Little, Fickle Pain

Friday, May 2
Mile 143, sandy hill-beach

In the San Jacinto hills

Fear of injury is a funny thing. As I log some of the biggest miles I've ever done, there's this niggling voice that crops up every time a new pain or soreness comes on. The trail is rough on feet and joints, and I've heard that overuse injuries are usually what pull people off the trail. Talking with Liam about it this morning gave me some relief knowing that he was feeling the same way. This feels like a good pace to us, and either walking more or taking a break has worked well so far. Plus, some pain is expected; we're still adjusting to walking 20 miles per day as a norm.

New reading material from the hiker free box!

As each new little pain comes and goes (or stays), I'm starting to trust in my body more. I've got to stay in tune with what's going on in here, then hopefully major problems won't seem so mysterious and looming. I'm always kind of amazed at what we're capable of.

On a different note, there was uproar in gypsy town when we realized the water tank at mile 137 was contaminated with wooorms. Tuneboost (Colin) found "Myrtle" squirming around when he held up his water bag. Panic insued, but not for me. I filter all my water unless there's a sign saying that I don't need to. hah!

Magic

Laundry day at Trail Angel Mike's!

Thursday, May 1
Mile 127, Mike's Hiker Haven

Laugh Track and Ella lovin the Warner Springs breakfast

May day, incredible day! Of hiking and of food and people. It began with a slow start and breakfast out of warner springs, then a magical morning of hiking along the agua caliente creek and finding some deep conversation with Laugh Track. The water was the perfect temperature for foot soaking, and fairies didn't seem all too far away.

Laugh Track and Magic Stick in the magic stream

And then there was heat. But by the time we got going after siesta at four, the sun was beginning its descent and throwing shadows in golden castes that made the hike through the moon-boulders stunning.

Epic!

And then! Just when we were feeling the day catch up to us, we found a sign by our water cache reading "Mike's Hiker Haven". What we found was.. Well.. A hiker's dream! Beer, slow-roasted chicken in the cooker, shanty buildings and a shanty group of hikers, a washboard and bunkhouse. It was a late night of singing, and the intense social time was kinda exhausting for me, so into bed I go. This is what they call "Trail Magic!"

Mountain lilacs, I think!

Margheritaville

Wednesday, April 30
Mile 110, town of Warner Springs

It's time to wax poetic!

Walking through the golden field this morning, with the cheats whispering and my ankles, with the sun fragrant and benevolent in my nose, brought on that homesickness, instantly healed by total bliss in where I am, right now.

Ekone in my heart, snot in my nose, grace in my steps, ache in my feet, herd running with me. These landscapes are the ones that lift everyone's hearts.

Gypsytown kickin it in Warner springs. A well-deserved break!

And then, my first town day! I successfully picked up my resupply package at the double-wide trailer that serves as the Warner Springs post office. Then, lunch and margheritas at a Mexican place we all managed to hitch out to.. Well, without a hitch. (Har har) We're camped out on the community center lawn, where we'll grab a breakfast tomorrow morning and check the trail for fire closures. Cali's already burning, I guess.

The most important laundry got done..ish

Earlybirding

Tuesday, April 29
Mile 101, Barrel Spring

Colin loving the sunrise mountain  breakfast

Big climb in the desert? Three AM wakeup. Gypsy Town hit the trail running this morning and hiked by headlamp until sunrise, when we had a glorious mountaintop breakfast.  Aah, bliss!

Got my first blisters today.. I'm using the avoidance tactic and hope that they figure themselves out. My feet are really feeling this first week of hiking, too. But what are ya gonna do except walk it out?

San Felipe hills at dawn

We had our biggest mileage today at 24, and also hit the 100-mile mark! Big day! We're camped about eight miles from warner springs, and we have big plans to be sipping margaritas and eating giant burritos twelve hours from now.. Bring it on!

Reinstating Siesta

Monday, April 28
Mile 77, Scissors Crossing

We rolled out of our cuddle puddle at dawn, and the mountains were staring epically at us. The PCT wind tunnel is living up to its notoriety so far.

Taken from my sleeping bag this morning :)

We busted out twelve miles before one today and took a looong siesta at a water cache. It's amazing what some water and napping does for my energy; I was ready to cruise again and had a great afternoon chatting with Lizzy (Laugh Track) and Josh (Magic Stick).

The crew: Patches, Mike, Liam, Colin, Laugh track, and Magic Stick, all chillin at siesta

We had heard that the next water cache was gone, so we were carrying six liters each for the next 32 miles. But! There was water after nine miles thanks to the trail angels watching over us thruhikers. :) so grateful to be able to tank up before tomorro. We agreed on a 3am start to work our way into the San Felipe hills; a very hot and exposed hike during the day. But we'll be hiking into the sunrise!

Montanafornia

Sundayy, April 27
Ridgetop boulder field, mile 56

It was a beautiful day of hiking! The terrain has been so cruiser so far, which makes for relatively easy miles. We felt like we were back in montana this morning, complete with cool pine forest and snow patches. So crazy how quick the trail changes here. We rolled into mt Laguna, a little mountain town, around ten and I treated myself to a Klondike bar and an orange. Ah, the finer things.

Mt Laguna general store, aka hiker hangout. I wonder what the locals think of us..

I hung out with Lizzy's crew at lunch, which has turned into a motley crew of around 8. Got to know a couple more hikers, including Colin, Lizzy and josh's good friend. We hiked and chatted most of the afternoon, and I completely lost track of time and missed the first campsite that I was planning on meeting b-hugs and Shelby at.. Hopefully they'll catch me tomorrow!

Lizzy! (Laugh Track)

Now I'm cowboy camped (no tent) in a cuddle puddle with the motley crew on a ridge at mile 56. So many stars..

Misty drizzles

Saturday April 26
Mile 38.8, in a meadow at 5200 feet

It's wet and cold in the desert, who knew? I'm writing this entry from snug in my sleeping bag, which I entered at six to escape the frigid clouds blowing in.. now we're in one!

It began at lake Morena last night, when I flung myself from my tent at three am to re-pound my tent stakes as the rain blew sideways into my tent. Needless to say it was not a restful night. Everyone looked a little haggard in camp this morning--the only ones safe from the carnage of last night were those with regular tents, not the ultralight setup like I have. Sigh, sacrifices must be made I suppose.

Wild Sweet peas :) so pretty.

 I spent most of today trying to keep moving and stay warm and dry my stuff out, but it was still beautiful, with the hills coming in and out of the mist. We leapfrogged around with a handful of other hikers, including spirit, love line, and sheriff woody. A boy scout troop was in our planned campsite, but we found a lovely meadow a mile later with a springfed trough. Hopefully I get a bit more sleep tonight, even with all this wind.