PCT: CA Section A - Campo to Warner Springs
Day 0 - 05/06/25
Campo and CLEEF Campground
Distance: 0.5 miles
Weather: Cloudy
End Location: Campo, CLEEF Campground
Lessons Learned: “Hike your own hike”
I woke up hungover around 8am. Cinco De Mayo in San Diego was a little too good of a time. Zenya, my sister’s friend who let me crash on her couch, dropped me off at the shuttle pickup spot. While I waited at the shuttle pickup spot, I met some other PCT hikers, JP and Zeke aka “Hornet”. Hornet was older and wiser than me but was also from Florida. He wore the badges of the Florida Trail and the Appalachian Trail on his bag with pride. We talked about both trails and I asked him for tips on my first long walk.
“You’ll figure it out,” He told me. Thanks, great advice.
After I was done chatting with Hornet, I talked with JP a bit. He was closer in age to me and was an arborist from Maryland who quit his job to pursue his dream of hiking the PCT. Seemed like he a similar mindset to me.
The shuttle showed up right on time, and the driver got out to open the back for us. He introduced himself as ”Just Paul.” When Just Paul met John Paul (JP) there was some confusion. John Paul, thought they had the same name. Just Paul was stern, but was still likable. He just seemed like a guy who didn’t tolerate bullshit.
Just Paul had hiked the PCT a few years ago, and I guessed he probably hiked a few other trails, but he didn’t mention them. He was the kind of guy who wouldn’t talk about anything unless asked. So while he steered the shuttle, I steered the conversation. I asked him for his best advice for the journey, and he told me: “hike your hike” and “don’t get caught up in the race.”
Interesting…
After we all mingled a bit, I got a sandwich at the Green Store, set up my tent, and hiked the first part up to the terminus with a lighter pack and back. It was a 0.5-mile round trip. After that, I ate my sandwich and opened my beer, a hazy IPA tall boy.
Just Paul and Dee gathered all of the hikers staying at camp and gave us a good safety talk. They warned us about the dangers of heat stroke and hypothermia, and the warning signs for each. It seemed odd that I could experience both in one journey. I thought to myself, “What did I get myself into?”
Paper Bear, an older gentleman and a resident of the CLEEF campground, had hiked the PCT several years ago and told us a tale of a cold, stormy night in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. To stay warm, he squeezed into a 2-person tent with 2 other hikers and settled in compactly in the middle. Having to pee and not being able to get out of the tent easily, he felt around for his water bottle. He grabbed what he thought was his Nalgene and relieved himself. In the light of the morning, he discovered the Nalgene was his friend’s. They washed it out with sanitizer, and his friend continued to use it. Later, when Papa Bear needed water, his friend offered his Nalgene, and Papa Bear declined hilariously, “No way there was piss in that a few hours ago!” All of the hikers cracked up at the punchline.
After the talk, I mingled with the other hikers and played cards with Kenzie, Kevin, JP, and a few others. I taught them how to play Scat, and we played a few hands, but everyone’s attention was diverted by excitement and socializing. Tired from the long night before, I settled into bed around 9 pm, aka “hiker’s midnight".
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Day 1 - 5/7/25
To Hauser Creek
Distance: 16 miles
Weather: cloudy, perfect temp for hiking
End Location: Hauser Creek
Lessons Learned: chafing sucks, a piss bottle at night is a good thing
The first day of real hiking started with an unfortunate shit-uation. My body was in shambles due to the numerous drinks I had consumed in the prior days. As I was packing up my sleeping bag, I let out a fart that ended up being a little more… I immediately clenched and waddled to the bathroom, praying no one would notice my suspicious walk. I cleaned up and returned to my tent and packed up my belongings. A shitty start to my journey, but things could only get better from here.
After I had packed up, I made my way over to the tables and enjoyed the delicious complimentary breakfast provided by the CLEEF Campground. Papa Bear made pancakes with Reese's cups in them, which I had two of, along with two hard-boiled eggs for some protein, and a banana. After I was fueled up, I started my hike.
