Day 8 - Warner Springs
We surprised ourselves today. Leaving the water cache the elevation was fairly constant, and with a combination of lighter packs and the rest from Julian we flew in the morning: doing 10 miles before 10am - they call this a "10 before 10" - with an average pace of 3.1 mph (our new speed record).
Passing the 100 mile mark, the scenery changed from the high desert's bushes and granite gravel ridgelines to dry, grassy plains. After a few miles of this, we passed by a PCT landmark (though we didn't know it until later): Eagle Rock. There were a number of day hikers out and one kind soul shared two cutie oranges which really buyoued our spirits. Then we got a second change of scenery as we descended along a creekside lined with decidous trees we couldn't quite identify the rest of the way to Warner Springs.
Warner Springs has a really awesome community center that serves as a hiker resource center during the summer. Being at mile 110 puts it at a great location for hikers to realize they need new shoes/gear, or to come to the disapointing conclusion they are injured and need to heal up before continuing. They have an ultralight store, snack store, wifi, showers, camping, and foot soaks! We couldn't help ourselves and tucked into ice cream sandwhiches, vienna sausages, and gummy bears. Gaelen thinks this was the first time he enjoyed vienna sausages.
As we prepared to leave the community center, we got to speak with Sutton who hooked us up with some more information on our planned summit of Mt. San Jacinto in another 70 miles. Then everyone ran outside to check out the incredible cloud display that had developed. We walked a final 3 miles through cow pasture to Agua Caliente Creek where we camped with a bunch of the May 4th cadre.
Ghost twisted our arm after the hitch out of Julian to help with donations, so if you'd like please mail your tax deductible donation to:
Warner Springs Community Resource Center
P.O. Box 214
Warner Springs, CA 92086
