Desert boy

Hm, well... we heard from Vince yesterday afternoon. He's well into the desert (hitched into the town of Julian, CA with another hiker and had just enjoyed a burger before he called) - and about 30 miles from his first post office/the end of the first leg in Warner Springs (mile 110 of the PCT). The desert has been quite hot - 95 by 8:30am some days and so he's hiked some early mornings and late nights to avoid the sun.

He's definitely "experiencing" the desert and hiking long days as his feet are covered in popped blisters and his shoulders and waist are showing wear and tear. He's been alright on water (relatively speaking...) - ran out at one point, but was able to find a source ~2 mi off trail and loaded up on it again at the next source 10 mi down the trail. He's also met up with some rattler snakes, but luckily no bad stories there. And alas, he says his spirits remain high. He said the scenery is amazing and changes from scorching desert to high mountain desert with wildflowers to pine forest. I will post pictures when he sends them (might not be for a while - his next post office is Idyllwild in another 100 miles).

I hope you are all well and thanks for reading.