TRAVERSING A MEADOW
PCT DAY 6: Mile 95.2 – Mile 115 (Aqua Caliente Creek)
Tuesday April, 19 2016: 19.8 miles (32 km)
Today could not have been more different then yesterday. What a relief, we were not sure we had it in us for another day hiking like yesterday. Not yet anyway. Today we had greenery and a cool breeze, open meadows and gentle terrain.
Sunrise over the San Felipe Valley.
Morning hiking is brilliant.The body is rested, the air is cool and the hiking seems easy. Winding our way over several gullies towards the San Jose Valley we walked through lush green vegetation with my new found love, the cactus flowers, few and far between. The sound of the industrious bees was now accompanied by birds chirping. It was heavenly when compared to yesterday.
Hiking is easy in the morning
Happy yellow
Woo hooo…we have walked 100 miles in the morning of Day 6.
Lou-Seal watching water filtration at Barrel Srings at Mile 101.
And when we hit the rolling meadow it was absolutely delightful hiking in lush pastureland. Bright yellow and orange wildflowers punctuated the expanse of the green grass. It was so beautiful I was tempted to roll around in the field but there was still plenty of hiking to do before we reached our lunchtime destination. We were stopping for a bit in Warner Springs to recharge our batteries and resupply with food before heading back out.
Beginning of the long traverse of the meadows
So fragile and so stunning
Beautiful hiking today
Delightful yellow poppies
Lovely meadows
Famous PCT landmark Eagle Rock on the way to Warner Springs.
Hundreds of these little guys and gals were doing pushups on Eagle Rock.
Lovely to meet a trail sister Dana and her husband Stephen out on training hike. Dana reads this blog and is section hiking the PCT. Hope we get to walk a section with you Dana.
Warner Spring Community Centre is really well set up to take care of hikers. There was cold drinks, food, bucket showers, Epsom salt foot baths and most importantly great friendly people to help with anything a hiker might need. We were surprised to see so many hikers had pitched their tents there and were staying for a few days. We heard a few stories of injuries, sore feet and blisters requiring a rest.
Warner Springs camping
Hikers outside the Warner Springs Community Centre
Epsom salt foot bath, what a treat.
We spent about 4 hours there and left after the food cart served up a delicious pulled pork sandwich and chicken enchiladas. With our bellies full we headed out for another couple of hours hiking in the cool of the late afternoon. We stopped and camped by Aqua Caliente creek. It feels quite surreal to hear the sound of running water and frogs croaking as we lie in our tent. Only yesterday we were cooking in a desert furnace. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
So far our feet and bodies are handling the hiking fine. No major issues. Today we hiked 32 kilometres in around 8 hours. By far the easiest day.
More rolling meadow
This stretch of trail is my family’s favorite day hike. We’ve seen deer, a bobcat, lizards, and too many stink beetles to count but our favorites are “the girls,” the black and white cows that are often along the trail. Love your photos and look forward to reading about the rest of your trip. Good luck.
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It was such a lovely change from the previous day Brewella. You are so lucky to have this in your backyard. Thank you for your kind words. I am so happy you like the photographs.
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Your adventures are making breathing in the city so much easier. Well done you two; inspirational stuff. J
From: Adventures of Hammer & Corky <comment-reply@wordpress.com> Reply-To: Adventures of Hammer & Corky <comment+legnqfo_kd2a849v2c3zdam@comment.wordpress.com> Date: Friday, 22 April 2016 at 8:16 AM To: John Caillard <John.Caillard@staloysius.nsw.edu.au> Subject: [New post] TRAVERSING A MEADOW
eskey2015 posted: “PCT DAY 6: Desert Camp by Trail (Mile 95.2) – Camp by Aqua Caliente Creek (Mile 115) Tuesday April, 19 2016: 19.8 miles (32 km) Today could not have been more different then yesterday. What a relief, we were not sure we had it in us for another da”
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Thank you Johnny, I have heard that it has been a wee bit warm in Sydney. I will never complain about Sydney weather, ever. We are certainly getting heat acclimated.
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