I woke up today and asked myself how I wanted to celebrate Easter. "I know," said I enthusiastically to myself, "I think I'll go hiking!" And so my day began. Strangely enough, there was not a peep from my left knee or my blistered toe. The balls of my feet ache, but that's a given I think, considering they have been hiking now for eight consecutive days. That ache is usually the background music to more pressing pains during the first two miles of my day. Today, though, even the aching settled down and I was blissfully pain free. Within the first few miles I saw two little bunnies in the brush, so I chalked it up to an Easter miracle.
The first 9 miles of my day brought me along the edge of a washed out cliff, and I had nice views out toward Anza-Borrego, and also toward Terwillager Valley. Around mid-morning I hit the Pines to Palms highway, and started into the San Bernardino Wilderness. You can find this area at a small parking spot 6 miles east of Anza. It is well worth a day hike! The trail ambles among pine and oak trees, threading it's way between great granite boulders. Some of these boulders are three or four stories high and are impressive to see. This is also a great place to see where the trail goes once it reaches the high mountains (pictured).
After a few miles the trail heads up into chaparral, before reaching a turn off to Lost Oak Spring. This was about mile 16.5 and wekl past time for a break. Here is a note for future hikers: the spring is beautiful and campsites are great. However, do not hike down the mile long trail with your pack unless you plan to spend the night. I did not, so I took only some lunch supplies, the water filter, and my maps. That was lucky, because the path is steep and sunny, and getting back up to the ridge was enough of a chore with only a few pounds of water. Still, the spring was cool and fresh, I was able to bathe for the first time in days, and the oak at the campsite was amazing (pictured).
Incidentally, I learned about this spring from a fellow hiker who is in this area training for the PCT. A bear of a man, in his fifties, came roaring around a corner in the trail. It was close to the road and I was stopped to talk to a day hiker who was on his way out. The big hiker stopped, huffed, and asked if me minded him dropping dead at our feet. He introduced himself as "Paint Your Wagon." He had a heart attack not too long ago. He had a stint and pacemaker put in, and was waiting on a stress test later this month to see if he was fit for the trail. He wants to hike the PCT for his health, and is out here training until he gets the doctor's ok.
His name, of course, is a trail nickname. Part of the culture of the PCT is to acquire a nickname that other hikers know you by. I met a kid a few days back who goes by tge name "General," for example. I don't have a nickname in part because it doesn't interest me and in part because I don't spend enough time with other people to earn one. But in honor of my progress so far I shall name myself....
Captain-SuperAwesome!
No?
Anyway, back to the hike. After a detour to the spring the trail shot upward to the tops of the mountains I had been following. And I mean straight up. I started the day at 4900 feet and am now camped on a peak at 7100 feet, overlooking Lake Hemet. I can feel the elevation take it's toll. The last few miles have been brutal. Still, managed 23 miles and I have some views to die for. Looking east I can see the desert and Palm Springs far below me. Looking north I can see that the last 14 miles to Idyllwild will not be flat (pictured).
