1203. Catalina port-o-calling
Avalon, CA
8 Dec 2021

Perhaps few letterboxers would think about hiking the Trans Catalina Trail while just on a day trip or cruise ship port-of-call to Catalina Island. However, most folks landing at the pier in Avalon might be surprised to find out that almost as soon as they disembark and turn right towards downtown Avalon they are actually walking along the TCT anyway! Just pop into the Catalina Nature Conservancy at the Trailhead store (mile point zero) on the left to get a feel for the "big picture" of the 38.5 mile trail layout and maybe sign up for a permit, like we did, if you want to go more that a couple of miles out onto the "dusty trail".

You won't need a permit, though, to get the little "travelin' light" stamp that we left very close to the start of the "dusty" part of the trail. Simply curve right a couple of blocks on the main road into town, then turn left on Sumner for a mile or so, going gently up the paved road past the country club on the left and Hermit Gulch campground on the right. Immediately past that at the trailhead gate, take about 100 steps right to the sign that states "No Bikes". Face the part of the sign that has an arrow pointing right with the words: "Permit required. Wilderness area. Watch for rattlesnakes." From that point, simply cut back diagonally left about a dozen steps, and look on the left side of a 2-3' chunky rock. There under the first slightly smaller of two 3-4" stones is where we left a thin gray oval 1" stone with "Catalina" on back!

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