Day 7San Jacinto (Mountain Center, California)

The day before, I stop at Mike’s Place, slightly off trail, to refill from large water tanks that need to be filtered. The day is hot and hilly, but I feel good. In the late afternoon, several groups are concerned about an older couple struggling in the heat. Some hikers head back with water to help them. I continue to a campsite where I find James and Liv, then finally get my couscous meal right.

Today, the main challenge is water. Several sources are dry and the remaining ones require detours. My maximum capacity is around 5.5 liters, but that water must cover drinking, cooking, basic washing, at least my feet, and last until the next source. I am beginning to understand that, in the desert, the day’s route is shaped as much by water sources as it is by miles.

Some trail magic pleasantly disrupts this plan, which I discover with a hiker named Top Romance. Sandwiches and drinks have been left in a cooler. Later, I see my 1st rattlesnake and immediately understand the purpose of its rattle. A detour to a tank lets me collect fresh water, but my filter is leaking and becomes my main concern.