110 miles so far

Wow! I can't really describe what this hike is like in words, but I'm still going to try (with the help of some lame analogies). First, the pacific crest trail is kind of like riding a train. It's so gradual and the trail is so nice that you can just relax, let your feet do the walking, look at the beautiful desert scenery, and daydream a bit... then you wake up and *shazaam* you've just walked 25 miles. Second, the pacific crest trail is like an escalator, because you find yourself rising in elevation without any effort. Unlike on the east coast, and unlike any trail to a rock climb, the PCT trails include these crazy inventions called "switchbacks" where you go back and forth gaining elevation gradually. So gradually in fact, that you don't even notice. It always feels like you're walking on flat ground. But then you notice that you're thousands of feet above the valley floor. It almost takes the fun out of going up mountains... almost. But it makes the walking really easy. Third, the pct, at least this section, is like Mars. The landscape here is really dramatic, rugged, and almost alien in the sense that all the plants and animals are so unfamiliar out here. Lots of lizards, rattlesnakes, crazy desert flora... There are these Dr. Suess plants called Ocotillo- heres a picture of one. Anyways, they are crazy awesome... and so cool to come across along with 100 other critters and plants that somehow make a living in this desert. I'm so excited to be here; I probably sound like a lunatic, typing so fast and furiously. The hiking has been pretty easy. Yesterday, we easily did 26 miles across the mountains. The secret? We wake up, hike a couple miles, then eat breakfast, then hike a bit more, then eat lunch 1, then hike some more, eat lunch 2, then hike a bunch, eat supper, and then hike some more before we camp. That's a lot of hiking, but with frequent breaks. The other secret is that we play games like 20 questions. Y'know, the one where you have to guess what someone is thinking of by asking only 20 yes or no questions. Play that game a few times while walking. Bam! There goes ten miles. Piece of cake. Michelle also likes the alphabet game. And sometimes we tell stories. I told Michelle the entire story from the book, The Hobbit, and by the time we were done, we had walked like 7 miles. And we didnt even notice. Now I realize that it might seem like we are getting distracted from the pure wilderness scenery and all that. But there's ALOT of that to go around. And frankly, walking up endless switchbacks does not require the zen-like concentration of climbing. (Not that I'd rather be climbing right now, because I wouldn't. Ok Michelle? I would not rather be climbing. Just wanna be explicit about that.) What else? I saw a few bats. That always rocks my pants off...

I can't wait to show you some pictures. Unfortunately, I didnt bring a USB camera cable so I cant upload them right now. Maybe I will get one somewhere....

There's a bunch of other stuff I wanted to say but can't remember now. And there's other people that want to use these computers I'm sure. We are staying at this hotel-ish like place. We washed our clothes and took showers, etc. I'm excited to get back to the desert soon. I'll get Michelle to write something now. I'm no good at writing...

Gerald/Gerry

Ok, might not be quite as easy as Gerry claims, but yeah, it's true, things have been really good so far. My favorites might have been last night and today. Last night we hiked late and watched the sun sink low over the mountains. Chased it for a couple miles then watched the hills turn all shades of blue. And saw the first clouds of the entire trip rolling in over the mountains across the valley. And found ourselves enveloped in a cloud, breathing out mist. What a change from the arid hills we had just traversed. This morning we woke up in a cool cloud with big winds, and got going fast without breakfast to stay warm. We hiked through easy wide grassy prairies with rounded boulders and one called Eagle Rock, which we of course took turns mounting for eagle-riding photo opportunities. It was the very best hiking weather of the trip, and I lamented when the sun finally peeked through around 1pm. We've run into very few hikers so far on the trail, but have met a handful here in Warner Springs. Seems around 20 were staying here last night. It's hard to resist the hot springs and pools. Showering and laundering after a week of dry dirt and sand is bliss. Judging from log entries it seems most people started at the end of April, but the solitude has been nice. 110 miles down! It sounds like we have some gorgeous alpine scenery ahead in the San Jacinto mountains. I'm looking forward to that.

love,
Michelle