Miles 298.5 to 316.6

I am loving this stretch. I appreciate all the encouragement I got after my struggle with the Mission Creek section... the texts and messages have been so helpful - and yes, I will have bad days on trail... just like people have bad days in the real world...but overcoming hardship always offers a since of accomplishment on the other side - and the few days off I had in Big Bear and words from friends really helped me get back in the mental game of this hike. So thanks to each of you, who helped in that!

Today I slept in and enjoyed my morning by my little spot in the river. I went to sleep alone and woke up with a guy cowboy camping nearby. He was a Southbound Section hiker and we chatted over some morning coffee about what laid ahead for each of us.

Leaving camp at a late 10am... actually felt good (mainly, not having frozen fingers from packing up ;))... I find I hike better in the afternoons - never really having been a morning person... and that is one of the luxuries of being by myself in this section... Nike was a big morning out of camp by sunrise person... and even though I know that is the best way to get big miles... being ahead of my schedule and on my own... 10am was just fine for me.

I passed the big 300 milestone pretty quickly... the trail continues to meander through the desert landscape... and signs of spring (even in a major drought year) were more and more evident.

By 1:00 - I reached my landmark for the day... the Deep Creek Hotsprings - I was a little nervous reaching it on a Friday afternoon - the comments made it sound like some sort of cross between Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Burning Man on the weekends.... and I guess I am a little on the prudish side compared to some in terms of psychedelics and definitely modest in terms of my own nudity ... but when I arrived - the crowds weren’t there yet- there was about 20 people there for the weekend and they were all welcoming - offering me beers, food, shade, cheering me on - I immediately felt comfortable and stayed for about 2 hours. There were multiple springs of different temps for me the cold water was the most refreshing ... I chatted with a young couple from the LA area, Chris and Dan, for most of my time - and they made a fun game of when they saw hikers approaching, predicting which ones would stop and which ones would be freaked out and scurry along... I was the only one that had stopped and stayed any length of time all day - they said...and yes... they had been surprised. Except for the trash and litter... I have to say Deep Creek Hotsprings was quite enjoyable and made me realize I should continue embracing new, slightly uncomfortable experiences.

I bid goodbye to my new friends... and set off for a few more miles... I approached another bridge over the creek - painted with a rainbow along the span... rainbows always make me smile and feeling good from my swim in the creek... I decided I had a good few hours in me.... as I crossed the bridge... I heard Rumrunner call out to me... he had skipped the hot springs and was set up to camp and mentioned Nathan had walked a few miles up to next water source ... I decided that I would catch up to him.

The early evening was cool and along one of the most beautiful ridge lines thus far... I passed right in front of the Mojave River Damn- the sunlight didn’t make for the best pics but you can make it out above...

As I approached the next water source - a crossing that I decided to take my shoes off for... a day hiker came up behind me... turns out he was returning from a trip to the hot springs and had hiked the PCT in 2006 and was an annual trail magic provider on the trail... trail name - Coppertone he said his camper was at the trailhead .7 miles up and although he didn’t have much he could offer me some fresh fruit... I didn’t see Nathan’s tent anywhere, so I said I would come visit.

I made it to the trailhead and sat for an hour with Coppertone learning about the trail, talking Covid (he said he normally did root beer floats for trail magic but with covid he wasn’t sure if we would this year), religion and just life... the conversation was as refreshing as the tangerines he gave me... I have to say when all you have to drink is hot filtered water... fresh citrus is the best thing In the world.

The sun was setting and I was feeling refreshed and decided to night hike at least up the climb to see if I could find Nathan... it was my first time night hiking this trip... and I was alone... it started out enjoyable... but then you start hearing the sounds of the desert at night and things start getting in your head... mainly for me it was unfounded mountain lion fears.... and once they are in your head ... well.... everything makes you jumpy... I finally stopped about 9pm and made camp.... just as I was calming down from my heightened awareness from the night hike... and unpacking my sleeping bag.... a dead spider fell out of my bag onto my pad.... I am sure the scream i let out echoed all the way back to Coppertone... and as I fell asleep, I pictured him chuckling a little at the sound. :)

Overall another great day!