Day 6Anza, California

The day before, I stop for a few hours at the Warner Springs Visitor Center. Hikers can sign a register, mark where they come from on a map, charge their devices, take a shower and buy a few essentials. I use the stop to wash, dry my clothes and top up my resupply before returning to the trail.

That evening, I try my 1st meal bought in the United States, made with couscous and spices. I add too much water, but I will have to learn the measurements used here. Everything is in cups and I still do not know how to convert them. This morning, the terrain changes. For the 1st time since Campo, a long continuous climb begins.

Toward the end of the morning, the heat and elevation gain make my 30-mile goal more ambitious than expected. I meet Pablo and Thor, 2 Spanish hikers who started the day before I did.