PCT: leftover Cajon Pass to Wrights Peak done, sitting in Wrightwood

Yesterday I hiked the 16.2 miles from Swarthout Cyn Rd (a few miles
west of Cajon
pass) up the hill to Wrights Peak above Wrightwood.  It was quite a
scenic climb, nice cool, windy weather that made it much more pleasant
than the hot weather last year that caused me to decide to skip it for
the time being then.

Saw three snakes along the way - fist a very colorful ringsnake I think -

got photos and video, then some drab unidentifid snake that slinked off before I

could get my camera ready, then a small rattlesnake that very noisily
bounced around like a spring, lunging at me several times - needless

to say I didn't manage to capture that action, as I was busy jumping back.
It finally slinkered off and I got a photo of that.

I slept at the top, had minimal clothes with me but had my sleeping

bag and biv sack - I stuffed that with pine needles to be a bit

warmer in the brisk wind going on all night.  Chose a spot with
spectacular view to the east over Cajon Pass,  Got sunrise photos in
the morning, with the whole area blanketed with fog.  Hiked the last
2.5 miles down to Wrightwood this morning.

Today I need to download some GPS tracklogs and photos, buy some more
foil packs of tuna, salmon and/or chicken, for the next few day's
dinners on the trail, then head to Walker Pass area to scout around a
bit to verify I can leave my car there, and see what the hills are
like on my bike route from Walker Pass to Inyokern - if too much
uphill, I think I'll arrrange to have the bus pick me up at the bottom
of hwy 178 where it intersects the bus route on hwy 14 (I think thats
the #.)  When I talked to the bus system person dbyesterday they said
I could do that.  I'll need to arrange that today because I'd be
wanting to catch the 7:30-ish AM run.  I'll probably try to leave my
bicycle at the bottom of hwy 178 before I catch the bus, to avoid
having to drag that around.  (Would leave my backpack there the night
before as well, so I won't have to bicycle with it on.

So, this is the weekend I hoped to catch up with that CNPS event near
Big Pine.  I'll be on the trail to Walker Pass instead.

Yesterday I tried using the Teva sandals that I also had bought about
a month ago and did some hiking in.  They are rather tight and
non-adjustable for just wearing around, but for hiking they work quite
well.  My feet felt better in them than in the boots that I still plan
to return to REI.  So, yeah, my blisters seem to have healed, and my
hip is "stable" at the moment - just taking it easy on the
"heavy-impact-stepping" - practicing a "springy" gait, especially
downhill.  I think that's helping to avoid developing knee problems as
well.