Part 2 - First Taste of the Good Stuff

Getting out of that first stretch of desert was tough. The section of trail from Campo to Warner Springs while not technically challenging is difficult in so many ways mentally and physically. There wasn’t a day that went by that first week that I didn’t think about quitting.

Getting to Julian and Warner Springs kept me going, the people kept me going, you all reading this kept me going (I owe you a story!). The main thing that kept me going though was knowing my desert struggles would turn into mountain vistas and paradise soon enough with the section from Warner Springs to I-10. We would go by Idyllwild, a town I had dreamt about for years and we would have our first days in real mountains (not just the garbage desert ones).

We left Warner Springs Monday, May 17th after receiving our resupply boxes full of goodies for the next leg. It was a beautiful hike up winding streams back into the mountainous desert of northern Anza-Borego State Park. Sheriff and Cave Man had decided to join Will and I leaving Warner Springs and see how far it worked for. Over the next 2 days, we crushed some 23 mile days and caught up with our old “bubble” at the Paradise Cafe in Anza for a great lunch. It was good to see the crew and it was good to be around so many friends. Everyone shared stories of the past two days and talked about plans to get to Idyllwild. It was a 26 mile journey with nearly 8,000’ of elevation change between the two.

Bubble:
​The group of hikers you tend to spend your time around on breaks and in camp.

---

As the cafe closed we found our way back to the trailhead to hike a few more miles for the day. On one side of the highway, south of us, was Anza-Borego State Park, on the other, to the north, was San Bernardino National Forest. I was stoked to be heading up into non-desert mountains. It had taken us 6 days to traverse the length of Anza-Borego and I can safely say it’s somewhere I will probably never return to unless I’m in a car.

We awoke early on the 19th after cowboy camping for the first time. We knew the day was going to be a big uphill slog, but I was excited to be heading up into the alpine for the first time on this trip. We worked our way upward and all the while I could see the pines getting closer as we neared 6,500’ in elevation. The trail crossed through burn zones and the wind was whipping up the western slopes. It was a slow and steady day uphill and the views kept getting better and better. As we neared Idyllwild we found a spot to camp down in the pines sheltered from the wind. The next day would be a “Nero” into Idyllwild and enjoy a much deserved break from hiking.

Nero:
Near Zero, a low mileage day hiking (usually 9 or less miles)

---

Idyllwild was a beautiful mountain town with a great PCT support community. People were excited to talk to us, invite us in and give us rides. I drank a lot, ate a lot and had a lot of fun. In the evening we got dinner at the brewery and then enjoyed a little party one of the trail angels who had been following us was throwing. It was a nice break from the monotony of hiking and a welcome moment to absorb what all we had done so far.

Friday morning we left town and headed back up into the mountains with heavy bags full of supplies for the 5 day trip to Big Bear. We covered 11 miles to Fuller Ridge, over beautiful mountain terrain, getting water from our first pristine mountain spring and enjoying some awesome views before the clouds and cold began to envelop us at 8,000’. It would be a cold breezy night.

On Saturday we awoke early to a bitterly cold morning, it was the type where it was hard to get yourself out of bed. Eventually, after a mental war with myself, I got food, packed up and got to walking. The day would be an easy, but grueling one, 19 miles down 5,000’ in elevation to I-10. I never thought I would say this, but I don’t want to go downhill for a few days after that. The thumping, constant dropping and never ending slog were rough on the knees and the head. I put my head down and trudged through. Luckily, I found all the good things at the bottom, water, two trail angles with snacks and my buddy Alex who had taken his Saturday to come out for a visit. It was a good day and set the tone for more days ahead. We had come 200 miles in 12 days on foot, we were crushing our expectations and we were having a hell of a time doing it.

I-10 Buffet Compliments of Mama Bear