it's a drought year, there are fire bans on California and Oregon).

Always welcome is the free food- bagel breakfasts, burrito dinners, coffe and hot chocolate and Gatorade and lemonade throughout the day. ( since it was raining and in the 50s while I was there, he hot chocolate was greatly appreciated).

The there are the lectures. Much of what hikers need to know- leave-no-trace camping, the water situation, and more information about poop than ANYONE ever needs to know.

The best are the lectures by the biologists. Just about the most entertaining thing in the world is watching a scientist talk about their chosen field of study, whether it be bear behavior, flora and fauna of the high desert, glial cell changes in both Alzheimer's and post concussive patients, or mollusk adhesive protein. The scientist eyes light up, they become really animated, they start talking faster and faster, and more and scientifically- never knowing that nobody else on earth (1) is nearly as excited about this topic as they are or (2) has any idea what they are talking about. Hey- it's all good! Plus now I know how to differentiate between different cacti and how to respond to Bears.

I ran into 3 AT thru hikers from 2013- Winterbourne and Frodo, and Carbon. I had lunch withCarbon and reminisced a bit.

By the middle of day 2, though, several of us were starting to get itchy feet, so we took off int the late afternoon so as to avoid the rush to get back on the trail. We put in about 6 miles and were able to set up at the Boulder Creek Campgroundbefore it started raining again.

YOGA AT THE KICK OFF

OFF TO A GOOD START

Kristen O Connell is the founder and executive director of Devoted to Children. Kristen and I went to high school together and competed together on the gymnastics team. However, after high school, we both went our separate ways and I hadn't had contact with her since graduation.


Thanks to the magic of Facebook, I reconnected with Kristen right around high school reunion time (as so often happens). I learned that Kristen was now a yoga instructor and living in Costa Rica.( Let's be honest, that sounds pretty freaking fabulous! )


I also learned about how Kristen had traveled to Haiti on a volunteer trip and afterward had started an orphanage in collaboration with a Haitian man she had met on her trip. I learned of her ongoing efforts of fundraising and  expansion of the D2C mission beyond the original orphanage and into the surrounding community. 


Then I learned about the volunteer SEVA trips that D2C had started, not only for fundraising purposes, but also to give others a chance to become more involved in the D2C family and goals. In November 2014, I reconnected with Kristen in real life.


I believe that we all, in life, strive to make a difference in this world, whatever way we can. Sometimes that entails creating something wonderful and new. Other times, it comes in the form of connecting with another who has already created something wonderful and offering your support to that cause. I feel so lucky I have had the opportunity to support this great cause.


To learn more about Kristen's story, watch to video below.


To contribute to my HikeFor campaign for Devoted to Children, click on the COOL CAUSES tab above or click here. 

Day one was a wonderful start to thetrail. About 30 of us started at the Mexico border. It was weird hikingwithborder patrol helicopters overhead.

The first 14 miles were steady, gradual climbs to the rocky ridges filled with brush and flower and the occasional cactus

After mile 14, we had a steep descent to a meadow with cottonwood trees. Many people from the group ended up camping here for the nite at Hauser Creek campsite. (Nice spot!)

I wa ahead of the pack with Victor ( young guy from Colorado with a super lightweight pack. He was very fast and light. He lost us about mile 16) and Steve (retired schoolteacher with a heavier pack. I list him around mile 17)

After the campsite, we had a 1200 or so foot climb over the mountain in the middle distance in the above photo. It's pretty clear that this is NOT the AT- the trail snaked its way up the mountain for 4 miles. ( the AT would have gone straight up) definitely different.

Then the trail dipped down about 400 feet to Lake Moreno- site of the PCT kickoff celebration.

I was quite pleased with the 20 waterless miles in 9 hours with 6 liters carried. Though once I got to the campground in Lake Moreno, I realized how tired I was! I bought a cheeseburger at the campground and was too tired to eat it! ( don't worry- I took it onto the tent with me and ate it in the middle of the night)

So far, this is looking like a great time.

Peace, love and trail magic!

During the planning process, as I stressed out over hiking in the desert….

Typical plants encountered in this section of trail vary between the scrub and chaparral in the lower elevations, and the coniferous trees in higher elevation. Probably the most talked about plant in this section of trail is the infamous poodle bush. A tall shrub, the poodle bush tends to thrive after wild fires, and in arid environments. It sports large bright purple flowers that can reach up to 10 feet tall. If you are like me, you may be tempted to pick bunches of these flowers and use them to decorate your backpack or perhaps make a crown to parade around in. Fortunately, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, USDA Forest Service, and California Botanic Garden Association anticipate foolish people like myself and have posted a myriad of websites warning of the danger of trying to pet the poodle bush as if it's an actual poodle. Touching this plant will result in a blistering rash, similar to the rashes from poison ivy or poison oak. So there will be no garlands for me in Southern California.

The wildlife in this section includes lizards,snakes, rodents, coyotes, and cougars (I assume of both the quadruped and bi-ped variety). Though most people go into the hike most fearful of rattle snakes, the comments I have been reading on the web forums seem to indicate that the biggest wildlife threat in this section is mice. I shall be taking an odor-proof/ chew proof bag for my food storage and taking the same stance with animals as I do with the poodle bush-- no touchy-touchy!

My 4 year old nephew, Blake, informed me that I should not be going into the desert, because there is not water and there are snakes. "You should not go where there are snakes" he said. I admit, in the weeks prior to the beginning of the hike, I was apt to agree. But you never know what something is going to be like until you try it. So I'm trying it.

I'll keep you all informed as to how it is!