Today was a great day for hiking. The sky had wisps of clouds blocking the worst of the sun, and there was a gentle breeze out of the west. I was overly cautious with my water because, before I knew it I was at the water cache (pictured). I drank as much as I could, signed the hiker register, and refilled my bottles. I am glad that my parents left 2 gallons at Scissor's Crossing (back at 78) because I now knew just how welcoming a water cache can be. Besides, on a trip that is so often solitary, it is a reminder that there are good people out there who are willing to lend a hand.
I have started into a routine now. Rise with the sun, eat a small snack, hike until I get hungry (usually about noon), rest and eat for 15 to 30 minutes, then hike again until I am tired. Usually that would be about 4, but today I was in such a hiking zone that I had knocked out 19 miles by 1:30. I wasn't really tired, despite most of the hike being uphill, but I didn't want to push myself either. Besides, the San Felipe hills are behind me, and I am sitting under the invitibg valley oaks at Barrel Springs. I decided to stop here for the day, and spent my afternoon napping in the sun.
There are two slight problems here. First, the gentle breeze that kept me cool all day has turned a bit strong. It blows through Montezuma Valley (pictured), where Barrel Springs is located. The second problem is that the spring here has bad water. Apparently a new piping system was put in, but it allows rodents to get trapped inside. There they drown and rot in the water. The sign says to boil water for 5 minutes, but I have enough water to get me to the next water source tomorrow. I used the rat juice to wash some dirt off my arms and legs but that's all.
On a positive note, I had my first cooked meal on the trail. Turkey stuffing with bacon bits and dehydrated onions. Nom! The Esbit stove worked like a champ, using half a tablet to cook the whole meal. Cleaning up afterward was a bitch with no water source, so I had to use my reserve bottle sparingly to do the job.
Blisters were not horrible today, and heat rash made no appearance for the first time! My left knee hurts, which usually happens when my lat band tightens up from strenuous use. Lots of stretching before bed tonight.
I also crossed the 100 mile mark today. Someone wrote "100" in rocks on the trail. "No way has it been that far yet," I said. But I stuck a nail file under my tonail just to see what would happen, so what the hell do I know? I should be in Idyllwild in four days, and then I get a hotel!
