TCT: Day 4

Trans-Catalina Trail: Day 4

8/14/2022

San Pedro - Two Harbors - Parson’s Landing Campground

Miles hiked: 7.6 mi

Elevation gained: 698 ft (0 - 234 - 0)

Animals seen: free-loading seagulls

Elevation chart created on AllTrails.com

---

Catalina part deux hit us with another early morning to meet the first ferry. As we pulled up to the ferry terminal a large REI van was unloading gear for a very large group. The ferry to Two Harbors was busy, lots and lots of campers. There is a campground in town, so our hope was everyone was going there and not bustling down the trail. My thoughts on the ride to Catalina were apprehensive. Maroon Bells left me questioning my desire to continue backpacking. Our reservations for this trip had been made prior to that soul crushing adventure and I am not one to leave something unfinished. This trip would hopefully bring some clarity, whether backpacking was still fun and if its something to continue pursuing. Big burden for a little island trail.

We gathered our packs at the dock, Yoda had been left at home. Being just an overnight trip, I decided to try and condense my gear to my usual daypack, nickname pending. While it was packed to the brim, the smaller size made me feel more mobile. Jake will never ditch his big pack and it looked rather deflated.

We checked in at the visitor center for our campsite and to get the key to our locker. Parson’s Landing is walk or boat-in only and does not have potable water. Desiring a slack pack trip, we opted for a delivery of 2 gallons of water and some firewood. We filled the water bottles and off we were at 10am.

See ya later Two Harbors

Jake had the great idea to do the loop in reverse, saving the giant climb for tomorrow when we could get an earlier and cooler start. Stay back ladies, this genius is taken. So we took the coastline road as it wound around the island. It was easy walking, with nice views. It was also rather exposed and the temp was creeping in the high 80’s. We took breaks in shade when we could find it and were having a great time cruising along the mostly level road. We only passed a few hiker groups heading back to town, leaving us hiking almost entirely by ourselves.

The road brought us around some private beach campgrounds before turning inland. We wound past a huge boy scout camp right before we turned off on a double track to the campground. We passed a bison gate and were having flashbacks of our last bison encounter. *shudder*

Airing out the pits

We were the first camping group to make it to Parson’s Landing, just in time for a late lunch. Where Little Harbor felt picturesque and idyllic, Parson’s Landing felt raw and wild. The campsite was on the beach surrounded by driftwood and seaweed. It made up for the lack of people in the number of seagulls, just as noisy too. 

We took our time setting up camp while the other camping groups arrived, including the large REI group. Our locker held the promised two gallons of water, firewood and firestarter. We put out Leinie’s food and water and started soaking our dinner (stoveless again!). Seeking respite from the sun, Jake and I lounged in the open door tent while Leinie held watch outside.

Or so we thought. I must’ve dozed off because the next moment, I am startled awake by Jake making a mad scramble to the picnic table. The free-loading seagulls made off with our dinner and all of Leinie’s food. Not a single bark, not a single whine. He laid there and watched the whole thing happen. There is terrier in there, right? Lesson learned.

We took inventory of our remaining stores and decided on what of tomorrow’s snacks would be saved for the hike back and what we could eat for dinner. It would be a stretch but we weren’t far from civilization. We would all be hungry when we reached town tomorrow but not at risk of starving. So we feasted on a dinner of spam, yes all of us, and a dessert of peanuts. I hoped those blasted seagulls enjoyed their tomato chicken florentine.

We lit the fire earlier this time and settled in. We watched until there was only dying embers before dousing it and heading to bed. I’m pretty sure we all wanted to sleep so that we could wake up for brekkie.

---

See all Trans-Catalina Trail posts

---