Date: 12th May 2023 Pct day: 6 Start: Mile 77 End: Mile 101 Distance: 24.2 Miles Start name: Scissors Crossing End name: Barrel Springs - Mile 101 Wake up: 07:30 Start hiking: 09:45 At camp: 9:30pm In bed: 10:30pm
Key moments
- Have a two course breakfast at the hotel I stayed at (one course cold one course hot)
- some Hiking friends are taking 0 days at Julian - I’ll see them down the track, but it’s sad to see them go. But it’s part of the trail, people drift back and forth and you see them later
- Got a ride with a trail Angel to the start of the trail - starting late at 930 wasn’t ideal as it was very hot! But so many beautiful flowers and cactuses on this side of the highway.
- like the flowers and cactuses etc literally looked like some kind of botanical exhibit. Stunning. Also really really hot.
- Loads of contouring - where you stay at a similar elevation but go around a mountainside.
- Had to take lots of breaks in the shade to escape the sun. There was a lot of leapfrogging past other hikers and then they’d pass you as you took a break
- Was on a mission today to get to mile 101 to make it easier to get to Warner Springs post office before it shuts at 1pm on Saturday.
- Saw my friend Graham on the trail at the water cache - he’d apparently spent some time trying to help a hiker who was not enjoying the heat and was having a bit of a day - I hope that hiker has a better day soon and we get to see them later.
- did I mention it was hot? It was hot. It was a 14 mile water carry to the next water point.
- Hiking in the late afternoon is great
- Pushed on into the evening - a much better time to hike! Bumped into another hiker who was keen to hike into the night with me to get to mile 101
- Passed mile 100! Milestone!
- I feel so grateful and lucky to make it on this trip.
- Also my legs are sore
- Also I totally have blisters because I did a bigger day than I had planned
- Did I mention my legs are sore? So is my back.
Plan from here
- see the eagle rock formation tomorrow, very exciting
- Have a town day at Warner Springs
- Hike a couple miles on
Animals sighted
- 2 snakes
- Crows
- Lizards
Gear thoughts
- would be keen to try out a closed cell foam mat instead of my inflatable one
Physical condition
- sore feet
- Left foot small blister on heel
- Right foot blister under ball of foot
- Sore legs, sore quads, sore calves
- Sore legs and feet
Thoughts and Observations
- thru hiking means that you’ll be drifting past other hikers back and forth all the time, no point in stressing in trying to stay with a certain group
Quotes of the day -That’s why we are here it’s walking intermingled with mild discomfort, consistent niggily aches and pains , and intermittent joys and pleasure — Graham
