Up and moving early, and at a brisk pace too, as there was a chill wind blowing from the north. The trail here takes a detour to avoid a canyon that is a stronghold of the endangered Yellow-legged Mountain Frog. The official detour is a 14-mile loop out to the desert that features a 2000-foot drop then climb. Like most hikers, I took the unofficial detour of a 3 mile roadwalk along the Angeles Crest Highway. 2 cars passed me in those 3 miles.
The trail then follows Buckhorn Creek down into Cooper Canyon, which has a lovely bubbling stream shaded by towering Jeffrey and Sugar Pines. I enjoyed a good cold foot soak, and then tanked up – the next reliable water is reputed to be at the Mill Valley Ranger Station, 20 miles distant.
Cooling off at Buckhorn Creek
I carried 4L of water up the hot dusty climb out of the canyon and back to the highway, which the trail repeatedly crossed over the next 5 miles.
The trail also passes by several youth and church camps. Brother Dave is on the Board of some of these and will look into getting them involved with some trail hospitality – providing water along this dry stretch would be a real service.
Another 6 or 7 miles down Sulfur Canyon and I called it a day at an apparently abandoned Forest Service campground. EasyStrider was there and Jamie from Scotland soon appeared. As there were fire grates and the evening was chilly, we built a small campfire and had an enjoyable conversation over shots of whiskey, making for a most enjoyable evening.