#barrel spring

There are cows along the PCT in a number of places . . . it is not uncommon to hear the clang of cowbells along the PCT in the Trinity Alps and invariably hikers encounter cows in the meadows between Barrel Spring and Eagle Rock just south of Warner Springs.  Last spring feral cows made the news as they terrorized hikers coming out of Whitewater  -- http://pcttrailsidereader.com/post/171697704569/feral-cattle-terrorize-the-whitewater

They can, indeed, be aggressive.  It is rare but sometimes they just do not want to relinquish the trail.  Here’s a video of cows pushing back as a hiker heads toward Warner Springs from the south:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-tym37WLro

Top Image:  Crocodile, Stonefly, and Z making their way through the San Felipe Hills.  Middle left: Creature near San Ysidro Creek between Barrel Spring and Eagle Rock. Middle right:  Creature and Stonefly looking out over the San Felipe Valley and Scissors Crossing. Bottom Image: Crocodile in Deep Creek Canyon.

These photos, again, are thanks to Randy ‘Arrow’ Godfrey.  Moving north from yesterday’s set.  The bridge over Deep Creek is just about 300 miles north from the Mexican border. 

As much as I try to avoid water caches, I will confess that there are two water caches that I have been so grateful they existed when I went through. The first time I walked down the San Felipe Hill southbound, it was an unbearably hot day and I was under prepared to deal with the heat and its impact on me.  I had not carried enough from Barrel Spring.

I notice that in recent photos, the cache has gotten a little more sophisticated.  It is a big commitment to get the water to the 3rd Gate and to maintain the volume necessary for all of the hikers who pass by.