Wild West Pacific Crest Trail Section hikers and backpackers

PCT - Paradise Valley Cafe HWY 74 to Cedar Springs “Option A" Out/Back 24 miles/2 days. "Option B" to continue NoBo and exit at Spitler Peak junction. "Option C" to Saddle Junction (2 night, 3 day option) - see comments.

Day 1 - Saturday January 18th - meet at 07:30am at PCT mile 151.8 (elev. 4922) on HWY 74 just one mile down the road from Paradise Valley Cafe in Anza. Turn into parking area, enough space for 12 vehicles, no parking permit needed.
12 miles total hiking. Will be hiking NoBo on the PCT to Cedar Springs Junction mile 162.7 (elevation 6429) then turning “right” down one mile to Cedar Spring. Wonderful camping in the forest with water source.

Day 2 - Sunday January 19th (option A)
Hike back out to vehicles- 12 miles.

Day 2 - Sunday January 20th (option B) *weather/conditions permitting*
Continue NoBo onto and exit at Spitler Peak (alternate exit route)
One mile up from Cedar Spring campsite, we rejoin the PCT at mile 162.7 and hike NoBo past the Forbes Ranch Trail junction (m.166) and an additional 2 miles to Spliter Trail junction (m.168.5) and exit the PCT (7 miles to this point) and down Spliter Trail junction to Apple Canyon Road trail head which is 4.7 miles long. Total miles for Sunday is approx 12 miles.
*Saturday 06:30am - we will need to stage a car or two at Apple Canyon Road, and give rides back to Paradise Valley Cafe (PCT junction parking lot at mile 151.8). Please indicate if you are willing to stage at Apple Canyon Road, gravel parking lot on the right by trail head (just south before the junction with Bonita Vista Road).
Micro-spikes recommended if there is snow on trail.

Be self sufficient with maps, GPS maps and apps., water report at www.pctwater.com (http://www.pctwater.com/)
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Please note that this is not a guided trip, it is a meet up. We are amateur hikers and do not have any outdoor leadership; navigation; safety; rescue; or first aid training or knowledge. You are solely responsible for your own safety and return (see waiver below).
DISCLAIMER: I consider Safety to be the most important part of any event. However, there are inherent risks in any activity. By signing up as a member of “Wild West Pacific Crest Trail - Section hikers and backpackers” and attending any event hosted by this group, you are agreeing to abide by the terms of the disclaimer. Be aware that organizers and event hosts are not tour guides and are not paid. They are not trained in any rescue procedures nor do they carry emergency medical supplies. You assume the same risks and must take the same precautions you would take if you were alone. You may be screened for compatibility with other group members and your ability to complete any particular event; nonetheless, each person who signs up for a trip/hike/or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests. By signing up for and/or attending any of this group's events, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that these activities can be dangerous and could cause bodily injury or death. The organizers of this group and current or former members are not responsible or liable in any way. All attendees participate at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage or injury to their property, themselves or their guests. This group, its organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers, and members are not responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur carpooling to and from this event, or for any injuries or accidents incurred before, during, and after this event. By signing up for any of this group's events, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer, and that you and your family knowingly and voluntarily agree to not bring any type of claim against the organizers or any members of this Meetup group, past or present.

The Weight of Freedom.
Hammer shifted the pack higher on his shoulders and took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air. At 56 years old, he had spent the better part of his life stuck behind a desk, letting the world pass him by while he poured over spreadsheets and negotiated contracts. But not anymore.
He had quit his job six months ago, selling his overly large house and putting what he didn't need in storage. For the first time in over thirty years, he was free. Free from the golden handcuffs of his corporate job. Free from the burdens of mortgages, zoning laws, and homeowner's association fees. Free to explore and live on his own terms.
His sabbatical had begun with a walking tour through Italy, following the footsteps of ancient Romans. Then he had gone diving off the Australian coast, swimming alongside massive whale sharks and drifting over kaleidoscopic coral reefs. But those were just the appetizers. This backpacking trip into the Sierra Nevada Mountains was the main course.
The trail rose before him, yellow arrows indicating the path as it switchbacked up the mountainside. The meadow he had just crossed was already falling away below him, the wildflowers becoming a colorful carpet in the distance. His calves burned from the steady uphill grind, but he felt more alive than he had in decades.
By midday, he crested a ridge and the entire world seemed to unfold before him in a panorama of rugged, snow-capped peaks. A few whispy clouds drifted across an endless sky of blue. In the stillness, he could hear the trickle of a stream tumbling over rocks and the high-pitched call of a pika somewhere among the boulders.
He stopped for a snack, pulling off his pack and settling back against it to take in the view. As he munched on a protein bar, he watched a hawk effortlessly riding the updrafts in ever-widening circles. He was struck by how light he felt, as if he could simply leap into the air and join the raptor on its journey across the heavens.
The pack that had been weighing so heavily on his shoulders just hours ago now felt like a mere inconvenience. The true weight he had been carrying was the burden of responsibilities, expectations, and regrets that had piled up over his years in the working world. Out here, surrounded by beauty and quiet, those burdens had fallen away, leaving him feeling unburdened and at peace.
He lingered for over an hour, lulled into a state of deep contentment by the warmth of the sun on his face and the gentle breeze ruffling his hair. When he finally did shoulder his pack again, it was with a renewed sense of lightness and wonder. There was still so much more trail ahead of him, so many more vistas to take in and explore. And he had all the time and freedom in the world.