As I hiked, I met some more travelers: Aaron and Doug.
Doug aka “Thumper” was not hiking the whole trail but acting as a trail angel for Aaron, who was from the Netherlands. He had picked up Aaron from the airport, let him stay at his house, and drove him to CLEEF - shit, I wish I knew that was an option! Doug had hiked the PCT a few years ago, but got injured in Oregon. Since he was dropping off Aaron at the Southern Terminus, Doug decided he would do a day hike and helped us identify plants along the way. Doug showed us how to eat yucca flowers, which is how he got his name (Thumper from Bambi). I found that the purple flowers tasted like perfume, while the white ones were much less bitter, noted.
Blooming Yucca with purple flowers
Doug shared some good stories from his PCT hike and two other hikers, Random and Charlotte, joined us. Together, we hiked 15 miles to Hauser Creek. By the end of the hike, I was chafing terribly. Thankfully, fellow hikers, Peter and his girlfriend, had biker’s ointment, which saved my ass, literally…
As night came and everyone retreated to their tents, I was alone and felt a little scared. I heard animals by my tent. I thought it was a mountain lion and cubs, but I was too afraid to look. I had to pee, but didn’t want to leave the tent, so I used an extra Evian bottle in my pack. Lesson learned, having a bottle to pee in at night is a good thing. The animals did not infringe on my personal space, but I did not sleep well.
Day 2 - 5/8/25
to Kitchen Creek
Distance: 16 miles
Weather: hot, sunny, H: 96º
End Location: Kitchen Creek
Lessons Learned: don’t hike in the heat of the day
The second day of hiking was rough. It was hot and sunny, and the morning started with a long ascent. We passed through a town, and I stopped at the malt shop with Aaron, Random, and Charlotte. I ordered a steak-and-egg breakfast burrito and a chocolate milkshake. An unorthodox breakfast, but delicious nonetheless. After the stop in town, we began the 10-mile ascent up to Kitchen Creek.
The heat got to people. It got to me as well, but having been in Florida for the past 4 months, it didn’t affect me as much. Dumbly, we hiked the most challenging part of the day in peak heat.
We found a really cool spot to camp for the night called Kitchen Creek, a flowing creek in a red rock canyon with a beautiful pool to swim in, cool off, and fill up water.
After we swam and ate dinner, I chatted with a hiker named Emma. She’s a cutie from Georgia who is currently getting her Master’s of Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. She had hiked the desert portion of the PCT last year, so she was well acquainted with the area. This time, she was trying to do the whole thing, but needed to be back in Georgia by the time school started in the fall.
The group of hikers gave me my trail name, “Smurf”, because everything I have with me is blue. I decided to take it before any of them found out about my incident on day 1, and I got stuck with a shitty trail name, pun intended.
I decided to sleep away from the group, because the tent sites were limited, but I slept great. No animal scares that night, thank god.
Aaron cleaning his pot and hikers in the background
Day 3 - 5/9/25
To Mt Laguna Campground
Distance: 18 miles
Weather: Hot
End Location: Mount Laguna Campground
Lessons Learned: carry only what you need, bathe when you can
The last few days of challenges, joy, and simplicity brought out the philosophical side of my mind.
As I hiked through the desert brush in the cool morning, I thought about the Buddhist motif:
“Attachment is the root of all suffering.”
It resonated with me because on trail, you leave everything behind except for the pack on your back. Excess material possessions are cumbersome and therefore substituted for nature, experiences, and new friends. Without excess possessions, you feel lighter and more free.
Yet even with this sense of being free, there is still pain. Pain is one of the universally understood commonalities among all living beings. I saw a good example as I hiked, in the caterpillars on the ground. Why does a caterpillar cross the trail and risk being stepped on? For the chance of finding food and ultimately, happiness. Then I thought, why does a human hike a trail while risking pain, discomfort, and strife? We hike with the hope of finding something deeper in our souls and, ultimately, like the caterpillar, happiness. I felt similar to the caterpillar. We are both small, but our lives are not unimportant.
