April 20 Warmer Springs

I'm copying the notes they sent to me here. They didn't tell me who was writing what, but I tried to color code the authors as best I could guess. Jonny Maria Kate Ezra or Ben (I'll have to get them to clear that up).

Hikers Notes:
4/16 - "No vae la pena" - "It's not worth the pain" - Translation of trail sign on day 2

Day 6 - Out first trail town stop was a success. The woman in the P.O. had the place to herself and it was her first day. I had written that our maildrop had not arrived, and went back in to send you your package. The post office about to close so I wrote a quick entry in the register they had. From the back the woman called out,"Is there a Jonathan Lane here?" She had our food after all. Success.

A forest ranger in that town (Mt. Laguna) came by and gave us many bananas and oranges. The Blue Jay Lodge in town had great French fries and a wonderfully entertaining decor. A grizzly Adams Hamms Beer patch. Heads of various animals. Seats and tables made of big trees. Tractor seats on logs for bar stools. A painting of Abraham Lincoln. And a big porch for backpacks. We were the only people in the place and they opened the side door, due to the smell I suspect.

We have gotten above 6000' and yesterday got our first truly spectacular views of huge mountains around us.
Today we can see our first snow capped peak. According to a boy scout leader I met, it is something like Mt. Gregario, 11,000', and we will go 50 miles west of it.

Actually, the PCT goes 50 mi. west of it. We may very well go and climb it.

4/17 -

Day 7 - Beautiful scenery, good people, yummy food. My knee hurts.

Day 7 - So far, my PCT experience has involved being uncomfortably cold much more than being uncomfortably hot. This is the opposite of what I had expected. We are finally coming down out of the cold-ass Laguna Mtns, which were a beautiful & impressive range to be sure, but I am actually kind of thankful to be back in the warm desert heat.

Day 7 - As we descended, wild-fowers became more prevalent. The Mojave Yucca is beginning to bloom, thick 6-foot tall spikes of pale yellow flowers. After completing this bloom, it's life work, the plant withers and dies.
After leaving behind Dog Boy 1&2, way back in Hauser canyon we have not seen any other PCT hikers, & only a very small # of dayhikers. Haven't seen anyone else today at all.

Day 7 - The moon is getting close to full - Last night we hiked into late afternoon/early evening, which is really the best time for walking. Over the next couple days we plan on doing some night hikes, especially in the upcoming San Felipe hills. Last night, I was reading a book about desert wildlife, & this was the last thing I read before a restless and paranoid night : "although [wild mice] are very abundant, few people see them, since they are creatures of the night, & on the whole, most quiet in their activities. There is scarcely a square foot of open desert or rocky hillside that is not almost nightly visited by these diligent harvesters as they search for food."

Jonny's Famous Cut to the Chase GORP mix:
-1 1 lb bag of M&Ms
-put in ziploc bag
-enjoy

4/18 -

Day 8 - After lunch on day 7 an ominous cloud overtook us & we were threatened by rain for several miles, then the rain began. We traversed the hillside above beautiful Chariot canyon then later Rodrigez canyon where we pitched tents right on the trail. No one is going to sneak by us in the night! It rained throughout the evening & into the next afternoon. Breaking down the tents was a wet, cold, joy, full of sand and mud. Ezra was ready to get a motel room. At lunch, where we retrieved our last supply of H2O for 24 miles, Ben, Kate, and Maria were also tempted by the motel room. But the sun peered out long enough for us to dry our gear & happily move on. Jonny, the toughest member of our crew, was not interested in ditching the trail for a motel. Boy was he right! Our 4 mile trek to night camp was filled with stunning views, beautiful rays of light beaming on the valley and sometimes us, at least 3 different types of desert plant life that we had not yet seen--ocotillo, barrel cactus. Another fashionably dressed day! : )

Started day 8 with a picture of Maria in the rain standing on the trail where our tents stood. Finished that disposable camera today. If you are following along in your book you will find many entertaining quotes. On page 65, for instance, it describes the menacing vegetables we encountered today.
As a matter of fact I got cactus thorns on a glove today that I may have to toss.
Because of our early start date and the recent rain we have more water available than usual. Not a lot of sources, but most of them are running. In addition, people have left some stashes. We found one today before this big waterless section. The creek was flowing too. We each started with 6-8 quarts this afternoon (Tues) to get us to the next water Thursday for lunch.
Made potluck for lunch today so don't need water for cooking tonight. "Dry Camp."

