Day 08: Happy Feet at Scissors Crossing

After a few zero days to wait out a storm and buy new hiking boots, I drove back to Scissors Crossing and continued northbound on the PCT into the San Felipe Hills.

From PCT mile 77.3 to 86.6 Total: 9.3 miles 4/7

I now had another pair of the same Merrell shoes I had before, and I was ready to head out once again. This time, to save Vicki a trip, I drove my own car to the Scissors Crossing Trailhead. We would retrieve it in a few days when I reached Warner Springs, as the two of us were planning on camping there together. It was a bit complicated, but for now all was well. I had everything I needed in my backpack. More importantly, the weather was finally beginning to look more like SoCal, not rainy NorCal, but not roasting heatwaves, either. Just perfect weather, like it’s supposed to be. Springtime in the desert.

After a few more zero days to get new shoes and wait out a wind storm, I returned in my car to Scissors Crossing

Granite Mountain across the Valle de San Felipe with my car in the lonely Scissors Crossing parking lot, below — Granite Mountain across the Valle de San Felipe with my car in the lonely parking lot, below

With only ten miles to hike, it didn’t matter that I’d arrived a bit later in the morning. Ten miles was easy, and I would be done by mid-afternoon. Sadly, I was still nursing my old blisters, and was afraid to bump it up to fifteen. Especially with new shoes. I would see how it went, for now.

The first part of the hike into the San Felipe Hills was uphill, of course. The trail generally traversed along the western flank of the hills, climbing gradually. It was easy going, and there were plenty of desert wildflowers and cacti to check out along the way.

The Anza-Borrego Desert can be surprising at times - here's a patch of barrel cactii on a hillside near PCT mile 78 — The Anza-Borrego Desert can be surprising at times – here’s a patch of barrel cacti on a hillside

Climbing the switchbacks into the San Felipe Hills on the Pacific Crest Trail just north of Scissors Crossing — Climbing the switchbacks and onward to the long traverse of the San Felipe Hills

Happy hiker selfie on the PCT with Granite Mountain in the distance, and Scissors Crossing down below — Happy hiker selfie with Granite Mountain in the distance, and Scissors Crossing down below

Yes, life was good. I texted selfies and photos of flowers to Vicki and others, as there was plenty of cell signal up there above Highway S-2. And I kept walking along, gazing at hillsides covered with flowers. 2023 was truly a great year to be in the desert southwest.

It was almost a superbloom year in the desert southwest - these blue flowers were all along the PCT — It was almost a superbloom year in the desert – these blue flowers were all along the trail

Bright yellow flowering shrub on the Pacific Crest Trail near mile 82 — Bright yellow flowering shrub on the PCT near mile 82

Vicki and I had hiked this section ten years ago, back in 2013, but that time we hiked it SOBO. Why? Because we could. We chose the route with a net downhill elevation profile. This is Vicki’s preferred method, and when you’re section hiking it doesn’t really matter. But the one thing we remembered most was the long runs of the trail, deep into side canyons. It stayed level no matter what, when a short drop and stiff climb would have saved a lot of steps. We concluded that the original trailbuilders were getting paid by the mile, and did this on purpose. Sad but true. Nothing else made sense.

In order to maintain a constant slope, the PCT often headed far into the side canyons of the San Felipe Hills

Just ahead was a semi-sheltered valley within the San Felipe Hills, with multiple campsites, but no water — Just ahead was a semi-sheltered valley within the hills, with multiple campsites, but no water

After five hours or so, I arrived in the valley at mile 87, even though it was still early. I wandered around, looking for a shady spot, and there was really only one, near a Juniper tree. As I cleared the area of poky sticks and sharp spines I discovered that some inconsiderate hiker had used the only shady spot in the valley as their personal latrine! Gross! Luckily, I didn’t step in it. But it certainly “harshed my mellow” for a while. I used a stick to clear it out of the shady zone, but I wasn’t going to camp there due to residual odor. I found another spot that would get shade later on, on the east side of a taller bush. It worked out fine.

This time, I had traded tents back to my ultralight dyneema Tarptent Aeon Li, which weighed about a pound and only used one hiking pole. I only carry one pole, for balance when crossing creeks, so that’s perfect. I had condensation troubles with it back on Mount Laguna, but now I was in the desert where the air was dry. Also, I still had my warmer sleeping bag, so I could leave the doors wide open all night, using only the bug screen door.

My tent at PCT mile 87 - I was only hiking ten mile days to recover from bad blisters — My tent at PCT mile 87 – It wasn’t free standing, so it needed big rocks to hold the stakes in place

As it turned out, there was just enough shade that it didn’t get too hot inside while I lounged around on my air mattress reading my Kindle. It was pleasantly warm, and I may have dozed off for a bit. Yes, PCT Thru Hiking is difficult. A while later I fired up my stove and boiled some water for another hot ramen noodle dinner. I admit that I’m boring, food-wise, but I’m also quite happy with it. To each his own, as they say.

I cooked up some ramen while sitting on my air mattress in my cozy tent, on the PCT in the San Felipe Hills — I cooked up some ramen while sitting on my air mattress in my cozy tent

As evening approached two more hikers arrived in camp. Luckily, this valley was huge, and there was enough room for a small army to camp here. I hung out and spoke with them for a while, and they were good people, as always. Everybody I meet while backpacking is a good person, for some reason. I don’t think that it’s luck, either. Backpacking self-selects for good people. It’s simply a fact.

After that, the sun sank down behind Volcan Mountain in the west, and the air grew chill. I snuggled down into my sleeping bag and read my book for a while. But I think I fell asleep before sunset. Hiker midnight comes early some days.

For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page

For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page

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