And where there is pain, there is also the chance for beauty and bliss, the Yin and the Yang of life.
Desert View viewpoint, Sarah pointing in the general direction of our future path
The group I was with decided to make a quick stop in the town of Mt Laguna to check it out and get some real food. We settled on a French restaurant and took over the back patio. Kenzie, a Brit, and a Frenchman were also at the restaurant playing cards and drinking beers. We sat next to them and chatted. I ate some chicken tenders and drank 2 beers myself.
My pack was feeling unnecessarily heavy, so I decided to mail some non-essentials back to my home in Florida. I ended up mailing back 10 pounds of items in my bear can: an extra outfit, underwear, extra jacket, camp pants, heavy sunscreen, heavy bug spray, AirPods, AirPod charging cord, and an extra bandana. Carry only what you need (lesson learned).
I hiked another 6 miles to Laguna Campground, which had a beautiful view of the entire desert as well as future mountains and the route that goes through.
I hitched a ride from the viewpoint with a kind Hispanic couple. It was only 0.5 miles, but I was exhausted. I found a campsite, 1 of only 3 left, and purchased some firewood totaling $45. We split the cost among the group: Emma, JP, Jacob, Sarah, and me. I took an improvised shower under the cold water of a spigot, but felt so refreshed that after, I made a new rule for myself: bathe when you can (lesson learned). It was a long, hot day, and I was exhausted, so I slept great.
Sign in front of Laguna Campground (would go back)
Day 4 - 5/10/25
Trail Magic through Laguna
Distance: 16 miles
Weather: Hot, Sunny, H: 90º
End Location: Tentsite at mile 63
Lessons Learned: instant coffee with collagen protein powder is delicious, check tentsite for ants
This morning I tried something new for breakfast: instant coffee with collagen protein powder. It was foamy like a latte and tasted delicious (lesson learned!).
I decided to get moving after everyone else. Section hiking SOBO (southbound) hikers gave me some trail magic, a bag of Cheetos. Licking my fingers after felt slightly gross this time around. I found some water at a picnic area. I accidentally knocked over my water bottle and had to refill it. As I was refilling, more trail angels blessed me with more trail magic: cucumbers, Sprite, and summer sausage. I forgot to take the wrapper off of the summer sausage and felt like an idiot,
Their Instagram is @greatadventurez.
Trail Magic!
After the break, I passed Kwaaymii Point, which had breathtaking views and various memorial sites.
the trail leading up to Kwaaymii Point
It got very hot, and I was chugging water. I checked FarOut for the next water fill and learned I would have to fill up at a Cow Trough off trail, ok… As I walked to the trough, I passed some girls with sodas in their hands who told me that there was trail magic at the trailhead. Nice! When I got to the trailhead, I saw a van with a shade set up on the side. I approached the van and inquired hesitantly, “Trail Magic?”
“Uh its not Trail Magic, but you’re welcome to join us” replied one of the girls.
Her name was May. She was supporting her wife, “360”, who was hiking the PCT with their camper van. There were also 2 other girls hanging out in the van, Tasha, a British gal, and Ellie, a German gal. May handed me a soda, and I sat down in a chair under the shade they had set up. This seemed like a good spot for lunch, so I ate a tuna tortilla while they chatted. I enjoyed their humor and the jokes they were making, and chimed in when I could without being rude. They like my jokes as well and nicknamed me “Shade Guy.” After I finished my lunch, May let me refill my water from their van, saving me from the cow trough.
I hiked 5 more miles, refilled at a spigot, and took a break. There, I met a cool guy from New York named “Side Show”. Some other hikers arrived while I was leaving. I thought about staying there, but wanted to meet up with my trail family. I carried 3L of extra water for a dry camp. The extra weight invoked sharp pains in my shins as I descended the lengthy 3 miles. When I finally made it to camp around sunset, I was greeted with excitement, “Smurf! We didn’t know if you were going to make it!”
