4 April 2023
Warner Springs (PCT Mile 110) to cistern at PCT Mile 140

I’m back on trail!

Today was a long day and I got my first up-close views of San Jacinto. There is a lot of snow up there!

I started with an Uber ride to the gas station in Warner Springs. To keep continuous footsteps I walked the road back to the PCT.

When I got to the trail it looked like it could be a slog crossing back and forth across swollen Agua Caliente Creek. So I opted to take the Indian Flats Road just a bit to the west. The views were nice up there and I had the road to myself the whole way.

After about 5 miles I found a trailhead on the road that led me back to the PCT.

There was still water everywhere today, so I skipped most of the places I would normally stop to refill my water bottles.

When the trail finally crested over the shoulder of Combs Peak I got a breathtaking view of San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, and the San Bernardino ridge.

Um. That’s a lot of snow. Hmmmmm….. I took a long break and ate some lunch, wondering “What am I doing?”

Fortunately, the main climb for the day was over, and when I started walking again I thoroughly enjoyed the flower show on the way down towards Tule Springs.

I got to the turnoff for Tule Springs and I was out of water, but I didn’t feel like walking downhill off trail for a water source, so I decided to press on to a cistern at mile 140. Fortunately it was full, and I found a nice flat spot nearby to camp for the night.

I’m starting to get the feeling that this isn’t my year for a thru-hike. I spend a lot of time thinking about alternate paths around the snow and the water crossings.

I’ve also already done all these miles at least three times, sometimes more. They are so beautiful, especially this year, but I long to share them with good friends and I don’t think I have the patience I need to develop deep relationships on trail with my fellow thru-hikers.

Maybe I need to (finally) let go of this thru-hiking idea in my head and just section hike like a (slightly) less crazy person.

We’ll see. I want to make it to Palm Springs at least.

Today’s Hike-u:

When Will I Learn This Is Not For Me?
Am I doomed to try
And fail time and time again?
Maybe, maybe not.