Tall spiky flower=yucca. Lavender flowered bush=ceanothus. Big bush with shiny leaves, pink flowers=lemonade berry, tree/bush with red bark=manzanita. All natives! You’re in a plant community called chaparral. And that was a ground squirrel! Thanks for the fun video.
I'd also say that one of the other dominant plants in the chaparral is laurel sumac. Shiney relatively dark green leaves that are almost folded like taco shells. If you pick a laurel sumac leaf off the bush and crush it in your hand, it has an almost turpentine smell.
LOVE watching you hike the PCT. You and Roadrunner are so fun to watch. You guys have a perfect balance of the scenery and trail life. Good luck to you and wishing you the best for a SAFE hike.
“Feeling very accomplished this morning , and feeling like this is maybe the sign, I’m claiming the PCT as home” 😂😂😂😂😅 Nothing more comforting than a 12 inch cat hole! 😂😂😂😅😅😅
I did half the PCT in 2015 when I was 19 years old. I love seeing the new hikers each year on RU-vid, and to be honest I don't recognize most of it. Still planning on doing the second half in the future
New subscriber here! I watched Roadrunners AT blogs which is how I found you. I would love to hike a long trail like this. I’m living vicariously through you two, so thank you for your time in sharing!
Yay! The dynamic duo! Love watching your channel and I am looking forward to following along to see what the PCT is like! Beautiful scenery on Day 1. Ugh sorry to hear that you bumped into that branch of the tree! Hopefully the pain was short lived! Also I hope Roadrunner's ankle is better! I know that from her first video she twisted it so hopefully she is okay too!
I hope you two have a great hike! 4:30 is a blooming Chaparral Yucca. Yuccas and Agaves are in the same family as asparagus. Can you tell? That's Chamise (sha-mees, Adenostoma fasciculatum) behind it. It's *everywhere* as it's the primary indicator of southern California chaparral. 5:00 is Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata) in the Sumac family. 5:10 Prickly pear (probably Opuntia phaeacantha, but most look alike). 5:10 Cane cholla (choy-ah, Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri). The rail line is the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway, dating back to 1906. It's active on weekends. 6:32 Chaparral Whitethorn (Ceanothus leucodermis, be careful, big thorns!). 6:44 lots of Chamise! A closeup at 8:07. Soon they will be covered in masses of minute white rose flowers. 8:39 White sage (Salvia apiana). 12:21 Again, this is a type of Mediterranean shrubland called chaparral. Most of the PCT in California is in chaparral, even in much of the Sierra, but especially in southern California. 12:47 California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi). You got your head whacked by a manzanita. This looks like Mexican Manzanita. You also see Bigberry and Eastwood Manzanita out there.
0:20 You look like you are in the Sierras. Wearing what looks like about 4 layers. Isn't this the warm desert section? Yes....welcome to California and the PCT. Enjoy all the water and greenery(beware poison oak and ticks). It's typically just dry, dusty and dust colored until you get to the San Jacinto's.
So interesting to see your hike from you and your partner’s different perspectives. No matter what start date you pick, a lot of people who have permits just don’t show up. Also, hikers start at different times during the day or night. I think you do look very handsome in your sun hat. I need one of those for my boyfriend Steve. Glad you are enjoying the PCT.
LOL @ "feeling accomplished this morning". FYI true catholes are supose to be 1'x1'x1'! At least that is what they thought us in the Marine Corps. :) Great job on day one, except for the head bump for You and ankle roll for Roadrunner.
Hi Lil' Chap! Yay for Day 1. Love the details in your video (without being overly wordy) - like the road the to right when the trail first starts... we never saw that in videos before. Love the Lazy Hiker stickers on your water bottles! Happy Trails you 2! -- Chica & Sunsets
Nice day 1 on the PCT, Now let's not have any more injuries.. The little rodent of some kind was pretty fast maybe Roadrunner could have caught him. I'm really looking forward to following along on your hike. Hike~~On~~>
For the PCT hiking with "Roadrunner", I think swapping your trail name to "Wily Coyote" would be fitting... Beep Beep... you will be always chasing her down... 🤣
Follow several thru-hikers every year and you and Roadrunner on my list, but will probably switch between rather than watch every video of both. Switch to PCT from AT because of Frozen (Outdoor Adventure) for this year.
Great first day!!! So excited to follow along! I feel sure you both have sunscreen? Love the sun hoodies and accessories but definitely apply sunscreen as well. This will be epic! Boots north!
Subscribed. Looking forward to following you and Roadrunner. A question ... is your trail name related to the character in Steven King's Gunslinger series? If so, Roadrunner needs to be careful 😀.
I got your video before Roadrunners. You started on my birthday! Your phone is taking real clear video, I don’t know if it helps that the air is so dry out there. The attachment on your hat doesn’t look bad , makes you look like a desert sheik.
