Day 10

We hiked today!  But not as far as we set out to.  Single Malt stubbed his toe pretty bad on a rock last night so we decided to take it slower.  After 12 or so miles we stopped at the Guzzler.  It's a concrete slab that collects rain into a tank.

I walked ahead a half mile to where a flowing creek was reported.  Sure enough, they're rare and look like a hidden oasis in this desert.  I stuck my feet in a pool and waited for the others to catch up.  Doesn't look like much in this picture but it was pretty great.  Washed my shirt and socks too, nothing like a soaked shirt to keep you cool.

We ended up spending a couple hours here enjoying the cool shade.  Oh and speaking of socks, problems have appeared.

We walked on in the late afternoon with only a few more miles planned.  We came across a water cache on the way, bathed appropriately in beams of light.  Scarecrow had signed the log just yesterday.  I may catch back up with him in a few days if I hurried.

Camped now in the most perfect looking, picturesque spot I've ever seen.  It's seriously outdoor gear catalogue photo worthy.  Unfortunately the sun was going down fast and I'm no professional photographer.  Here's the best I could do.

Planning on breakfast in a cafe tomorrow.

Day 9

Steve, Single Malt (Steve's friend Todd) and I got up around 5:30 to pack up and head back to Warner Springs.  Kick Off goes on another day but Single Malt needs to get some hiking in before returning home next week.  I considered staying another day and trying to find a ride back on my own, there'd probably be a few folks willing to take me back.  But I decided to go back now.  Back to back "nero", day of only a little hiking,and "zero", day of no hiking, had me pretty well rested, feet recovered and blisters healed.

By the time we got back to Warner, repacked our stuff and were ready to go it was nearly 10:00.  I stopped around noon to make lunch and dry my tent.  It was cold at the lake the night before and condensation had soaked my tent.  I had moved it to the outside of my pack because it was dripping out the bottom of my pack as I hiked.  In the sun it dried pretty quick though.

There were only a few people on the trail today, one guy on a bike, though bikes aren't allowed on the PCT.  I heard from someone later he was asking for directions, had gotten too far in and it was getting dark.  The options today were pretty much keep going or go back the way you came.  The trail eventually crossed a dirt road, hope he made it somewhere.

We turned off the trail at the road and walked a quarter mile up to a trail angel's house, owned by a guy named Mike.  He has a big water tank and let's hikers camp in his field.  There's even a bunk house somewhere around here.  I'm in my tent and saw I had service.  I'm going to write more about kickoff later.  18 miles today, mile 127, feet are sore once more.  But I had mac and cheese with a ton of tuna for dinner, so I'll be ok.

Hiked through some decent trees while we were along the creek. Here's where I had lunch.

Day 7

Thursday morning we slept in a little since it was still sprinkling some.  We had less than 5 miles to go until Warner Springs.  The trail went through more cow fields then into some trees and followed a stream.  While going through the fields the sun came out.  It was pretty beautiful, wish I hadn't burried my camera and phone so deep in my pack.

In Warner Springs we walked to the post office and I got the box I'd sent myself.  Then a guy gave us a ride a mile up the road to a community center.  Some volunteers have a PCT rest area set up in there.  There are a few computers, they cook pancakes and hamburgers and have a small store.  I didn't need to buy anything since I got my box, but I did have a burger.

We met Steve's friend Todd there.  They planned on driving back to the Kickoff weekend at Lake Morena back at mile 20.  They had offered me a ride and I decided to go, both to see what Kickoff was like and to get a day off hiking.  We'll be there Thursday afternoon through Saturday early morning.