After leaving Warner Springs at sunset, I hiked with Mike to find a great spot along a flowing creek about 1.5 hours after dark. The next morning wasn't quite the early start I've been trying to stick with in the desert and we had a long day of climbing and heat awaiting.
Morning climb into the high desert hills.
Second rattlesnake sighting of the trip.
A strange but welcomed watering hole miles from anything in the high desert.
Mike's screen porch and hiker box
The fast movin' fellas chased me down leaving Mike's Place
Yucca detail
Desert flora
The area around Tule Spring, the night's camp, looked like a botanical garden. The water from the spring however looked a little questionable.
Another early morning departure to beat the desert heat
Love Barrel cactus!
Normally these ubiquitous lizards darted away. This guy didn't seem to mind me taking his picture
One of the coolest trail magic stops along the way. Walden--complete with water, sodas, a mini library rom which you could take or leave books, cards for Mother's Day which the trail angel would stamp and send and life sized cut outs of these guys...
Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau. Two of America's earliest literary proponents of the value of wilderness to the human constitution.
Maroon grass
Paradise Valley Cafe...the reward after 15 miles of morning hiking! I started writing a country song in my head on the way to the cafe anticipating a solid off-trail meal.
Due to a fire closure along the trail the 'unofficial alternate route' involved a lot of highway walking to get to Idyllwild. After about 8 miles of it and just before sunset a guy from town pulled over and asked if I wanted a ride into town telling me I had at least another 2-3 hours of walking. With tired feet and a mildly sprained ankle from the day before, I said yes please and thank you.
Idyllwild's city monument...the coolest chainsaw carved sculpture!
View from downtown Idyllwild
Amazing hospitality from Mike's aunt and Morgan and her mom in Idyllwild made for a supremely relaxing near-o day. Fresh salad and veggies are crave-worthy after days of basic trail food.
Back onto the trail with ominous clouds looming over Idyllwild
It was amazing to hit snow pack on Fuller Ridge after being in crushing desert heat 48 hours earlier.
So much stoke!
The clouds opened for an amazing view...
The sun even broke through lighting up the ice on the pine needles
But the clouds closed in again
And sleet started to fall just after getting the tent up
Followed by a couple inches of fresh powder throughout the night
A timely change to shorts:)
Fresh powder means wayfinding on the trail and being extra cautious with steps for hidden rocks and roots. It continued to rain down huge snowflakes off and on until 1 pm
The hot dry desert around Palm Springs peeks through thousands of feet below
Beautiful manzanita bark
A snow storm in progress
200 miles down!
Finally, my cozy home and a gorgeous sunset after a 25 mile hike and 7,000 foot descent! Now that's rough on the body!
Morning clouds hanging over the mountains
I-10 underpass
Water and food cache under I-10
A bittersweet goodbye to these high mileage hikers, Mike and Harry! For me it's a rest day and and some time with my lady on the trail.
Palm Springs and the mountains I came out of
Fresh greens and lovely company!
We get on the trail again tomorrow!