Sorry for the delay, this day turned out to be just about our last day on the PCT.

A fellow hiker told us about a trail angel that has a place in Warner Springs with a shower and laundry. Whoopi!! We made arrangements a day ahead to stay there tonight.

We broke camp late because we were unsure of exactly what we wanted to do. We knew I could not continue, we talked last night and more this morning, all the different options that we could take. Al could go on alone, I could go home or I could stay and support him on trail. Or we could get off together and figure things out from there. We decided on that option. Now that we knew today could be the last day hiking we had two choices, we could turn around and walk back to the road and hitch or hike ahead on the trail.

We decided to continue hiking ahead because today was the day we would get to Eagle Rock.

We had a small climb starting out and then walked along the edge of the woods bordering a vast field.

At first it looked like a golf course, with small hills and sandy areas but then I saw all the cows. This was pasture land.

I really didn’t take a lot of pictures this day because it was mostly the same view.

I did appreciate the sandy soil, no trip hazards. There were those holes, those mysterious holes all over the place. I have no idea what is down there, Al said snakes, just to freak me out I am sure. I am usually up front and so far I have seen 3 snakes, 3 too many!

Eagle rock is pretty incredible! I am so glad that we got to see that.

We still have a few miles to go before Warner Springs.

It really is a lovely walk from here on. We start to walk beside a stream, among more trees, rolling type hills and Lots of cows.

We pass through another gate, shutting the gates are very important because of the grazing cattle. We arrived at Warner Springs, which has a hiker friendly community center. Inside we find coffee and snacks for purchase. We run into a few people that we know and catch up a bit. The community center is run by volunteers and we ask about a ride to the post office and are told a TA, a trail angel is on his way back now.

We had a package sent from home knowing that we would be arriving here in a few days. He brought us and a couple of others to the post office and small store/gas station in town, about a mile away. We asked if he could also get us to where we were staying for the night, another several miles. The community center is a big fenced in area but no overnight camping is allowed.

The trail angels really are marvelous here. We gave him some cash for the ride which he said he would put into the donation box at the community center.

We arrive at our little place for the night. Sherri calls this little haven the Nest. There are two bunks inside, a washer and dryer, coffee pot and microwave and a little bathroom with a shower. Truly wonderful. She even provided breakfast the next day and drove us into a bigger city, Temecula, 45 minutes away.

I know things didn’t go as we had planned but I truly believe that in life there is a bigger plan running beneath the surface. I know that God is the one in control and sometimes His plan and our plans diverge. We start to realize that once we shift focus and what was really meant to happen all along. Then things just fall into place once we get back into step.

We do actually come back and hike some more on the PCT, more about that later.

Until then, Be Well.

The next day Al went back down for water so we could have extra for the day. It’s a 10 mile hike today before we get to water again.

We will also hit 100 miles today! Yippee!!

Today is much like yesterday. We are walking along a trail on the side of a mountain, In and around corners.

It’s hot today, we are both slathered in sunscreen and wearing gloves and hats. I am surprised by the greenness that I see. The locals say that the streams that we see are just seasonal. Pretty soon things will dry out.

Again we have great weather. It’s incredible that just a few days ago we were clearing snow to set our tent up and now we shedding layers because of the heat and sun.

The views are great I wish I wasn’t having to watch where I’m putting my feet so much that I’m not looking around. I walked right past this cave.

Then I walked right past a couple of people that stood to the side to let me get past. I was so focused on where I was walking that if they hadn’t said something I would have walked right by them. I about jumped off the trail! Scared me!

Part of the reason I’m focused on my feet is that they are starting to become an issue. My feet hurt! It feels like I can’t trust them, my ankles are always twisting and I keep tripping over them. I try to keep this blog light but factual. It’s my letter home to people that I care about and hopefully to people that care about me. So to be honest I’m not sure how much longer I can be doing this.

We made it to down to the cistern and was told trail magic just ahead . We had soda, cookies and oranges.

We decided to hike on, it was still relatively early. We met up with a fellow hiker and chatted for a bit. Then decided to just camp there.

Tonight we will talk about a plan or if we can continue hiking together.

More later, until then, Be Well!

Well we made it the first 2 1/2 miles before camping for the night.

Lots of different cactus to see.

The trail starts up and we wind around curves in the hillside. It’s hard going, this trail is not very wide and parts are slanted at about a 45* degree angle.

We continue climbing knowing our campsite for the night is not that far off.

We get a semi-early start. Had a hot breakfast and tea. The hike is kind of strenuous and mentally taxing because you really can’t see ahead. There is also the scare factor, it’s scary up here!!

The actual trail changes, sometimes rocky sometimes sandy. It also varies in width, sometimes it seems like there’s not even enough room for your feet. The slant is also kind of challenging, sometimes leaning towards the edge!

The elevation also goes up and down, our lowest point was 2977 feet and the highest of the day was 4111 feet. Lots of ups and downs.

We have to carry extra weight in water because there is no natural water for this 11 mile stretch. We are depending on trail angels to provide some.

