Day 1, 22 miles. 1/17/21
Today I started hiking the San Diego Trans-County Trail, from the Salton Sea to Torrey Pines. Today I set off just after 11am, after caching water in a couple places on the drive out. The first 19 miles are along Arroyo Salada, a wash that’s also an OHV route. Starting late morning, the sun was full on but as the shadows lengthened, the temps began to drop. I spooked two jackrabbits, they raced across the desert floor ahead of me. I also saw a Killdeer in a fenced off area with standing salt water. Dinner was cold soaked re-fried beans and couscous with some green chili spice on it. Delicious! After the sun set I hiked for a few hours, barely needing a headlight.
Day 2, 27 miles. 1/18/21
Last night I slept on the side of a sandy wash. I woke up with the sun and was hiking shortly after the sunrise. As dawn broke, cool temps and a light breeze kept me happy while I enjoyed the morning colors. The trail was mostly wash, and unfortunately not easy walking as it was well traveled by vehicles, making the sand soft. There was a cool section where I meandered down a mud ravine (pictured) while crossing drainages to a new wash. The wash led out to a paved road and I hiked on the shoulder for 5mi into Borrego Springs where I recharged my phone and drank lots of water at the very welcoming visitor center. Begrudgingly, I shouldered my pack for the 3,500ft climb out of town in the heat of the afternoon. After a hot hour or so, I found myself in the shadow of the mountain off to the west. I played peek-a-boo with the sun until it set, when I had great views looking back east, down over town and all the way to the Salton Sea. I clicked on my headlamp when it got dark and ended spotting two foxes up ahead just off trail, I believe one was a juvenile. After a few hours of night hiking, I found a flat enough spot to sleep for the night.
Day 3, 28 miles. 1/19/21
I woke up after a cooler-than-expected night and walked with my layers on as the sun broke out of the clouds. This section of the trail was contiguous with the CA riding and hiking trail as it meandered through Grapevine Canyon and the culturally important Angelina Springs. While hiking, I spooked a number of flocks of quail- sorry hunters! I picked up my water cache and took off. The overcast morning and lower temps allowed me to carry for over 20mi, skipping a detour to refill. While walking up a wash, I said hello when I crossed a day hiker, the only person I spoke to for over 30hrs. Eventually the wash ended and there was a beautiful view looking up towards the Laguna Mountains with the lonely desert highway, S2, below. I navigated back into another wash for a few miles before crossing the highway and starting to climb up. I found myself ascending the same path that I had descended a decade or so ago when on my first backpacking trip. As I climbed out of Oriflamme Canyon, I contemplated continuing on. In truth, I was tired and sore and had been cold all day. What would be the usual aches and pains of hiking seemed to be larger today than in the past, possibly something I purposefully forgotten. As I crossed the PCT, on the eastern ridge of the Lagunas, the wind picked up big time and it became clear to me that I was physically exhausted, in more pain than enjoyment, and had been cold all day. My dad picked me up a couple hours later, just past the halfway point of the trail and I slept in my bed at home last night. A day later, I am struggling to accept that I took the easy option out simply because I was cold, my feet hurt, and I was simply not enjoying the trail like I thought I would.
Samuel D. Parks 