PCT: high desert notes

May 24 to 28: Warner Springs to San Jacinto

After spending four hours resting around the Warner Springs community center, I was on the road again. I felt incredibly renewed after washing my clothes, enjoying a shower and devouring some chicken cake. Still on a mission, I walked three miles before establishing the camp that night. Just when I put my bag, I realized that I had forgotten my harp of the jaw, my travel instrument. Recover that could be a tomorrow problem, since it was at 7 pm

My fantastic travel instrument, the harp of the jaw, with its pendant transport case. FTW spent weight!

I found a small fantastic camp for a small stream. A couple, label and brádezilla were there. It was his first day on the way. They had returned to the PCT after having proposed to each other on Mount Whitney the previous year. Now on their honeymoon, they were completing the sections that had lost and remakeing some of their favorite parts. It was inspiring to hear his story. They came from the Netherlands, so we could joke together about the extravagant parts of America and the terrible food.

Water disparity

The next day, I recovered my instrument, completing the six miles in an hour in an hour. It felt good to move without my bag, but a blister had formed at the bottom of my foot. The bain of hikers. Batteries Soon that blister was wrapping my big toe, then exploded. The pain was intense and required a small improvised standing surgery.

In the shadow of one of these large rocks, I arrange and sell my ampoule

The short section along the stream was a brief postponement of the desert, but it didn’t last long. The way ahead was very dry, and only a few friendly locals along the way could provide water to hikers. The first place was in Mikes Place, a strange but hospitable place with a huge water tank and a plastic skeleton in the patio. The hikers of previous years had painted the walls of the house and an old sports car that was now a total decoration.

An previous hiker who did not succeed …

Tears in the desert

I, Jack, Bekah and Clay take a break here. The theme of crying on the path arose, and each one told emotional liberation stories. Jack said he really did not believe in the importance of mental health, that is, until he left the army. Bekah told his story of having a cozy snake throughout his store in the middle of the night. We started calling her «snake cuddler». Clay declared very openly that he had cried almost every day on the road so far. «I’m like a tap,» he said with a big smile. «There you have! That is a perfect trace name,» I said, and so it was.

The distant San Jacinto is in a mysterious purple mist

I decided to dry the camp on the top of Ridgeline that night. Luckily for me, the wind was not too strong, it was in an exposed place. But the views were worth it. San Jacinto seemed mystical, surrounded by Haze Purple. I’ll be there very soon, I thought.

«I’m going to upload that!»

Hospitality

The next day we arrived at Mr. Debédetti around 11:30 am there, another very generous man, also called Mike, fed us with pork sandwiches with fried and soft drinks. It was also one of the few water sources in this section. He had a beautiful shaded area, a trailer that encouraged us to sign and a beautiful pool to cool off. We talked about the history of the path, and commented «you made Idyllwild.» Thousands of hikers go through these small cities every year, and it is a great boost for the business there.

The incredible generosity in Deedetti’s

Bringing a large load of water for the rest of the afternoon was improved with the idea of ​​visiting the Paradise Valley Cafe the next day. It was all that was promoted to be. My first food in the Royal City, with my little family of trails. They knew how to feed hikers, the size of breakfast burritos was impressive. Before having something to say in the matter, the waitress approached to inform us that someone had just paid our food. He had left us a little «Magic of Sea Gypsy» that had bought the breakfast of the six. A true path of path.

My first meal in the Royal City and excellent magic of trails!

To the Ridera

San Jacinto is a peak quite high to 3288m. From 1500 meters on the road on Paradise Valley Cafe, I started uploading the long crest to the mountains. It took me almost two full days to finally reach that final summit. With many ups and downs, the final elevation gain was substantial, at 3585 m obtained during those two days.

Ridgeline

The first night I camped with Cuddler de Snake. We had been talking about Nitty’s love, love and shouts on our climbing that night, and I appreciated your company. We both noticed the mist that had surrounded us all day. I checked my active fire map to see if the smoke was the cause. There was nothing. Then, suddenly, I realized. On one side of us we had Los Angeles and San Bernardino and in the other was Palm Springs. Dozens of millions of people lived in this area of ​​the world. The fog we were seeing was in fact Smog.

Another encounter with one of my favorite desert friends, the famous danger noodles!

My colorful shirt really ignites the hummingbirds, they love to come to check me. Then I have a cold shoulder when they discover that I am not a flower …

The first PCT summit

The final impulse was through an Emensa pine forest, similar to Mount Laguna but on a larger scale. The cold streams of water flowed between the hills, a marked contrast with the desert below. He had reached the perfect moment for a promotion. Some snow was still in the north aspects, but the path was completely dry. Then, I began to find the first day of hikers I would know. From Palm Springs you can catch a tram that will take you to the mountains. A constant impulse was all that took me once I left the PCT and started the substitute. At 5pm he was standing at the summit looking towards Palm Springs. I took the moment and played my harp in the jaw to the spirit of the mountain. The hikers of the day also enjoyed it.

Standing at the top of my first PCT peak

The snow remains in the northern aspects of the mountain

On the way down I went to the emergency shelter near the peak. It had been done in 1933 and was made of solid stone. As my scheduled visit to Palm Springs did not describe exactly as an emergency, I decided not to stay there and, instead, I return to the PCT.

I found a camp near the crossing. While my friend friend with whom I met at the CDT passed. It was nice to see a familiar face and we both expressed our reverence for San Jacinto. Tomorrow I would be in Palm Springs and attend the world’s largest UFO convention, contact in the desert.

While the sun puts behind San Jacinto, the moon rises

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