At the end of the 11 miles is another water cache. This water caches has hundreds of bottles of water. Trail angels make sure that there is always water here because otherwise we would have to go another 10 miles before there is water again. We make it to where the water cache is, it’s .4 miles off trail, all down hill. You know what that means, after you fill all your bottles you have to lug them all Uphill!!

We throw the empty jugs here so that they don’t blow all over the place. There’s a box in front for donations, where we put some money. I wish there was a garbage bag here also to unload all the bits and pieces of our trash I’ve been carrying around.

We walk back up to the PCT trail and pick a spot for our tent.

It was a tough day, with more of the same for tomorrow.

Until then, be well.

This morning we are just about the last ones to leave camp. There were several other hikers out here on the ridge last night with us.

Al let me know just as we are leaving that he has to dig a cat hole.

Think litter box, a cat hole is a six inch hole that your solid human waste has to go into and then you bury it. There are no toilets out here. So he’s off attending to that I’m just going to wait up the trail for him. So I climbed up this huge steep hill and look back to see him coming back and putting on his pack. Maybe 5 minutes, and I’m waiting to see him head in my direction. I take a picture. It’s beautiful up here.

Another 5 minutes. Where is he!!?? I start to get upset, what the heck!! I’m waiting and waiting. I try calling him! Another 5 minutes! Finally I head back down the hill and ask the last guy there , “where did Al go”?

“Down the trail” he says, I’m thinking, wasn’t I on the trail? He points to the trail sign that I somehow missed. Maybe 20 minutes now have gone by.

So I frantically start running down the trail, then it turns rocky, I have to slow down. I’m yelling his name over and over. 10 minutes of this. I’m looking for his body in case it went over the edge. Im thinking how could he think I would have gone this far without him. I’m rushing as fast as I can. To catch up with him. The trouble is Al is doing the same thing!

He is thinking how could I have gone so fast down this tricky path. He was checking over the edge for my body. He was going as fast as He could! So another 10 minutes go by and Al calls my phone. I yell, “Stop! Just stop where you are ! I’m behind you”!

So that was probably the fastest mile we will ever do on the PCT.

The trail weaves around and I see some new cactus we haven’t seen before.

The trail continues to weave around these ridges. Finally we come down from the hills and the trail leads into the what appears to be a desert.

We walk across Rodriguez Canyon past Stagecoach Campground which we heard had chili dogs tonight but decided to get a couple more miles in today. We go on to the Underpass. This underpass is kinda famous to PCT hikers. There is usually trail magic under there and in bad weather you can tent under there too.

There was trail magic, gallons of water and mandarin oranges. We needed the water. I rested while Al did all the work.

After Al filled up and he then rested, we crossed the highway and started climbing the San Felipe Hills. I’m notoriously afraid of heights and being on a ledge. That’s exactly what we did for the next 2 1/2 miles until we made camp.

I’ll put that in tomorrow’s post.

Until then, Be Well.

After a marvelous breakfast at the Julian Hotel we filled our water bottles and checked out. We then headed to meet up with the professor for our ride to the trail.

We are picking up where we left off the other day. The weather is absolutely beautiful!!

We’ve been doing good today so far, the trail is smooth and it’s easy going. A big group of young people slowly trickle by us. Then we pass them as they stop for lunch.

San Jacinto has the snow on top still.

The trail starts to wind around and we start descending. We were told about an alternate route that bypasses the big decent and then the big climb. But we couldn’t find it.

It’s a mystery to me why we go all the way down and then all the way back up again. Why not just stay on the ridge? Or the slope?

We literally hike across the valley and hike up the other side on those mountains that we’ve been looking at. Then up and down and all around those. I do have to admit it is beautiful out here.

Sunrise this morning,

Be well.

We are staying at a lovely place, the Julian Hotel, they provide a fantastic breakfast every morning. They are the oldest continuously operating hotel in Southern California. It was built in 1897 by a freed slave and his wife.

We are on the 2nd floor and all rooms have their own bathrooms.

They also have a hiker box in the lobby. Hiker boxes are often receptacles for unwanted items in a hikers pack. Such as bandages, food items or hats, things they no longer want to carry or no longer like. They are gifts to other hikers, I found some granola bars in there and a couple of oatmeal packets Al could use. I left some cord and some masking tape.

Al bought a whole roll of tape. We attach masking tape to our hiking sticks and then tear off a hunk as we need it for multiple uses. Like a hot spot on a toe or the heel of a foot.

We ate dinner at the Julian Beer Co. had a marvelous pizza there. One of the German girls from our 1st night at Cleef was there also, we got to eat together and catch up on each others hike. She is staying at the same place that we are but arrived yesterday.

We went to the out fitter store and got a replacement fuel canister, some trail food and some KT tape for my knee. We met the Professor there and made plans with him to get back to the trail tomorrow.

Al also repaired the tent. He replaced the two broken tie downs and added two extra tie points to the sides that just had clips. It doesn’t look real pretty but hopefully it will work.

We did our laundry and got all packed back up.

Can’t wait to get back on the trail.

Until then, Be Well.