Day 7!

Published on by hikedrawhike

There’s a reason this side of the hill is greener. I wake up to a light drizzle. My sleeping bag!! Ack! I scramble to pack up in the dark. I triple check that I have everything. It’s hard to see in the mist. I must be in a cloud! I hike down to get out of the moisture but it’s everywhere.

I check the time, it’s 2am. Great. Now what. I could look for a different spot to set up my tent. The clouds part and the moon illuminates the trail. It’s beautiful. Everything has a crystallized dewy look in the light of my headlamp. Mist floats across the trail and into the trees. The air smells like wet sage.

You know what, I’m going to night hike. I was planning on waking up early to hike to Warner Springs anyways.

I set off in the moon light.  

The mist is magical. Hiking in the cool air is so refreshing. The miles glide by. I pass the 100 mile marker!

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The trail enters a dark forest. I stop to turn on my headlamp and take off my down jacket. Another hiker quietly walks past. We exchange a quiet “good morning” and he dissapears into the darkness.

The forest levels out around a large dry sand wash. I start to see tents squashed together under trees. I must be near the next water source. I switch my headlamp to redlight mode and pick my way through the bivys and tarps. The bushes sound like they’re snoring and a guy talks in his sleep. I find the other night hiker at the trough quietly scooping out water. We aknowledge each other without a word. We take turns filling our waterbottles. Now to find the trail out. There’s a maze of tents before us. It’s fun sneaking around the campsite with this stranger. We eventually locate the trail.

“Have a good hike” he whispers and is gone. I’ve never seen anyone hike so fast. I could later pick out his headlamp so far ahead of me. I wonder if he’s attempting a speed record. Regardless the motives for his hike I wish him luck.

The trail enters a wide sweeping meadow. I’m surrounded by nothing but grass, stars and the moon. 

The sun rises gradually. Birds start to call good morning to each other.

The trail follows a rocky stream for a few miles. I start to feel really tired. Maybe I could take a nap on a rock… no gotta keep going.

   I love the green, white, blue and grey of this section of the pct.

The trail wanders away from the rocky creak back into open grass land. Giant bolders sleep in the sweeping feilds.

I find Eagle Rock! 

I eat a poptart and that makes a world of difference. I power through the last few miles to my destination.


The Warner Springs Cominity Center!!

I layout my things in the grass to dry and take a nap.

This place is really amazing. It’s run by local people who give their time to help hikers. They made us salad and hamburgers! They have towels and hot water for us to take bucket showers! A lady brought us cookies! Thank you so much people of Warner Springs!

The rest of my day is spent picking up my resupply box, resting, eating, laughing with people and painting.

Camped at mile 109.5 of the pct.

Miles hiked today: 10.53
 

21 thoughts on “Day 7!”

  4. My favorite read as well. Hate to keep repeating myself, but I really love the pictures, painting and writing. Thanks so much. You are amazing.

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  6. Shared your trail web address with a 97 year-old water color artist today. He painted the Vienna town mural on the side of a building abutting the town park. We have a signed print of this mural in our dining room. His name is Harris Miller and he and I spent the past 72 hours together with approx 80 other men locked into our church on a renewal retreat over the weekend. Harris is amazing and I think he will be amazed by your trail paintings. Sandy briefly saw his studio for the first time when we picked Harris and his 63 year-old son last Thursday evening to drive to Vienna Presbyterian for the retreat. Sandy is going back to his studio for an extended tour. May your extended tour of the PCT bring you inspiration and great joy!! SIncerely, Virginia Uncle John

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  7. Hey ms HikeDrawHike!! Love your writings and pics – really brings me back to last year for me!! I actually remember some of the very spots (to within feet) of where you took your pics.

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  8. You are my inspiration! We’ve made it a family ritual to check your blog. I look forward to see if you’ve posted. Your adventure is exciting. We’re in awe. I tell my 2.5 year old that’s mommy’s friend from BB – she’s an adventurer. Awesome paintings, beautiful pictures, and fantastic narrative. Thank you for taking us along!

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