Warner Springs- Idywilld

Is it too soon to say I have a favorite trail town?? I am spending my second zero day in Idywilld and it is an absolute treat. 

The trek to get here was some more long water carries with some especially sketchy sources- one cistern with a live snake and a dead lizard in it (rightfully named lizard cistern), and a creek that smelled so bad I called it Schitt’s creek. Good thing I brought a lifetimes worth of activated charcoal to keep the giardia away. 

Aside from the water, the walk was very fun. It was the least amount of people I have seen on a stretch of trail, only running into other groups at water sources. Our campsite one night looked just like Joshua Tree, which had me feeling right at home.  

I had my first plastic bagged meal for dinner- a mixture of instant mashed potatoes, lentils, and a packet of lemon tuna. Good thing I carried at least 7 lbs of gourmet home made food!

We hiked through hot desert stretches with some inclines that definitely got my heart rate up. Our goal was to get to a cafe just off trail, Paradise Valley Cafe- a cafe specifically for hikers and bikers, for breakfast on Thursday. My mom met me at Paradise Valley Cafe and brought along our pup, who was a huge hit. It was such a treat to have a slice of home brought to me and to have my mom experience a bit of my hiker life for a few hours (she was a huge trooper listening to people’s stories of how they got their trail nameand didn't  complain at all about our stench). She drove a few friends and I up to Idywilld for a rest day and then went on her way. 

Idywilld has been SO good to me and the hiker community in general. Free stone necklaces, 50% off jerky, campfires galore and a pizza place that put up with us even after I asked for a 5th refill of lemonade. People have stopped their cars to make sure we know how to get where we’re going and not a word has been spoken about our loitering outside of the coffee shop and supermarket. As I’m sitting outside the coffee shop writing this, a woman asks me if I just got into town and if I’m alone- she has an extra space in her cottage for hikers and wanted to make sure I had a place to rest. Thanks, Idywilld!!!! 

We got a little Airbnb just outside of town and had some of our hiker friends over for a carbo load dinner before heading out into the San Jacinto mountains this week. At one point, I was the only American at the table- sitting next to a German, a Canadian, a Swiss, a Brit, and a Parisian. 

Being in town is so fun, especially after a stretch that felt like nobody was on trail. We get to meet up with people who have been ahead of us for a bit, and see people rolling through that have been behind. Everyone talks plans for the next stretch and rests their bodies- some taking a full day off, some taking 2-4 depending on how they’re doing. Fortunately, my body has been significantly unscathed- no blisters, shin splints, or aggrevated muscles. The only complaint that I have is that I wake up every morning around 1-2AM with sore leg muscles that are absolutely nagging for attention, but I get myself back to sleep with some ibuprofen and a little cork massage ball that I’m very grateful made the cut in my pack. 

I loved catching up with all the other hikers, making some phone calls home, and getting a nights sleep with a bed and as many blankets as I want. Feeling ready to get back on trail today!