Day 21-22: Trail Name

April 25-26; Mile 193-218

Day 21

I woke up to a beautiful sunrise from inside my tent. The sky was a hazy orange, and the sun burned just above the purple horizon. I pulled on my puffy and hat as I began the long descent to the desert floor.

The slopes were awash in blooming plants: white, yellow, pink, purple, and orange. My legs enjoyed the steady downhill and snow-free trail. After a few hours I found a shady alcove to take my afternoon siesta. I had stashed my warm clothes long ago, and the day was warming dramatically as I descended. I had service for the first time in a while, so I was able to call Dov. Near the end of our chat an older man shuffled up, sweaty and bedraggled, asking “Mind if I join?” I shifted my pack to make room, and we were soon joined by his friend Charlie Horse. It was the only shade they’d seen in a while, and we all hunched together away from the sun’s glare. The first man – Shepherd – was running low on water, and so I gave him half a liter.

After a luxurious 2.5 hours I decided it was time to start moseying downhill again. I was passed by a couple when we still had about 3 miles to the next water source; they had both run out. I was happy for the company and so I chugged my last liter as we galloped downhill, the two of them like horses headed back to the barn.

A mile later the woman yelped and the bush next to the trail exploded in angry rattling. I was doubly glad that they’d been in front: the snake was practically on the trail. We watched as it slithered down into the bushes, and then she said, “It’s heading for the trail!”

“It’s going down into those rocks there,” her husband replied.

“No, there’s a switchback here; the snake is headed for the next part of the trail!”

We hightailed it out of there, the focus back on getting to the water. At the spigot people huddled in the thin sliver of shade by a large boulder. Tinder and Tailgater were planning to hike another 4 miles to the I-10 bridge for camping. I’d originally planned to stop at the water area, but it was only 3pm. And then I heard that Marvel and Uni had seen a cougar up close there the night before. With the added potential for “trail magic” at the bridge, I was out of there. I’d already done 12 miles, but the next section was mostly flat – how bad could it be?

The answer: blazing hot. But after 2 miles I came across a cooler with ice-cold gatorade and chips! I chugged the frosty drink and soldiered on across the desert floor, feeling like I was in an oven. At the bridge I encountered a veritable horde of people, the most folks I’d seen since Idyllwild. Someone showed up with cheeseburgers, and other folks were passing around snacks and drinks. Lying on my pad in the shade, my stomach full of un-dehydrated food, I was glad I’d made the extra trek.

It was a ridiculously loud place to camp, with trains rattling my core every few hours, and the desert heat was a shock after the thin air of the high country. But I was happy to be making forward progress. It had been my first day hiking over 16 miles, and soon I’d be relaxing at my friend Anna’s house.

Day 22

I was the first one out of camp the next morning, the previous day’s heat burned into my memory. The trail wound past a residential area before reaching a sign welcoming all to Section C of California! Next I passed a wind farm and climbed steeply to a saddle where I took a well-earned break in the shade. Mt San Jacinto loomed to the south, while the San Gorgonio peaks dominated the views to the north.

I only had 4 more miles to do that day, and I enjoyed the descent into the Whitewater Reserve. Stands of bright green trees carpeted the canyon bottom, their color popping against the muted browns and yellows the of desert scrub bush.

The Whitewater Reserve was like paradise – a true desert oasis. There were turquoise pools of shimmering water, flush toilets and sinks, cold water from a spigot… did I mention the water??

On the way there I ran into DD, Coupon, Moxie, and Bounce – folks I hadn’t seen in at least a week. I joined them to soak my feet in the stream, and they passed over a lemonade mix that was about 80% tequila. After regaling them with my San Jacinto adventures, I was bestowed my trail name: Stormy.

Chris (now going by Bounce) was the one who came up with it. I’d met him back when I first had shoe troubles and fell behind my group of friends. I was glad I’d been given a name by someone I knew and liked!

I lounged in the shade until Anna came to pick me up. Thus followed ice cream, a shower, laundry, dinner (with lots of delicious vegetables!), and grocery shopping. It was a whirlwind town stop, especially after already hiking 10 miles, but it was so fun to visit with her! I fell asleep atop a comfy bed, wrapped up in my sleeping bag because some habits never die.