Sore Feet

April 28, 2021

Mile 55.9 to Mile 77.1

Back on my usual grind today! I woke up around 5:40 and got out of my tent in time to catch the sunrise.

I packed up and was the first out today. I was feeling really good this morning and did my first “10 by 10” which means 10 miles by 10am. Hikers use that saying as a benchmark to hit on big mile days to stay on schedule.

I stopped for a break at 10am and sat around for half an hour or so resting my feet. I didn’t pass too many hikers today. The beginning of the day was over rolling green hills but it gradually began to look more like a desert.

No one had caught up to me at that point which always freaks me out. I did pass some USFS Trail Runners who quizzed me about my permits and Leave No Trace. They were silly. What a job. I think they’re just hiking from Warner Springs to Campo counting hikers and collecting data.
Coming down the north face of the mountain was HOT. It was a long ridge line and descent into the valley. But the plants were unreal. All the beaver tail cacti are flowering right now and I’m obsessed.

I found a hiker named Koviet in some shade and hung out with him to see if the gals behind me would catch up. All the other hikers around were heading into Scissors Crossing and going into Julian. I know Karinn and Sarah needed some gear so they wanted to go in.

Karinn and AB showed up but no Sarah. They agreed we should go to Scissors Crossing and sleep under the underpass. A lot of hikers come through here so its not as creepy as it sounds. I was the slowest of the three of us descending into the valley. My feet felt like they did at the beginning of last year- very sore and very tender. I also developed two small blisters today. One on my pinky toe and one on my heel. They’re too small to drain I think.

We made it to the underpass around 5pm. It felt soooo hot in the sun. I got burnt on my calves. I dropped down in the shade and hydrated for like an hour. Luckily there is a large water cache here. What’s cool about this area is the trail angels. There’s a couple that come by almost every hour to shuttle hikers into Julian. Karinn caught a ride to the gear shop in town and got a sleeping bag liner. She came back an hour later.

Sarah is having knee issues so she’s taking a Zero in Julian tomorrow. Me, Karinn, and AB are going about 17 miles. Were camping now with a handful of other hikers that will be heading out tomorrow morning as well. This next climb looks pretty exposed so its best to do it early.