_JFR_:
3622 Vicki dropped me off at Mission Creek Preserve, avoiding the Whitewater River crossing
_JFR_:
3639 I finally got to use the back hatch tent as it was super-hot at the Mission Creek Preserve
_JFR_:
3640 The Napier SUV tent worked great at letting in plenty of air that night in the hot desert
_JFR_:
3644 The next morning Vicki headed back to San Diego and I was ready to start hiking the PCT
_JFR_:
3647 The trail heading north from the Mission Creek Preserve, following Mission Creek, of course
_JFR_:
3672 I climbed up on an old concrete water collection structure along the side of Mission Creek
_JFR_:
3680 I didn't realize that the road along Mission Creek ended up on Private Property - sorry, but I trespassed
_JFR_:
3686 Other hikers avoiding the dangerous flow on the Whitewater River had come this way to reach the PCT
_JFR_:
3692 The dirt road crossed Mission Creek two more times and I was able to hop across with dry shoes
_JFR_:
3701 That wooden post marks the turn off for the Pacific Crest Trail at mile 226 - Time to meet more hikers!
_JFR_:
3702 By following the dirt road I was able to avoid climbing up and over this ridge - much easier on a hot day
_JFR_:
3704 It felt good to be back on the PCT, even though I had about 6000 feet to climb over the next thirty miles!
_JFR_:
3707 I reached the first creek crossing and decided to wear liner socks in crocs to keep the sand out of my toes
_JFR_:
3710 Looking north up Mission Creek - I had a long hike ahead of me - it would take me two days
_JFR_:
3716 Met a fellow hiker taking a boot-off break at a crossing of Mission Creek at PCT mile 227
_JFR_:
3717 There were so many crossings of Mission Creek in the next mile or two that I left my crocs and socks on
_JFR_:
3723 This crossing had some logs across the creek but I didn't care and walked over in my crocs
