The day begins
Leaving behind the comfort of Scout&Frodo's, where hikers were provided with everything they could need, I continued to the US-Mexico border to begin my long-awaited hiking adventure. Although I tried not to have many expectations from the route, I anticipated that the moment in front of the monument would be very emotional, signifying the start of an epic journey. However, when the moment arrived, it seemed strangely ordinary. Maybe all my emotions were exhausted during the farewells with family and friends, or maybe the gravity of the trip was not realized. Yet as I ventured along the trail, I encountered moments like spotting a snake after just 4.4 miles and seeing a beautiful desert. views after Mount Laguna, the reality of my adventure really began to sink in. Every experience, from the breathtaking sunsets and the first laughs with the other hikers, confirmed my decision and filled me with a growing sense of happiness.
At the departure monument
Magic of the trails
Amidst inspiring landscapes and diverse ecosystems, I could not ignore the generosity of the hiking community. Although I had read about the phenomenon of trail magic, experiencing it firsthand was truly remarkable. From my first week of trail running, I discovered trailmagic. At mile 101, a group of friends were setting up their stand to make pancakes and eggs for us. Shortly after, at the Paradise Valley Café, when she wanted to pay for our lunch, the waitress told us: “you've already been paid, that's the magic of the trails.” We were confused and grateful. To the foreigner who paid for our meal: it made our day! I'll make sure to return the favor to another stranger one day. And finally, the concept of trailmagic became even more evident when MamaBear welcomed us hikers with a table full of food and cold drinks under a bridge. She even gave me a lucky charm and two extra meals and cookies to take with me. This final piece of trail magic came at a pivotal moment in my hike, as the sections just before and just after were the most demanding parts of the trail so far. But the hardest ones are probably the most rewarding and memorable, so I'll expand on my experiences about them soon.
Trailmagic: pancake breakfast!
The explosions and San Jacinto
The trail first tested me when the elevation gain started to become significant and there were, I guess, about 100 fallen trees to climb over, under, or around. While I initially saw this as a fun obstacle course, after 50 trees, even I got tired of it. And then the snow patches started to appear and eventually turned into endless snow. The next stretch was the climb to the top of San Jacinto. Teaming up with Lei Yue, we got up at 3am, put on our headlamps and microspikes and climbed to the summit. Despite the physical effort, the breathtaking views were worth it. I continued alone after Lei Yue finished his section, embracing the solitude of the trail experience.
Tree number 79
San Jacinto Summit
White water reserve and MiZion Creek
Venturing alone brought a new set of challenges, especially when strong winds swept across the landscapes. Sprinting toward the Whitewater Preserve to avoid camping alone, I was relieved to find other hikers and the ranger. Because of the wind, I didn't bother setting up my tent and slept with my mat on the grass, which is often called cowboy camping. A few hours later, it turned out that the wind would not be my biggest enemy that night. I was suddenly attacked by a jet of water from a sprinkler! This experience led to my track name: Sprinkles! Hikers are happy to no longer have to pronounce my real name Sifre. During this evening at the Whitewater Reserve, I also met Wanderer and Pepsi Boy, with whom I approached the 'Mission Creek' area where the trail had been washed away by the floods. This section was both challenging and rewarding and highlights the resilience that defines the trail community.
Conquered the Mission Creek area
Thoughts
During hiking days, my mind wanders to a diversity of thoughts. From practical considerations such as carrying water and planning for resupply to appreciating the trail's rich biodiversity and the sounds of the wilderness. I wonder how much I would like to know more about wildlife and geology. I also think about other things I want to learn and skills I want to improve or develop. My mind thinks about the books I am reading or am reading and I think about my relationships with friends and family. Finally, silly thoughts cross my mind when I count my steps or repeat the conversion factors for feet to meters or pounds to kilograms. But upon arriving at Big Bear, I thought about the milestone of having covered 10% of the trail distance. I shared stories with loved ones over the phone and relived moments captured in photographs. Due to the excitement of reliving everything I had already experienced, this was my worst night's sleep on the trail. But how can I complain when 90% of the trail is still waiting for me to explore?
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