PCT Day 11 & 12 - That's the First!

Day 11

We met our goal. We woke up at 3:30am, and were out of camp by 4:15am!

Eagle Rock, here we come!

We hiked a few miles in the dark, occasionally using our headlamps, as the half moon provided significant light to walk the trail in.

We rushed the last 2 miles, as we started to see the first lights of day. Fortunately for us, we were in a valley, mountains to the east blocked the sun allowing us additional time to make it to Eagle Rock just before the sun peeked over the ridges.

Eagle Rock is a large granite formation which lies just a few miles outside Warner Springs. The formation is aptly named because it has an uncanny resemblance to a huge eagle with out stretched wings.

We walked into Warner Springs mid morning. The Community Resource Center in town hosts hikers for a donation. They provide a place to camp, a shower, computers, and a resupply store.

The shower was a bucket shower, and it was actually quite nice! Mostly because it was a hot day... The deck of the community center had 2 stalls where hikers can pour themselves a bucket of water and bathe with privacy. I'm sure there will be plenty more of these bucket showers on trail, but this was definitely our first.

Day 12

On paper this day will be our hardest yet. We will go 18 miles a number we have yet to reach and we will ascend 3,000 feet, 1,000 feet more than our highest total. We left Warner Springs at 7:10am with the goal of making it to Mike's Place. Mike's is said to welcome hikers to camp and offer water in the dry desert. Rumor has it, they will have pizza and beer too!

As we pushed through 15, 16, 17 miles, our bodies were begging for a break. But it was getting dark soon, and we still had 1 mile.. and that one mile felt like 3.

We finally arrived at Mike's place. A bunch of other hikers were already there setting up camp and getting in line for pizza.

They have a homemade brick oven, but don't get any ideas. The place was a real d.u.m.p. But, it offers sanctuary for so many hikers, and other walks of life. (Madelyn is being super honest here.)

I am happy we were able to eat the most delicious trail food and refill our water supply, but a couple of the people who run the place kept us up until mid night with some unnecessary drama.