Author: Florian Eggert

Day 7 – Third Gate Water Cache to Warner Springs, mile 109

Woke up around 5.45am, the wind woke me up again and again during night. Was too tired to get my ear plugs. Paulina and Eric left earlier, so when I got out from my tent, I enjoyed the loneliness of the desert while watching sunrise. So beautiful.

I had planned 18 miles today to make it to Warner Springs. It is a very small town, but the Community Resource Center is selling some resupplies and camping is possible in their garden.

I arrived in Warner Springs after two water stops around 4.30pm, just in time before the shop in the community center closes.

Hiker Box in Warner Springs – full of shoes

Will stay here in Warner Springs tomorrow and have my first zero day (zero miles hiking) / rest day tomorrow.

Day 6 – Julian to Third Gate Cache, mile 91

Woke up at 6am, enjoyed a free breakfast burrito at Carmen’s.
After that the free apple pie at Mom’s.

Went to the Julian Post Office to lighten my backpack. Eric was already sitting there and helped with the shakedown. Thank you Eric! 👍 Eric is one of the guys who cut off the toothbrush handle to reduce weight. Sent clothes, ebook reader, maps, jacket to Steven. Got rid of some underwear, toilet paper…

Paulina, Eric and myself met to hitchhike back to trail around 10am.. we started the hiking around 12pm.

I felt super motivated with my lighter pack. Two hours later I had finished 7 miles! My fastest section so far, despite hiking uphill in the noon sun with no shade.

Soundtrack of today:

https://play.google.com/music/m/Bfh4keemd6jeru56x5cjxtg4os4?t=Billy_Idol_-_Billy_Idol

Arrived around 6.30pm at the water cache at mile 91 with Eric, Paulina followed shortly after. Dinner. Warm night with a bright moon.

Day 4 – Mount Laguna to Sunrise Trailhead, mile 59

This will be a good day. We all got up around 6am except Rotem… Guess that was the big wine bottle? 😁

The trail was even better than I hoped… There was water after 7 miles and the air was much cooler. Trees, shade, mostly downhill.

I was pretty fast. I had started with 4 liters but saw after 7 miles that I only needed 1.5. So I adjusted for the next 4 miles piece.

Arrived here at the water 11 miles in for my siesta around 12pm.

Many other hikers arrived. We made the plan to camp at mile 59 where a water tank was waiting – it would be an 18 miles day. We left the shades around 3pm and took on the last 7 miles.

We made it to camp around 6.30pm. Short before, I had my first trail magic experience!

Day 3 – Kitchen Creek to Mount Laguna, mile 41

A nice morning. The sounds of birds and frogs woke me up short before 6am, so I was on trail before 7am. Just before passing the bee hive, I met another hiker and we hurried by together. No problems this time, guess they were really sleepy as I was hoping.

I did not feel as refreshed as the previous day… The heat got me early. I took breaks at 5 miles, 7 miles and around 10 miles just before Mount Laguna, the destination for today.

Had a nice chat with Rotem in a long lunch break at mile 10, later on also Paulina joined.

We hiked together the last mile to Mount Laguna. We did some shopping at the general store, I picked up my package. I had ordered enough food for 4-5 days to take me to Warner Springs. With the food I had left, I am now carrying way too much food.

So at least for dinner I could eat my own food – the only restaurant in town is closed on Monday.

We had a nice dinner in a group with other PCT hikers. Later Rotem was playing Ukulele and singing at the fire – PCT life at its best.

A video will follow later.

A great day with nice company. Looking forward to tomorrow. It should be even or downhill for the next 30 miles.