Scissors Crossing to Warner Springs

Day 7 – Mile 77.3 RV Stagecoach

Lucas sees me walking with my phone in the air trying to find cell service and invites me to use the van’s hotspot. Sprinter hands me a cup of coffee while I flip through his PCT photo album from 1979. How nice it was to not be in a rush. It was an honor to speak with Sprinter about the trip he took with his brother. After grabbing a soda and reaching into the hiker’s box of the van, pulling out a bag full of chips, we say our goodbyes as they leave to deliver some magic on the trail.

My transport arrives at 4 pm sharp. Throwing my backpack in the trunk of the car, we drove 3 miles to Scissors Crossing. It’s still too hot to hike the exposed desert mountains. Walking under the bridge, I met a new hiker. FoxFire (Canada) and his stuffed companion Little Fox.

About to head out on a hike, Minstrel and his team, PCT ’23 alumni and hiking blogger, showed up with a magical trail filled with drinks and entertainment. A big kite, markers to color our shoes and, to top it all off, live music!

Around 7:30 pm I finally walked into the fading daylight. In front of me, a 22 kilometer exposed stretch, mostly uphill and without water. Trying to do it at midday in this heat wouldn’t be a great idea. I carefully walk 8 miles, mostly with my headlamp in the dark. Seeing a cute rosy boa on the trail reminds me not to cowboy camp in the grass. In the end I find a wide sandy ravine where I can spread the blanket and I quickly fall asleep.

Day 8 – Mile 84.5

Waking up to the stars, I am once again in no rush to walk. Making coffee, I see a lighthouse walking down the path. It’s Lana! We chat for a while before she leaves. Enjoying the view and music on my newly charged speaker, I stay in my shady corner for too long.

At 11:30 the sun is already shining over the mountains. My face, legs, and the backs of my hands are burning. I look for a shady place to take a break. In the end, I resort to curling up on the ground next to some bushes to reapply sunscreen.

1:30, dehydrated and out of water, I can see a door. This is the third gate on the trail north of Scissors Crossing. I cheer up when I hear laughter and recognize it’s Mel. Walking through some bushes, I see Peeps, Nobody, Marble, Mel, Lana, along with their new friends Amanda and Bucky (a section hiker). Collapsing into shadow, they offer me clean water.

As the day approaches, the group begins to dissipate. I walk down a side trail to find a quiet, shady spot to write and relax for the afternoon.

A few hours later, upon returning to the top of the hill, everyone had moved except Marble. We hang out while we prepare and eat our dinners. Deciding I’d rather deal with the wind than the mosquitoes, I move my gear back to the sandy top of the hill.

Tonight’s moon is shining with some clouds covering some of the stars.

Day 9 – Mile 91.2 Third Gate Water Cache

Packed up and walking at 6am. I find a pair of sunglasses on the road and pick them up. I saw some elusive bunnies that I had heard about from other hikers. A few miles away, I meet Lana and Marble. Chatting for a while, he handed Marble his sunglasses.

Around 8am, I spot a sandy campsite with a view. Deciding that this would be a great place for breakfast. For a long time no one passed by there. As I finish my coffee, I finally see others, a German, Jon, and then The Break Blazers. The sun begins to shine over the mountains, I pack my bags and leave my resting place.

Almost immediately, I am startled by a rattlesnake. The sand-colored snake was on the path, hiding under the shadow of an overgrown bush. I turn off the music and back up, waiting for the snake to move.

After 15 minutes of waiting, spraying some water, and throwing some pebbles, I back away and find some rocks I can climb down and around, being careful for other rattlesnakes. Trigger shy of any overgrown stick or bush. The exposed, though mostly downhill, hill hike to Barrel Springs is hot and sunny.

Passing a cave along the way, the Break Blazers stop to take a break. They offer to take my photo.

Upon reaching the spring, I leave my backpack and filter a liter of water. Walking towards the road, I find Lana, Marble, and the trail angel Grizzly Gramp with magic in the parking lot. While enjoying a protein shake, Lana shares pineapple and half an orange.

Grabbing a Coca-Cola and my team. Walking back towards the spring to find a shady spot for the afternoon. No place will be quiet.

Later in the afternoon, a new hiker arrives at Barrel Springs, approaches and talks to me. We chat until one of his friends arrives. I send you to the magical path. Little by little, more members of the new group arrive.

After eating, Marble and I went for an evening walk, listening to Lost Boy by Ruth B.

In the dark and almost at our camping destination, we see an unlit lighthouse in the countryside. It’s Lana; I was walking by a stream in the dark, listening to the frogs. The three of us walked to a sandbar to camp for the night. Lana lights a fire in a fire ring while I fall asleep like a cowboy camping.

I had a great day on the road.

Day 10 – Mile 105 Arroyo San Ysidro

Sleeping on the sandbar by the water was the coldest night I’ve had on the trail.

Waking up to the alarm, I want to be in Eagle Rock by sunrise. Realizing Marble was gone, I was hoping to see him at The Eagle.

Arriving at Eagle Rock before dawn, I first looked for my friend. Not seeing it, I drop my backpack and set my phone to watch a sunrise in fast motion. Make coffee and have some chocolate for breakfast (before it melts again). The contents of my lunch bag are reduced to chips, a piece of meat and two slices of dried pineapple.

As the sun rises, I’m still the only one on the rock, I use my remote control to take some photos at Eagle Rock before walking the few remaining miles to Warner Springs, finding Marble’s cowboy camping near the creek just before town.

The community of Warner Springs is a green desert valley. From the baseball fields you get a panoramic view of the surrounding high desert mountains.

Upon entering the community center, I signed the registration book. Browsing the hiker’s store with everything from fuel to toothpaste to Hot Pockets you can heat up in the microwave. I go out to a picnic table with outlets and plug in the batteries. Then, hungry, I look first in the hiker’s bag labeled «food» and then in the bag labeled «gear.» I find a Clif bar with chocolate chips and eat it while I check out the other accommodations. In the back, I see two showers with hot water and a handheld shower head.

Having time before the transfer to the post office, I take the opportunity to shower and put on my city suit. I find a 5 gallon bucket and start soaking the clothes with some dish soap and warm water.

I pick up my box at the post office, walk next to the gas station to buy a bag of Doritos. Returning to the community center, I start washing clothes by hand. I take some clothespins out of a basket and start attaching my clothes to the chain link fence. While my clothes dry, I can now sort my food.

I choose a picnic table under an awning and empty my new box onto it. Sorting my food takes me too much time. I keep most of what I sent. Annoyed that I had sent chocolate to the desert, I added it to the bag of «food» for someone else.

Sitting next to the playing fields, I don’t know where to sit. Too hot and sun. Too windy and cold in the shade. Hearing some turkeys I take a moment to look at the male turkeys, I can’t forget the sights around me.

I left around 5pm and only walked three miles before deciding to camp around Limbo and the new group I met at Barrel Springs.

Setting up my tent for the second time on the PCT.

I hide in my tent to write and then make dinner at 9 pm before falling asleep.