Today was quite a treat. I awoke to a chorus of frogs and a fine layer of frost everywhere. I headed out of Barrel Springs and over a low hill. The sun began to rise as I crested the hill, and I saw rolling green fields stretching far into the distance (pictured). To the west, green mountains. To the northeast, scrub coated mountains topped with granite boulders. The fields were full of purple and yellow flowers, so that whole swaths of the terrain ahead was yellow. I passed dairy cows before heading toward higher ground to the northeast. I hiked up a small canyon, lined with oaks and split by a clear stream. There I saw deer and wild turkeys, and I'm quite sure I saw a Native American mortar sitting by the trailside. The trail turned uphill, and after a stretch of chaparral I found myself in another field. This one reminded me of the English countryside. Rolling green hilks and large clusters of granite boulders. The boulders are so clustered in various spots around the field that they look like the ruins of ancient druidic sites. One such site, that looked like a fortress on a small hillock, had a post nearby. It said "eagle rock." After walking around the site I saw what they meant (pictured).
After the field you wander along a beautiful creek. Before I knew it I came to a road, and to Warner Springs. I stopped by the fire station and filled up on water, then headed across the street to resume my trek. I was stopped to publish yesterday's blog when I heard someone say hello. I turned abd saw a man in his sixties standing by a beat up truck. He introduced himself as Lawrence, or as "the spring guy." I assumed he meant spring as in the water source, but judging by the pickup full of junk metal, who knows? We chatted a bit and I found out he was responsible for the water cache at highway 78. He also told me about the man who manages the water cache I took a picture of in the San Felipe Hills. The man hikes a mile uphill with 4 gallons of water each day, until the cache is full for PCT hikers. Oh, and he is 80 years old.
From Warner Springs the trail leads up into the hills, initially along a stream, but later on bare sun baked slopes. I hiked another 11 miles, bringing my total to just over 20, and gained 2200 feet of elevation. I am headed into the San Jacinto Mountains.
I made camp in a small valley of sand and granite boulders (pictured). Each boulder has a rose hue to it, and the effect is quite beautiful. Anyway, I need to go now and pull a tick out of my leg. Good fun.
