Day 5
Start: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Finish: Stagecoach campground
Daily Mileage: 14.8
Trip Mileage: 76.3
The wind blew all night. It wasn’t horrible in the slight shelter of the low brush I was camped in, but the gusts still swept in and rattled it. I slept fitfully throughout the night.
I woke at 5 and it wasn’t raining yet. The storm was supposed to have already started. Since it wasn’t raining, I decided to just hit the trail early so I could pack up in only the wind and not the rain, and maybe get some miles in before it started.
When I got out of my tent to cathole, I realized I was in a cloud so it was essentially blowing drizzle. Still better than rain though. I donned my rain gear for protection from the gusty wind and drizzle and hit the trail at 5:45 to the light of my headlamp. I was exhausted after two poor nights of sleep, but there was nothing else to do.
I was only on the high ridge for about a mile before the trail started to descend into a valley. I quickly dropped below the cloud, and the wind dropped off. I figured this might be the case for better camping last night, but I’m being careful with my body. In any case it was much more pleasant hiking, and there was no more drizzle below the clouds. I still continued to book it because I did not know when the rain would start in earnest.
There was periodic rain in the second half of the hike, but it was relatively light and the sun was still breaking through at times which caused full rainbows across the valley. Sometimes two rainbows were stacked on top of each other, but they were around for a couple of hours. I’ve never seen them so persistent.
I continued hiking straight through and didn’t stop for any breaks to try to beat the storm, or at least minimize my hiking in it. The clouds were hanging out on the horizon, but were travelling parallel to me and not really approaching. Works for me.
I exited the mountains and the trail went straight across desert flats. The low desert brought the first of the wildflowers that I’ve heard so much about. Since it has been relatively wet this year, there is supposed to be a good bloom, and for a while the ground was coated in microscopic yellow flowers. It was beautiful interspersed with the green cactus and creosote bushes. I wasn’t able to take too many pictures today since my camera isn’t waterproof.
It did start raining harder as I approached the road that was my finish line for the day. Not the best conditions for hiking, but such is life. I only waited for about 5 minutes before a RV stopped and picked me up and took me down the winding road to Julian.
The rain picked up as we were driving, and it was pouring by the time I got to town. I guess I got off trail just in time. It was quite cold as well.
In town I got a replacement water filter at the outfitter which I desperately needed. I couldn’t get my favorite brand, but we’ll see how the Sawyer works out for me. Then it was off for food and beer, obviously. There was a brewery in town with BBQ which is always a winner.
There were several hikers there and we took over a table. I got the Fred Flintstone beef rib which was fantastic along with the beer. One of the hikers, Hard Start was trying to find a place to stay for the night, so I offered the extra bed in the cabin I had rented. We found a shuttle back to the campground we were staying in with a trail angel which made the trip much easier. It had started snowing in Julian, so it would have been miserable to hitch.
At the campground we checked into our wagon cabin and did all of the camp things. There were a lot of hikers around and there was a gathering at night to meet. Sounds like most people are taking tomorrow off as well and hiking out Monday, though people got off trail at different palaces to wait out the storm. A good night with good people.
