Agua Caliente Creek

The high winds never came last night but it was raining when I woke up. I packed everything up right away so I could carry my backpack around in case I found a ride. The ride board was still empty of anyone offering rides back to Warner Springs, but as I was standing around eating my free bagel breakfast, a guy asked if anyone needed a ride and said he could go there. The trail provides!

First he took a few hikers to the border to start their hike, and then when he came back for me, we picked up some more hikers headed for the border. We also went out of the way to give a hiker a ride from Julian to Scissors Crossing since we saw him standing in the rain. Cowboy, my ride, hiked about half of the PCT in 2012 and is getting back on trail in June with his thirteen year old daughter so I expect to see them out there.

By the time I got dropped off back at the Warner Springs community center, it was almost lunch time, so I figured I might as well get a burger before heading out. When I finally left about 1:30, it started raining again, but I resisted the temptation of staying in a building and hit the trail. The rain soon stopped, but as I gained in elevation, I felt the mist of walking through the clouds.

The trail twisted back and forth over Agua Caliente Creek for a while. I filled up on water at the last crossing. I planned on camping next to the side trail to Lost Valley Spring, but the water report says it tastes like sulphur and has some dead lizards in it, so I carried all my water up the hill instead.

I made it ten miles before dinner and set up camp slightly sheltered by some bushes. My feet are feeling great after two days of rest.