PCT: Resertification reunification: the walk

May 20 – 24: Southern Terminus to Warner Springs

«That the thing about the desert, the tears dry quickly«Faucet, 2025 PCT class

Shakedown of the desert

Am I ready for this? I could not shake this uncomfortable feeling, a tingling in my belly and a pain in my feet. It was the first day, already 8 in the morning the heat was intense. I was very grateful to have a solar umbrella and have my own tone. Things were not working as planned. My water filter was broken. It turns out that packing it in my reviewed luggage was not a great idea. He did not leave the plane in the same way as he entered. There was a great water division sprouting from the side while trying to filter water. My feet shouted with pain with each step in my new Super Feet templates. I had fallen in love with one of the classic errors.

The desert is not a joke!

I thought about my experience starting in the continental divide Trail last year. It seemed so easy in retrospect. Maybe he had already begun to forget the intense training and exhaustive planning he had done. I thought the preparation would be carried out. But here I was receiving a great verification of reality, but this is the true nature of the adventure. Satisfaction comes from the act of overcoming.

Before arriving at the Morena reservoir at the end of the first day, I could call 2 feet adventures in Julian. The charming woman who answered prepared me with a path of path that would bring me the new filter I asked. Gitty knowing my luck and having received my first magic from the path, I ran to the deposit in my sore feet. There was a place for me at the Hiker camp and enjoyed a chocolate shake while I put my feet. A small cork ball is all that is sometimes needed. And a shake. Very amazing. At least I had the forecast to pack the original templates with which my shoes came and could change. He would not have suffered physical pain. Only the pain of knowing that I made the classic mistake of trying a new team on my first day on the way. Than numpty.

(Peacock chickens walking through the camp)

The way it works

I had no water filter on my way to Mount Laguna to meet Fossil Lady. There was a small camp with a spike every time I needed one. It is curious how well it worked. I pushed the second day, my feet still a little sore. Once I went up to Mount Laguna, I entered a beautiful pine forest. It was great and ventoso up there. Fossil Lady met me in General Store, and she had my new filter. She took me back to the camp and told me stories of her adventures in Trail forty years ago. She is one of the original PCT hikers, and is now a basic element of the community in Julian. A large vinyl decal on the side of his Toyota 4runner read «PCT trail angle» and that really was.

The initiated

In the camp I met a group of hikers. There were eight of them there. Many of them for the first time through hikers, with a new team introduced by miles on land and sweat. While giving them with stories of my previous adventures, I was glad to see that their eyes open when you see my photos of the glaciers at home. I have to remind me often. For some, if not most, this is a test. The adventure of his life.

That is the other part of the true adventure. Face the unknown and take risks from the front. For some of us here, this path is the first encounter with a true adventure. For this, I have a deep respect and admiration. A very bold person is needed to leave the comfortable life of school or career, then push nature. We are all walking together on this path. We are a tribe. I am also taking these risks and leaving my life behind in the city. Despite my desert Shakedown, at the end of day two I felt strong.

Shutkling miles

From the upper part of the Ridera to the Valley, the contrast of the landscape of southern California was impressive. Mount Laguna was a green place full of high trees and flourishing wild flowers, but only a couple of thousands of feet under the arid place. There was an almost solid line between the green forest and the brown desert. I walked that line through miles.

Keeping high for most of the day, the path contoured to Cliffeside Memorials who left for fallen and family friends. It was a powerful place, not only because of the plates that commemorated the dead, but also for the history of the place. Many thousands of feet had passed these cliffs and possibly for thousands of years. I covered day three, walking 46 km (28.5 miles).

Crossing the valley the next day was possible thanks to a water cache under a high step. The shadow here along the dry river under the road was heavenly. If it weren’t for the water cache, hikers would have no choice but to go crazy to the city. I charged this opportunity, jumping the opportunity to get a free cake portion in Julian. I had a deadline, I had to be in Palm Springs in six days and I had to plan my stops strategically. There was another cache on the road, and it was the only other source of water on the road that day. These caches are invaluable. I don’t know how enough water could be carried to overcome this section without it.

Sleepy snake

He put the work, and now it was time to harvest the reward. It was the five of the day, and I got for success. It only had 26 km or 16 miles to get to Warner Springs.

Leaving the Ridgeline at 8:30 am, I had a casual encounter with which I dreamed. A huge orange rattlesnake two and a half long long was given a doubt on the path. I could see it from a distance when I approached. I took my camera accessory for my trekking post, extended my post as long as I could, and pressured on my phone. The snake reacted exactly as I imagined. It took me a moment to wake up and realize what was happening, but then it snuggled in its defensive pose and shook its threatening tail. I locked him on my phone while I was away from his striking range. As he moved back and towards the bushes out of the way, I closed my camera to take a lifetime. I had successfully removed the snake of the trial and captured the photo. Mission success.

Warning to Warner Springs

In Las Praderas, on Rolling hills there is a sacred area for the people of the first nations. Eagle Rock, and really looks like an eagle with its extended wings. As it was a Saturday, there were a lot of hikers of one day there, but I waited patiently my moment, and when I arrived, I received my photo of the Eagle without people uploading everywhere. I continued along the stream that flowed beyond Warner Springs. Great beautiful trees hung on me, providing shadow that combined well with the fresh breeze. A perfect day. The last two miles to reach the city are always the most painful. I continue to spend the other day to hikers who should not have known what the PCT is. Some of them seemed worried about me as I walked with my dirt -covered clothes with the accompanying smell.

Warner Springs is a very small town. Fortunately, the Community Resources Center is right next to the path. They have been in charge of trying to provide everything that hikers need, from a refueling, to showers, laundry, load and a good place to rest. After 5 days, 183 km and 5005m of climbing, I was ready for a break.

This website contains affiliate links, which means that the walk can receive a percentage of any product or service that you buy using the links in the items or ads. The buyer pays the same price that would do it differently, and his purchase helps to support the continuous objective of the walk to address his quality backpack advice and information. Thanks for your support!

For more information, visit the page about this site.