Off trail. Julian, CA.
Got into Julian via Trail Angel — someone who drives back and forth between the trail and town every hour during peak season, at no charge.
In town I ran into someone I already knew from the trail. I mentioned I needed new gaiters — mine had been held down with two small cords, and all four had snapped within two days. I’d trusted that a shop specialising in hiking gear would know what they were selling. That was my mistake. The other hiker happened to want to get rid of a pair — no cord system, a different attachment. They handed them over. That’s how it works out here.
Slept at the American Legion. It’s a veterans’ club — this one is open to the public. Ten dollars gets you a cot and access to power. Not a bad deal. There were about fifteen hikers in total; the ones without cots slept on the floor.
Spent most of the two days on admin and resupply. Couldn’t find nuts anywhere — turned out I’d been looking in the wrong place. There’s a shop that sells only candy, nuts, and alcohol. Went there, found what I needed, left with more than planned. Combined with the energy bars I’d already bought, I’m now carrying a significant amount of food. The pack handles it fine. My knee is bothering me a bit. Bought a compression sleeve. Same issue I had on my last hike in Switzerland. Getting used to walking a lot takes some time.
Also picked up a pack that attaches to my backpack — for my phone, replacing the hip pack I’d been using. The hip pack bent against my body and I wanted it for snacks anyway. The new one fits its purpose better and should be more waterproof. Verdict still pending, but so far so good. Also a glasses cord — my frames were slightly too large and kept sliding forward. Problem solved.
Dinner on the first evening was at Julian Beer Company with a few people from the trail. BBQ pizza with a lot of meat. It was sweet instead of savoury — I’m still not sure what to make of that. It was large, which I appreciated. Expensive by US standards. Reasonable by Swiss ones.
Bought freeze-dried hiker food for the first time to try — add boiling water, eat from the packet. 1,300 calories at the same weight that would otherwise give you only 500. I understand the appeal but won’t be switching — fourteen to fifteen dollars a meal is too much. Sticking with rice packets and tortillas. Bought a one-kilogram pack of tortillas — ten very large ones, each roughly the size of a small pizza. I felt this was necessary. I stand by that.
Also saw a bear warning sign and briefly wondered whether I needed a bear canister. Decided probably not. Not yet.
Back on trail tomorrow. Fourteen miles to the next water. Five litres should be enough.
Photos — April 17 & 18
