PCT Day 7 – Cache Only

It was warm in my tent last night. About halfway through the night I kicked my pants down around my ankles to cool off. So I slept in only my undershorts and undershirt for the first time this hike. If the weather stays warm like this, I might try cowboy camping again.

The Crest in PCT

The PCT is a trail that goes through maintain ranges. Crest is its middle name. The trail stays high. Water at high altitude is some times hard to find. You could route the trail through lower altitudes where water is plentiful, but it would no longer be the PCT. It would be the PT. Today we will feel the pain of this feature of the trail. Our main objective is to hike 12 miles to a water cache, collect water and continue on to camp. A cache is water in a container or containers, like the gallon jugs at Scissors Cross yesterday. Were it not for these caches, there would be (at certain seasons) no natural sources of water for over 37 miles. Our whole day would be without water we’re it not for the cache.

Plants and such

As I mentioned yesterday, we start the day nestled into the San Felipe Hills above part of the Anza-Borrego Desert. We will follow these hills northwest all morning. Check out this ghostly pricklebush beside the trail.

And look at this tiny miracle. It’s only about as big as a softball and look at all those flowers.

I know it’s hard to see, but this hillside is covered in these giant blooms that look like asparagus stalks each one comes out of a plant no taller than two feet. The stalks go as high as 10 and 12 feet.

Finally, check out this delicate little guy. The stalk is about 18 inches long.

Signs

I notice a small sticker stuck to a farm gate on the trail. I resist a comment because I don’t really know where to start. It did take my mind off the heat for a few minutes. If you can’t read what the sticker says, you are probably the better off.

The next sign was laid down by a thoughtful hiker in an area where about five paths converge. It’s made of stones pressed into the dirt! Bravo.

And yes, we are still above the San Felipe Valley looking back at where we came from

Cache ahead

Here is the first sign we see as we reach the trail to water. Luckily I took chemistry in high school.

There are four people hanging out at the cache when we arrive. They are all wearing big smiles like dragons atop a treasure hoard. The little triangular structure in the photo is for empty bottles. A tip jar crammed with money is also there.

The gallon jugs of water are covered by a tarp to keep them cool. There are probably 40 gallons under there. The signs above the water asks people to take only three liters.

As people are exchanging names and hometowns we learn that one of the hikers at the cache is from Orlando. His name is Ben and he lives in the Union Park area of east Orlando. He has a guitar strapped to his backpack! He is a professional musician and he can’t imagine going more than a few days without playing. I hope I get to hear him some day?

Downtempo

Keith is not doing well. His feet have been hurting more or less since the beginning of the hike. Today, it really started to affect his enjoyment of the trail. We discussed what to do, and it looks like we may go into Julian after we reach Warner Springs tomorrow. Keith may need some new shoes, or he may need some rest off trail. We will see how that plays out.

This nightmarish succulent looks like Keith feels right now.

The night looks like it will be clear with low wind. So I decide to cowboy camp. Here is my spread.

And here is my view.

• May 11, 2023
• Starting marker: 79.4
• Ending marker: 96.5
• Miles hiked today: 17
• Total PCT miles: 97
• A few months ago on Family Feud, Steve Harvey asked this question. “What is the maximum number of days you will wear the same pair of underwear?” The number one answer was “1”. “7” was not a number expressed by anyone in the survey. I am a trailblazer in more ways than one, it seems.