4/19 -

Well, the cold went away last night and we've got blazing clear skies for our traverse of the San Felipe Hills. That's right. 24 torturous miles of shadeless desert. Actually, it's not so bad. Despite the hills the trail is virtually flat and clear of rocks. It's about 1:30 and we've all concocted various shade structures under which we'll whittle the hot hours away. Come evening I plan to hike a few hours to dinner, eat and rest some more, and then commence a full moon walk to our next water at Barrel Springs (or as close as we can get).

Have seen at least 3 snakes but worry much more about the cactus. Got quills in my gloves, got spiked (and possibly poisoned some) in the leg and it swole up. Little briars around the feet when wearing tevas. Careful not to sit on any.

17 trail miles between us and Granite Mtn. Looks like it is right beside us. Because the trail is also for horses it is graded as close to flat as possible. In this section, though, they have made an insane amount of switchbacks, so we go miles and miles and don't get very far. This is a big reason why we go 24 miles without water in this stretch.

Day 9 Film roll:
1. Ezra dangling over a cliff hanging on by his toes to pick a prickly pear.
2. Ezra's mouth full of thistles.
3. Menacing vegetable pushing Jonny off of cliff.
4,5,6. Jonny tumbling head over backpack down steep steep face.
7. Ez and Ben laughing.
8. Emergency helicopter airlifting Jonny's body.
9. Helicopter going up in fiery ball as blade clips side of ridge.
10. Ez and Ben laughing.

DO YOU LIKE HOT STINKY WOMEN? Then log on to www.trailho.com where you can see live action of real thru-hookers turnin' tricks over hill and dale... These women haven't showered for weeks. "I've been eating rice and beans day and night" - Bambi (just turned 18) "I'm salty and I'm sticky and I'm ready for you!" - Salty Sally

One day past full moon. Our first night hike (7.5 miles under the moon) and our first 20 mile day. We were all into the night hike because of the beautiful clear sky, the full moon, and the hot temp during the day. Also this section is 24 miles without water. Someone had stashed about 15 gallons for us halfway through which we were very grateful for but we decided to hike the night anyway. Also good camping at the end but not much along the way. So we stopped to watch the sunset for dinner and were in a perfect spot for the big bright orange moon to rise behind us. Didn't need headlamps the entire way. Kate lost her headlamp a mile before we realized it. Got into Barrel Spring at 1 AM and crashed hard, listening to the water splashing from the pipe into the cow trough. Made it 100 miles today.

4/20 -

Day 10--Got our full nights sleep and got up late morning today. First day not getting up with the dawn. Only .1 from a road but it didn't disturb us much. No laundry in Warner Springs and only 7 miles to do today so we washed our gear and hung it to dry as we sat and enjoyed our lovely camp. Bright sunny day to grease the boots and soak the feet in the cow trough.

"Grandpa's in the tub"--Staggering Willie getting into the trough with his clothes on.

The group carried me because I had mud on my pants. They also carried me because socks touched my head and my gummy bear fell in the dirt. - Squirrelfight Day 10

Loved the dip in the horse trough.

My clothes are clean!! Well as clean as horse trough spring water makes them.

Haven't seen the dog bots since Day 2. They might not have made it very far past that. No other thru-hikers.

4/21 -

Day 11-Warner Springs-due to a little trail magic from a guy named Mort, we got ourselves day passes to the Warner Ranch Hot Springs Resort. Lots of soakin' in hot water today, and not a lot of hiking. And that's OK with me. Amazingly, I'm still blister free and have managed to avoid anything more serious than a case of ungy-skungy feet. Looking forward to the next leg of the hike.

Got to Warner Springs today. Looking forward to some grilled food. Not much else here. Didn't realize there is a hot springs. A guy in the P.O. approached Ezra, found out we were thru-hiking, and gave us 5 passes to the hot springs. They expire at midnight. How's your hot tub? Groceries at the gas station. Wanted bread, cheese, butter. Got hamburger buns, string cheese, margarine. Cest la vie.

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