“You’re not gonna get rid of me that easily,” I told them
Most of the spots were taken, so I took what I could get and set up in a precarious spot between Jacob and Sarah. Unfortunately, after I was set up, I realized that my tent was on top of an ant pile. Ants crawled all over my shoes and bag, likely trying to extract the salt from my sweaty gear. I thought about moving my tent, but I was exhausted. Fuck it.
I ate dinner with Jacob, Sarah, Charlotte, Aaron, and a few others and then retreated to my tent for bed. I brushed off the ants from my gear and tent and got rid of most of them, but when I lay down, I got one love bite, kind of like a kiss goodnight. Next time, I will check the spot I pick for ants (lesson learned).
During the night, I woke up to an animal at camp, but it was just sniffing around where we ate, nothing serious. I went back to sleep and slept decently the rest of the night.
Day 5 - 5/11/25 - Scissors Crossing and Julian
Distance: 12 miles
Weather: Sunny, hot, H: 98º
End Location: Julian
Lessons Learned: Desert heat is no joke; watch out for rattlesnakes; shade in the desert is a trap; hike your hike
Unsurprisingly, I left after everyone again this morning (hike your hike!). Side Show and I hiked together for a bit and chatted. He’s from Queens, New York, around 40 years old, and hiked the Appalachian Trail after COVID. He hiked fast and blazed ahead. I took it slower due to sketchy terrain and my fresh legs.
As I was listening to an audiobook, Demon Copperhead, I almost stepped on a rattlesnake on the trail, which I found a bit ironic. I let out a small girlish scream and took a step back. The snake gave me a small rattle and stared me down, but never got into strike position. I scampered around it and continued hiking. It was getting hot. Watch out for rattlesnakes (lesson learned).
I stopped and called out to a fellow hiker, Wesley, who was a bit behind me, to warn him about the snake.
“Thanks!” he shouted back.
Watch out for snakes!
The heat was getting unbearable but I still had 5 miles until the road at Scissors Crossing. I found a small shaded area under a sage bush and I had some tuna and chips for lunch. As I ate, I heard a Search-And-Rescue (SAR) helicopter flying above, moving towards the trail a few miles back. I hoped that Wesley hadn’t been bitten by the snake.
After pushing on, I took a break under a giant boulder, the first real opportunity for decent shade all day. I sat down with my pack on, took a breather, and drank some water. As I got up to leave, I heard another rattlesnake warning me to scram. I moved with haste and started hiking in the blazing heat.
I realized that shade is a scarce resource in the desert, and that it is controlled by monopolistic, selfish rattlesnakes, like the tycoons of the Gilded Age (lesson learned).
The heat was getting to me, but I entertained myself by changing the words of songs that played in my headphones. I hoped that the snakes would hear my terrible singing and be scared away. When the song “Linger” by The Cranberries came on, I sang loudly through the desert:
“You know I’m such a fool for snakes; you’re all wrapped up in your striking position; do you have to strike and bite me? Do you have to?! Do you have to strike and bite me?”
Later, I learned that snakes don’t really have ears, so all of my singing was in vain, but I still had fun.
In the heat of the day, around noon, I finally made it to the road at Scissors’ Crossing. I was literally cooked, and my legs were exhausted, but walking to the town of Julian was impossible. It was 16 miles straight up, so I needed to get a hitch. I waited by the stop sign at the intersection for 30 minutes trying to get a ride, but had no luck. Because of the shin splints in both of my legs, I was unable to stand any longer. I lay down on the side of the road and put my feet up on my bag with my thumb sticking out, hoping that someone would take pity on me. I was desperate and overheating. My first hitch was not going well. Thankfully, an elderly couple, Paul and Patty, pulled over in a silver car. They told me that they were going to their daughter's Mother’s Day celebration in Julian and would gladly give me a ride. They said they had imagined their daughter in my situation, in the heat of the day, and hoped that someone would give her a ride.
