Days 7 to 10 (Miles 101.5 to 151.9)

At Barrel Spring, we awoke to the sound of rain on the tent. It didn’t rain hard, but the weather stayed wet all day.

Eagle Rock, on the way to Warner Springs
Eagle Rock, on the way to Warner Springs

We hiked 9 easy miles to Warner Springs where we picked up our first resupply package at the post office. From there, we headed to the Warner Springs Community Center. We hadn’t planned on camping at the Community Center, but the rain wasn’t letting up and everyone else was setting up their tents, so we did the same. It was nice to have potable water, wifi and free (with donation) soup. They also provided warm water and 5 gallon buckets for “showers” and laundry. We spent the afternoon eating and hanging out with other hikers.

Camping in Warner Springs
Camping in Warner Springs

The next morning it was raining harder, but we didn’t want to hang around for much longer, so we donned all our rain gear and hit the trail, leaving almost everyone else behind us.

Walking into the clouds.
Walking into the clouds.

We made it to a house (Mike’s place) at mile 127 where normally a lot of hikers congregate and eat pizza out of the wood fired oven in the backyard. It was still raining but now at 5000 ft elevation, it was also extremely cold. There were a few hikers there huddled around some wood burning stoves – nobody we had met previously. Soup was served instead of pizza. Not sure if it was the weather, or the people, or both, but the place felt kind of weird… We spent a restless and rainy night camped there, then packed up and headed out first thing in the morning.

Water at Mike's place.
Water at Mike’s place.

After leaving Mike’s, the sun actually came out for a bit – a welcome sight after two days of rain! We were able to dry our stuff out a little before the next weather system.

Water out of Tule Spring at mile 137.  Our other water options were: two dry creek beds and an old, halfway buried, partially collapsed tank called Guzzler Cistern.  I think we made the correct choice. (Thankfully, it was clear after filtering!)
Water out of Tule Spring at mile 137. Our other water options were: two dry creek beds and an old, halfway buried, partially collapsed tank called Guzzler Cistern. I think we made the correct choice. (Thankfully, it was clear after filtering!)

Day 10 bought us more rain! We only hiked about 12 miles to reach the Highway 74 crossing. We hitched a ride to Paradise Valley Cafe (supposedly some of the best food on the PCT), but it was closed due to a broken water pump!

150 miles down!
150 miles down!

9 thoughts on “Days 7 to 10 (Miles 101.5 to 151.9)”

    1. Haha thanks Lisa! Normally I would consider 12 miles a really long hike. This trail is skewing my sense of reality when it comes to hiking.

  1. Yep, you guys are pretty awesome. Sorry you’ve had some bad luck food-wise! I would have been sad to miss the wood fired pizza.

  2. Wow really sucks to have to backpack in the rain. Looks like the tent is doing a good job of being your second home! Thanks for the great pics

    1. It does suck, but it was bound to rain at some point! I just didn’t expect it in the desert. 🙂 Our tent is great though- it’s keeping us (and all our stuff) very dry!

  3. The pizza was simple and starchy, dough oil salami tomatoe sauce but good for calories. They’re cooking every day. Must have been taking a rest. First year having outdoor oven so they’re doing pizza, may be going back to soup. pizza had no flaire to speak of.

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