May 15th – Return to Rancho Cucamonga
From Silverwood Lake to Cajon Pass the trail climbs over Cleghor Ridge and then down through sandstone “badlands” sculpted by wind and water.
The fires of 2003 had scorched the first half of this section. Subsequently, unstable soil had eroded very badly in several gullys, sloughing off steeps sides where the trail had been. Some careful side steppping, balancing and climbing in and out of washes over loose sand were needed in several places.
In the latter stages, the walk went through areas burned several years before, showing signs of regeneration, but in all, most of the 13 miles to Cajon Pass was pretty desolate. In the last several miles the land had also been more heavily touched by man, crossing a couple of high voltage power lines several times, a gas pipeline and mainenance roads for both utilities. Signs of old grazing allotments, jeep tracks and proximty to the highway as well as train tracks made for an area not so pristine. During the day we passed “Steady” Ned and hiked for a while with “[rue” and her dog “[imber” ([??).
On the skyline, Mt San Antonio draws ever closer and our climb up the blue ridge looms just ahead in our near future.
For now we will meet our friend Randi and return to Ranch Cucamonga for more of her and Charlie’s fine hospitality. Ahhhhhh beer and food……..if you heard the news reports out of LA about some strange brown sludge suddenly apearing in their sewer system; relax, its only a convergence of two thru hikers showering at the same time……..