Julian sits high above the desert floor, at around 4000 ft, and is much cooler than the inferno at Scissors Crossing. It also has trees, green shrubs, and flowers. After a 25-minute drive, Paul and Patty dropped me off at the town hall around noon. Since it was Mother’s Day, the town was bustling with families going to brunch and enjoying the temperate weather. I stumbled over to the convenience store across the street and bought a coconut fruit bar, a plum, and a cucumber lime Gatorade. I bumped into Random, and she fist-bumped me for making it through the desert alive. Then, I sat on the bench outside the store and ate the cold fruit bar and chugged my Gatorade. I hadn’t realised how hot my core temperature was until I started cooling off. Feeling a little better, I decided to explore the town and find a place to eat. I ran into Side Show as well, and he told me that the other hikers and he thought the SAR helicopter was for me. I responded again, “You’re not gonna get rid of me that easily!” But I wondered, who was the helicopter for?
I called my mom to wish her a happy Mother’s Day and to let her know that I was still alive, but I saved her from the grim details of the day. With the sharp pain in both of my legs, I decided to book a hotel room for the night and called around for rates. I settled on a room with two queen beds at Julian’s Lodge for $162, hoping I could find another hiker to take the other bed and split the cost. As I showered, I cleaned myself and washed my clothes. I was filthy, and the cold water felt immaculate. After I felt like a human again, I was ready for socialising.
I texted JP, who told me that he and the rest of the group were at Julian’s Brewery getting some food and drinks. I headed down to the Brewery and met up with JP, Emma, Random and a few other hikers. I got the PCT Panacea (a double IPA), some street corn, and BBQ pizza. JP and Emma left to go camp under a bridge down by Scissors Crossing, which seemed economical, but I was glad I had a bed for the night.
I stayed and hung out with the other hikers who filled in: Brian, Jacob, Dave, Kim, and Millie. Jacob (“Blue Man”) and Dave were a father-son duo. Jacob had already hiked the PCT a few years ago, so he was acting in a guiding capacity for his Dad and friend. He looks like Ryan Fitzpatrick and had the beard to match, so I joked and called him “FitzTrailMagic”. He said that people mistake him for Fitzpatrick all the time and ask him for pictures, so I got one with him. They were nurses, so we talked about our ailments and possible remedies. Brian got another pitcher of PCT Panacea, and we all hung out until that was gone. I told Millie, a cute gal who started on the same day as me, about the extra bed in my room. She was hesitant to share a room with a stranger, but I ultimately sold her on the idea of a nice shower and a good night’s sleep.
Jacob and his group were staying at the same hotel, so on the walk back, we bought some wine and nicotine at the liquor store to keep the night going. We were all pretty buzzed from the numerous double IPAs and stumbled back to the Julian Lodge. When we got to the hotel, Millie showered, and I went down to hang out with the nurses. We shared stories, laughed, and had a great night. They gifted me a corkball they had randomly found on the trail, which was great for rolling out muscles and helping with my shin splints (ultralight too).
Me and Jacob aka FitzTrailMagic
Millie and I went back upstairs and watched The Office in our separate beds, then went to bed around midnight.
I was pleased with the way the day had turned out. Initially, I was sad that my trail family had continued on, but I knew that I had to listen to my body and get some proper rest. And almost immediately, I had made new friends. Hike your hike, and the trail will provide (lesson learned).
