On 5/11 we took a zero in Warner Springs. On 5/12 we did 12.7 miles just south of Mike Herra's place and slept at 5,056 feet. On 5/13 we did 18.4 miles to Nance Canyon and slept at 3,438 feet. On 5/14 we did 19.1 miles to Cedar Springs Canyon and slept at 6,138 miles. On 5/15 we did 19.5 miles to an abandoned fire road at 5,587 feet. On 5/16 we did 2 miles into Idyllwild for a nero.
So we rolled into Warner Springs on 5/10. The approach to the town was beautiful, the last 6 miles were rolling hills with oak groves sprinkled throughout. I was enjoying the trek, but noticed Sketch Pad (Clara) was silent. I turned around and saw her bitting her lip with every step/hobble... she had hit her limit. Luckily by the time the pain was borderline unbearable we were only 2 miles away from the local resource center which allowed hikers to camp in their yard. Sketch Pad was not the only one who was hurting at Warner Springs; in fact, every single person who had passed us during our 5 days on trail was camped out there. It looked like the walking dead with dozens of dirty hikers limping around. It is very normal for thru hikers to experience foot issues, ranging from blisters, shin splints, tendinitis and knee pain. Sketch Pad took off her shoe and examined her feet and told me her blisters had blisters. I chuckled, thinking she was trying to make a humorous comment while in pain, until I examined her feet and indeed saw blisters under blisters... I don't think I ate for the rest of the day.
With her feet in bad shape the only thing we could do is wait so we took an unplanned zero in Warner Springs to allow time off of her feet. Luckily Warner Springs was extremely hiker friendly, and allowed us to do bucket laundry and take bucket showers and supply free coffee in the mornings. I was always told the Appalachian trail had more culture and support for the hikers than the PCT, but I have to found that not to be the case. Besides the wonderful hospitality at WS we have run into numerous other trail angels and support. People like Mike Herarra allow thru hikers to refill water at his desert house which is 0.5 miles off trail in a 30 mile dry section. Not only does he supply water, he also cooks up pancakes and coffee in his outdoor kitchen while blasting Bob Marley... Picture an off- the- grid frat house in the middle of the desert. Then there are people like Ed who we met at at Scissors Crossing. We had to walk a half a mile down a road to get water from a dried creek bed. He saw us coming down the trail and picked us up to take us to the stream. He waited for us to filter our 12 liters of water while telling us stories of the trail and then brought us back to the trail head. While I'm talking about trail angels, I cannot forget Mary. Mary's property butts up against the PCT after Nancy Canyon. She has a picnic table setup just off the PCT and stocks a cooler full of fruit and pop. The coolest thing about her setup is her library. She has a small cupboard full of books on local fauna and geography to take on the hike; she just asks that you mail the books back, once you are done with them.
So far the trail has been great to us, besides some foot problems that were inevitable, we are in good shape and have been well supported a long the way. We will see what the trail dishes out as we head into harsher desert and then the Sierras!
Ed and Sketch Pad... nothing weird about eating lunch with a Trail Angel under an overpass
Good Night
Eagle Rock (yes I know it is upside down, but have no idea how to rotate it on my phone)
Sketch Pad and Soren, holding Fred and Ethel
Tent City at Warner Springs, full of injured hikers
Library at Mary's