Feet, Water and Trail Magic. May 7.

I have arrived in Warner Springs, population of ~1200. 109 miles down!
Six toes taped, but nothing that a "zero day" (a no-mileage day spent
resting and eating, usually in town.) can't fix. The last three days
have been true desert walking in the Anza-Borrego Desert--cacti, sand,
lizards and even a rattler that my right foot came within an inch of
stepping on. (The guys in the trail wanted to know how big it was. I
didn't stick around long enough after the rattle to find out.) I made
it through a 44-mile stretch without any natural water source, despite
it being a wet year. Thankfully enough, this was possible through the
kindness of trail angels, people who provide support for thru-hikers,
in this case by leaving water caches throughout the desert at
trailheads and road crossings. Yet, you can never rely on these, as
hikers before you may have exhausted the cache, which can be 50 or
more gallon jugs of water, sometimes only accessible by remote jeep
road AND a hike by a trail angel.

After leaving Scissors Crossing, I was carrying 6.5 L of water up a
13+ mile climb at mid-day on totally exposed steep contours, no shade.
The incredible views made up for the pain my shoulders were feeling,
and I arrived at the next (and thankfully still available) water cache
by 6pm. I camped that night with Musk Oxe (a 27-year-old wilderness
youth therapy guide--think Brat Camp) and the Florida guys (just can't
shake them!) The next day was a solid 18 miles through dry meadows and
sandy outcrops culminating in the gorgeous lunch time spot I had in
the San Jose del Valle (see above).

I made it to Warner Springs yesterday, but my resupply box was no
where to be found. Fortunately, through the kindness of the thru-hiker
network, mega-hiker Warner Springs Monty (off the trail, but trail
angeling currently) heard about my plight and brought me four days of
food to get me to Idllywild! Thanks to everyone who called and spread
the word so quickly. I really love the incredible community of thru-
hikers and angels that make all of this possible.

Now to soak my feet at the mineral hot springs, let my blisters dry
out, wash my socks and do it all over again tomorrow. I hear snow and
colder weather are in my near future.

Song for this section: Sting's "Let your Soul be your Pilot". I
wonder if Sting wrote this song while he, too, was hiking through the
desert without a water report and Eric the Black's sometimes
lackluster PCT Atlas. At least that's how I interpret it....I'll let
my soul do the walking. 69 miles to Idyllwild.