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| Day 6 |
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Starting Location: Warner Springs
Ending Location: road at Anza-Borrega border |
Today's Miles: 24.6
Total Miles: 133.4 |
Day 6: 24.6 miles, Warner Springs to road at Anza-Borrega border, hi
elev 5595
The staff shift change was at 6am just as we left our room. We caught
a ride back to the trail head with a security guard going home. Lucky
timing!
The second surprise was the overcast sky and raindrops on the trail.
We laughed because we bounced our rainsuits at the PO yesterday and kept
our ponchos. But the rain was only a few sprinkles during the day. The
temperature was perfect for hiking - mid 70's.
We met Warner Springs Monty and Rachel on the trail passing them a
couple of times.
We are still going in and out of Anza-Borrega State Park! It must be
a huge park. We went through a beautiful valley with stacked eroded
boulders in soft southwest terra cotta and buff. The vegetation had
burned and is now filling back in. The trail continues to be mostly
sand/dirt with rocky patches.
We figured out that when we cross the Pines-to-Palms Highway late
tomorrow the we can visit the Paradise Cafe for hamburgers. We'll look
for a phone there.
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| Wednesday, May 2, 2007 |
| Day 7 |
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Starting Location: Anza-Borrega border
Ending Location: Penrod Canyon Creek |
Today's Miles: 21.5
Total Miles: 154.9 |
21.5 miles, road at Anza-Borrego border to Penrod Canyon Creek, elev
5070
Sometimes the best laid plans...work! We got up, hiked and made early
dinner at Paradise Cafe. Four burgers (one for up the trail), several
cokes and 60 minutes later we are psyched to hike!
This morning was so cool that I zipped the legs back on my pants.
Later in the day during another long climb I took them off again. Temps
were in the 80's but the early morning and evening breezes brought lots
of moisture from the ocean.
This evening we hiked through pretty rocks with twisted and stunted
pines. It is so far removed from the lands we camped in just 24 hours
ago. We are climbing up to 8000 feet tomorrow. Whoopee!
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| Thursday, May 3, 2007 |
| Day 8 |
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Starting Location: Penrod Canyon Creek
Ending Location: Taquitz Creek |
Today's Miles: 21.6
Total Miles: 176.5 |
21.6 miles, Penrod Canyon Creek to Taquitz Creek, elev 8400
Last night's campsite was the best we've had because of the soft oak
leaves under our tent. We got the rest we need for the big climbing day
today.
Before we really got into our climbs we met south bound (SoBo) hikers
Splash and Sue. I know Splash from the Women Hikers' list. She has
surgery and was back on the the trail with the help of a crutch. What a
hardy hiker! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
We knew that our friend GottaGo was just ahead. When we caught her,
StoneDancer and Commander they were giving comments to Squatch as he
filmed for his next hiking DVD. Splash told us to give any extra bars to
Squatch, so we gave him 3 bars. The three hiked the rest of the day with
us as we worked our way up very steep Taquitz Mountain. Company made the
long grind seem like less work.
At lunch we were joined by Vortex and Caitlin. Caitlin's college
roommate is the sister of our son's highschool classmate. Small world!
Late in the day the wind picked up tempo, driving fog over the rocky
peaks. We all took pictures of the fog spilling over and then climbed
higher than the fog and peaks! The west had become a fog bank below us
while the wind was howling, damp and cold. We pushed ourselves higher
looking for a sheltered flat campsite.
After dark we found a good site but the cold wind continued. We slept
warm with fleece hats on in our sleeping bags listening to the howling
wind all night.
...GottaWalk
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| Friday, May 4, 2007 |
| Day 9 |
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Starting Location: Taquitz Creek
Ending Location: Idylwild |
Today's Miles: 4.0
Total Miles: 180.5 |
4.0 miles, Taquitz Creek to Idyllwild, elev 8570
The cold fierce wind greeted us this morning. We stepped on
the trail to more wonderful views of spectacular granite and pine
forest. There is no under story so we can see steeply down and
directly up, all is very attractive.
We stepped across Taquitz Creek that was a trickle but usable.
We did not stop to filter because we were on the fast track to
Idyllwild. Besides we don't need much water in this cold.
Our route led us off the PCT and down 3000' to town. We were
really dashing but Niel and John passed us, slowing only to ask
if we were thru hikers. They said that they were locals so we RAN
after them so we did not have to walk 2 miles down the road to
town (these steep 4.5 miles do not count as official trail
miles). They dropped us off at the PO and we picked up both our
resupply box and our bounce box. We carried them to breakfast.
In spite of all our planning we are right in the midst of the
hiker herd. When we got to town the first three motels were full.
I really wanted a warm shower so the "motel" that we
found with space will have to do.
I volunteered for laundry duty in the warmth. On the way back
from the laundry Ken found a penny, so he got the early lead in
the PCT2007 money game.
A misconception has come to my attention: I am not carrying or
wearing crocs while hiking! The photo circulating at Lake Morena
was taken last September at the American Long Distance
Hikers-West Gathering. Croc-wearing was scandalous there but is
unthinkable on the trail,
Word around town is that rain is forecast. Great! We plan to
go back up tomorrow morning early because we
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