Back on the trail again

May 16

It has begun :) Great first day!

So far the water is plentiful and the weather perfect really. Instead of it being unbearably hot, we had partly cloudy skies and a really nice cool breeze to counter the hot sun.

And the vegitation has been so much more pretty and varied than I had imagined for these supposedly hot desert-like conditions. Not only has the wetter than normal season given us plenty of water, the wildflowers are too numerous to count. They've been so beautiful!! :)

Still don't think it's fully sunk in yet that I'm actually out here, thru-hiking the PCT!

Enjoyed the ride to the trailhead from "Scout", a trail angel, former thru-hiker, and PCT board member. Really nice guy with lots of stories and tips/info. Surreal experience standing there looking at the Mexican border. Weird seeing the border patrol in their trucks and helicopters on and off throughout the day.

The parents will be happy to know that I hiked all day with another guy, Josh, with plans to continue on together tomorrow. It's been fun getting to know him and watch his enthusiasm for the trail. He's a 27 year old musician from the small town of Monrow(?), Michigan who's never seen a mountain before :D He's been blown away by everything and boy does he have some amazing views to come!

Made camp next to a stream in a narrow valley so I'm expecting it could get pretty chilly tonight and I'll be glad to have the nice warm bag :) Btw Thank you again Reggie and Elizabeth! The homemade cookies capped a great first meal on the trail, an Italian soup with quinua (sp?) flakes - yum! The cookies were already good but having them on the trail, sooo good!! Made me wish I'd been a little more greedy and gone ahead and taken the entire batch of cookies we made last night! :)

Time to pass out, the eyes are definitely struggling to stay open. Great to remember the feeling of the effort - a little out of hiking shape and throwing a pack on underscores it, but I'll get it back soon enough - gave myself some easier days up front to break in. 16 today and more of the same for the next few days, but already looking forward to the rest day in Warner Springs :)

Light's fading and I can hear that Josh has already begun snoring - I'm out!! ....uh-oh.. loud frog just started an after-hours jam session with friends :) 'Night!

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Location:Hauser Creek, mile 16