Day 6 - 5/12/25
Leaving Julian and back into the Desert
Distance: 10 miles
Weather: Cool and Windy
End Location: Tentsite at mile 88
Lessons learned: leftover pizza for lunch is great, put rocks on tent spokes
Met Jacob, Dave, Brian, and Kim for breakfast
Only place open at 7am had coffee and yogurt
They had a shuttle at 8am, they left
Millie and I got 2nd breakfast, eggs and corn beef hash
Resupplied at 2foot Adventures
Signed up Millie and myself up for 1pm shuttle
Lunch at Mom’s: Free pie with ice cream and coffee for PCT hikers at Mom’s, no one was there - the day before there was a line out the door, think I did it right
Shuttle back down to Scissors Crossing from Rayngel, former paratrooper, loves hiking, laughed how his bag used to weigh 70 pounds with ammo
Millie hiked faster
Steep incline almost 2000 ft elevation gain
Had pizza from yesterday for lunch, delicious, want to do that more often (lesson learned!)
After 10 miles, I was exhausted so I did my first dry camp alone with 4 miles left to water cache
There was one other camper there, Marisa?
Enjoyed a mountain house meal with an incredible sunset casting hue on lenticular clouds
Felt a little sick going to bed
Windy and tent spokes came out in middle of night, fixed by putting rocks on spoke, went back to sleep (lesson learned!)
Day 7 - 5/13/25
to Camp at Spring Fed Trough
Distance: 15 miles
Weather: lovely, sunny and cool, a little windy at some party
Ending Spot: Spring fed trough
Lessons learned: watch out for cactus, safe camp practices lead to better sleep
“Slept in” woke up around 7am and got going
Packed up stretched, went to do happy baby and when I rolled on my back there was a small cactus that woke me up more than coffee ever could (lesson learned!)
Hiked alone throughout the day, but felt good doing my own thing and listening to body
Hiked 4 miles to Water Cache, trail angel has loads of Kirkland gallon water jugs out, donations accepted
Had delicious cool water cucumber salad bag, added tuna - fav camping meal so far, have another one - carrots
Hiked another 9 miles to camp at spring fed trough, beautiful terrain, exposed and windy
Passed 100 mile marker on trail, let out a “WAHOO”
When I got to camp, I changed up order of operations, boiled water, put in mountain house meal then set up tent, was ready and cooled off by time tent was set up, good change
Some hikers also set up camp here, started the day after or before, did 22 miles - they were exhausted
One British, a few Czech
Cleaned off with towel and went to bed
I ate away from Tentsite and put hung my food in tree
Windy at night, but slept decent knowing I had no food or smellables near tent (lesson learned!)
Also had rocks on spokes
Day 8 - 5/14/25
To Warner Springs
Distance: 8.7 miles
Weather: cold but sunny, perfect for hiking
End Location: Warner Spring
Lessons Learned: enjoy the beauty, tightening shoe laces really helps
Set alarm for 5am, but went back to bed, woke up with morning light around 6ish
Left at 7am
Instant coffee with collagen and protein for breakfast
And some granola along the trail at breaks
Hiked 4 miles to San Ysidro Spring, past rolling hills and cow fields, weather was perfect - no sweat
Beautiful rolling hills, “what I want to know, is are you kind”
Hiked 2 more miles across plains to Eagle Rock
Played “Take it Easy” by the Eagles, only felt right
Got some kisses by hikers’ friendly dog
“If you play nice, you’re gonna harvest wind”
Hiked through lovely Oak groves
While finishing the last of my potato chips, the hikers I saw at Eagle Rock passed me, asked them if they would mind giving me a ride to the Warner Spring Post Office, they agreed and I hiked back to the trailhead with them
Nice couple, Sue (my mom’s name… a sign!) and Randy, and their dog Rory - a mix of German Shepard and a few other breed, had stripes like a tiger
Got my resupply box, put way too much stuff in there
Got a Polish hotdog at gas station along with more chips (BBQ this time) and a Arizona Iced Tea
Sat down at picnic table outside
Did a shake down and sent the rest to Cabazon Post Office, another 100 miles out where I have no resupply box waiting for me
Maybe packing too much in the resupply was actually a good play
Posted Blog
I plan on hiking another 5 miles to camp ground near Agua Caliente campground
See you in another hundred miles!
Smurf signing off 👋🏼
