Mile 109.5, to Warner Springs. Flora.
6 April 15: Yesterday I hiked 22 miles through and out of the San Felipe hills, much of it with an uncomfortably strong wind. I camped at Barrel Springs for the night, with loud frogs at the spring and traffic on the nearby road.
The landscape along the PCT so far has changed daily. During a break, which coincided with a break in the wind, I smelled a strong scent and realized that there's a great deal of sage growing in the San Felipe hills (see photo below). You can take sage leaves, fry them in butter, and combine this with pasta, Parmesan, and black pepper. A lovely dish (and veg-friendly, with the right pasta).
The cacti are blooming (see the other photo below). In Mexico, eating a certain cactus, called nopal, is a common dish, and one that I had several times a week while studying there. I've not seen nopal in tex-mex restaurants.
There were agave plants everywhere, which made me think of mezcal, tequila, and cold margaritas, with salt on the rims of the glass. (No alcohol so far on the trail.)
Sadly, none of the above are on my diet on the trail. I have started "stoveless" (to save weight), meaning I am not carrying a camp stove and fuel for boiling water for things like ramen/maggi or instant potatos. I am eating dehydrated granola/bananas (just add water), dehydrated beans and rice (which actually taste fine rehydrated in cold water, but it takes more time to rehydrate), trail mix (the Costco Kirkland brand, a blend of peanuts, almonds, cashews, raisins, and just enough M&M's to give a contrasting taste of sweet chocolate, pop tarts, emergy bars, and, to spare any veg readers the details, various meat products sealed for individual servings.
As I progress, I'm positive my menu will evolve. I've arrived in Warner Springs for lunch; burger, soda, pie and ice cream. And a shower, a wonderful shower. The community center sets up a welcome center for hikers -- really nice and well done. Picking up more trail mix that I mailed to myself at the post office...
6 April 15: Yesterday I hiked 22 miles through and out of the San Felipe hills, much of it with an uncomfortably strong wind. I camped at Barrel Springs for the night, with loud frogs at the spring and traffic on the nearby road.
The landscape along the PCT so far has changed daily. During a break, which coincided with a break in the wind, I smelled a strong scent and realized that there's a great deal of sage growing in the San Felipe hills (see photo below). You can take sage leaves, fry them in butter, and combine this with pasta, Parmesan, and black pepper. A lovely dish (and veg-friendly, with the right pasta).
The cacti are blooming (see the other photo below). In Mexico, eating a certain cactus, called nopal, is a common dish, and one that I had several times a week while studying there. I've not seen nopal in tex-mex restaurants.
There were agave plants everywhere, which made me think of mezcal, tequila, and cold margaritas, with salt on the rims of the glass. (No alcohol so far on the trail.)
Sadly, none of the above are on my diet on the trail. I have started "stoveless" (to save weight), meaning I am not carrying a camp stove and fuel for boiling water for things like ramen/maggi or instant potatos. I am eating dehydrated granola/bananas (just add water), dehydrated beans and rice (which actually taste fine rehydrated in cold water, but it takes more time to rehydrate), trail mix (the Costco Kirkland brand, a blend of peanuts, almonds, cashews, raisins, and just enough M&M's to give a contrasting taste of sweet chocolate, pop tarts, emergy bars, and, to spare any veg readers the details, various meat products sealed for individual servings.
As I progress, I'm positive my menu will evolve. I've arrived in Warner Springs for lunch; burger, soda, pie and ice cream. And a shower, a wonderful shower. The community center sets up a welcome center for hikers -- really nice and well done. Picking up more trail mix that I mailed to myself at the post office...
