Temperature climbs over 100

Climbing from Interstate 10 mile 209 to mile 216 San Gorgonio wilderness area is 2000 foot vertical gain  .the temperature was over 100 degrees. The shade opportunities were few and far between. When I could find a rock or shrub large enough to provide shade for one human. The spots were all full. My strategy was to get to the top where there should be some Breeze. There was some relief over 3000 feet. 20 miles was a good accomplishment for that day and I slept at the Whitewater Preserve, an Oasis in the desert

Angels and Magic

The Descent from Summit to Desert floor took me more than one full day of hiking. I set up my tent quickly as the sun went down I was around mile 200.
When I got near the Interstate 10 Bridge a wonderful woman was greeting hikers and welcoming them to a feast that she and her husband Wendell had put together just for the hikers. Wendell was a hiker and when he called for help on the trail his wife( Mama Bear )would perform Magic turning desert into Oasis. I asked are you caterer? she replied no I'm Armenian

If you go to the trail looking for love you will find it here

Yogi's book

My campsite at Tule was exposed. When the sun went down the wind began to scream like Banshees. I had heard the story of a 2017 hiker who received the trail name Dorothy after his tent Blew Away In The Wind with his cellphone still in it..
Jackie McDonnell writes hiking guide books under the name Yogi. Jackie has gathered information from an amazing group of experience thru-hikers.the technique I used to secure my tent to the ground came directly from her book. When the earth is too hard to secure tent Stakes. Put your trekking poles through the stake loops on your tent lay them flat on the ground and stack heavy rocks on top of them. Thank you Jackie and thanks to your Intrepid team of global Trekkers.
Saturday morning I still have my tent but some of my personal items could use laundry service.
The trail north of Highway 74 is detoured due to recent fire. I hiked the 15 miles to the road then caught a ride with a man named herk into Idyllwild. Hurk helped me and another hiker find accommodations for the evening.
The alternative Trail I've chosen out of Idyllwild is called The Devil's Slide. Appropriately named the root climbs from 5000 feet to just over 7,000 feet within 10 miles. The room in Idlewild was so comfortable I didn't leave until check out at noon. Bad planning that hike In the Heat of the day is potentially deadly. Used map and Compass to navigate this unfamiliar trail system. I often make wrong turns and make up the difference with tenacity. I found myself at a junction named Wellman's divide just two and a half miles from the summit of Mount San Jacinto. The Summit is 10800 feet above sea level. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and I decided to push through to the summit and camp further down the ridge on the other side. less than 1/2 Mile out of Wellman's I met a young Mountaineer named Simon. Simon was experienced and familiar with local trails. After a few minutes of conversation Simon suggested that perhaps it was a bad choice to Summit that evening. He told me that the snowpack Beyond The Summit obscured the trail and even though he had walked it many times he found himself lost that day and chose to go back down the mountain on the more clearly defined path. We walked together to Wellman's divide where I set up my tent and he continued his descent. It was later that I realized how much the altitude had affected me. Conversation was difficult and like a drunk person I would try to plant my foot in front of me and it would land somewhere else. The thin air did not affect my sleep I slept great and summited the next morning at 9 o'clock

Warners to. Tule canyon

Tule canyon

The trail Leaving Warner is livestock grazing pasture. We must open and close large pipe gates to keep the cows penned in. I have no experience herding cattle. When these enormous creatures block my path, I spoke to them the same way I would anyone else." Pardon Me Miss, I'm hiking the Trail, I'd just like to get past you if you don't mind" when that didn't work I automatically began talking like a cowboy in a movie. Sternly and with confidence" let's go move along bossy" that worked perfectly. After several miles of flat land we start climbing from just below 3000 feet to almost 6,000 within 15 miles. 20 miles into the day I knew we were dropping in elevation to about 3500 Within a 8 mile span. I was dog-tired but downhill doesn't usually hurt my knees in fact I'm good at it. I filled up my water bottles at Trail Angel Mike's and began a Free Run to Tule Canyon.28 tough miles that day . I am proud

Past 100

Filling water bottles at Barrel Spring other hikers celebrated passing the Hundred Mile Mark a mile back. I was oblivious,focused on water. Long hot miles without shade, water is primary concern. Warner Springs Resource Center in Warner Springs California is visible from the  trail. It's also just one mile from a golf course with a restaurant. I celebrated my accomplishments with a fantastic steak dinner protein fat calories and one beer. Mile 109.5 means I walked 27 miles before 4:30 p.m.

Hiker Corral at Resource Center

Wednesday 4-26

on Trail before sunup hiked 13 miles to scissors Crossing Highway 78 before 10 a.m. mostly downhill. Under the highway bridge I met Trail angel Ed. He had water for dry hikers. Another Trail Angel ( Brew Hiker) offered rides into the town of Julian 12 miles away. Julian is another hiker friendly town with full resupply services and free slice of pie at Mom's pies. After picking up much needed protein and calories

I stuck out my thumb on Route 78 just passed the post office. was picked up by a retired fireman and  back under the bridge before 1 p.m. at 5 p.m. it was still very hot and the sun was relentless. I was anxious for more miles so I started climbing slowly up the San Felipe Valley . I set up my tent just before the sun went down and slept the sleep of the Angels. 18 miles for the day good enough

Leaving Laguna

5 a.m. I left my comfortable cabin and immediately got lost in the dark and fog. Found my way back to the trail before six. I've never seen pinecones so big in my life they're the size of footballs. kindness I received from every person I met in Laguna fill my heart with  positive energy. The Shakedown lightened my load. I easily hike 22 miles that day. I made camp at chariot Canyon in a dry creek bed. The wind was brutal. Each gust brought fine sand from the creek bed into my tent. Woke up with grit in my mouth and a gravelly voice. That experience I am happy to put behind me.