April 9 – day 1 – camped mile 15.2
My dear sister Lauri dropped me off at the trailhead. Day one was much harder than I remember. My shoulders and hips are very sore. Camped by the dry Hauser Creek which is where I camped day one in 2013. I went to sleep just after sunset.
April 10 – day 2 – camped mile 32.2 – hiked 17.1 miles
Another hard day readjusting my body to the pack. Camped on a bed of live oak leaves. Went to sleep just as it was getting dark.
April 11 – day 3 – camped mile 45.3 – hiked 14 miles
It was a great day today. Ascended through forests up to Mt. Laguna where I had my first trail burger and fries. Not too impressive for a “Mountain Burger” but there will be plenty of burgers in my PCT future. Had a wonderful camping spot with a commanding view overlooking Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
April 12 – day 4 – camped mile 65 – hiked 19.7 miles
Got going early and enjoyed the spectacular views of the desert below. Had a good long break at Sunrise Trailhead where I ate my favorite trail meal: red beans and rice. After that I started the long descent toward Scissor Crossing. Saw my fourth horny toad this afternoon — very small and golden. Found a dry wash to camp in.
April 13 – day 5 – camped mile 80.7 – hiked 15.7 miles
It was a hot day today. Got to the low point at Scissor Crossing at noon. I was so happy that there was a tiny water cache there under the Highway 78 bridge. This cache was supposed to have been removed by the Anza-Borrego rangers. There was one thru-hiker when I got there and about nine when I left. I started walking again in the late afternoon up into the dry San Felipe Hills.
April 14 – day 6 – camped off trail mile 101.3 – hiked 20.6 miles
The San Felipe Hills that I am walking through today are one of the driest sections of the trail. Got water at the third gate water cache. I take off again when there are about ten thru-hikers tanking up there. Barrel Springs, the next water source, is just off S22 west of Ranchita. I head a mile and a half east on the Montezuma Highway toward Mountain Valley Retreat in Ranchita. It’s a perfect stop. I shower, do my laundry, pick up my resupply package, and have a delicious meal of chicken veggie soup, slaw, bread and butter, and a glass of Pinot to top it off.