April 9th 2022 by Jon
Today we hiked 15 miles and made it all the way to Lake Morena State Park! The morning began slowly, and we watched a sunrise fill the valley that we camped above from our tent. After breakfast and coffee, we began our journey up the trail. As the sun rose higher, we meandered up a few switchbacks to get up on a ridge that we walked on for a few hours. We took a break in the shade around 8:30 after hitting 6 miles. During that stretch, we passed a few people who were packing up and getting ready to head out.
Sometime around 10:00 a.m., the sun started to get REAL intense. We hiked through scrubby bushes and trees, but for the most part, it was pretty exposed. The sweat was real people. The forecast for the day was low to mid-80s, and it certainly felt like it. After reaching the edge of a valley, we could look down and see the dried-up Houser Creek. Looking across the valley, we could see the steep 1100-foot climb out of the creek over 2.8 miles. We began our descent, and while there was a breeze, it felt like standing in front of an oven door. The trail gave way to an old dirt road that we walked along for a half mile before taking a steep chute down the side of the hill.
We found a small, shady spot by the creekbed and spent nearly an hour drinking water and eating lunch. During our time there, probably 10 other hikers showed up to do the same thing we were, and it was fun to hear where people were from. Plenty of various states represented, as well as a couple from Wales and a man from Germany. I think everyone enjoyed the camaraderie and the rest. Around 1:00 pm, we decided to leave our little oasis and brave the steep climb in the heat.
I’m just gonna tell you right now that hike was TOUGH. We had already gone 10 miles by lunch, and even though we rested up a little bit, the heat sapped the little strength we had managed to recover during our break. We, like everyone else, took frequent breaks in between rocks, literally in bushes, or anywhere else we could find shade. We got to the top and laid on the ground in the shade, wilting. The views were killer though.
The last 3 miles rolled on the crest of a beautiful ridge with views of Lake Morena to the northwest. The last mile dropped down off the mountain, and we arrived at a county park where we plan to spend the night. After setting up our stuff and paying the $5 hiker fee, we took the most glorious face rinse in a campground sink ever experienced by humankind. The amount of salt coming off my face was astounding.
Finally, we made our way 0.2 miles down the road to a little restaurant, and we are enjoying a huge milkshake, shade, and Gatorade. We will probably sit here and enjoy the Wi-Fi a little longer before heading back to the campground for some sleep. Our feet are sore, but otherwise we feel good! We might come back to this place in the morning for breakfast burritos, but they don’t open until 8, so we will see.
