Let the journey begin...

Thursday April 15, 2010
Cacti'chamice, chaparral with very little shade was most of the early trail. Large Yuccas were the highlight so far, they were huge in bloom and sometimes growing right out of rocks. Next we made the accent of Hauser Mountain,the wind was really nice as we broke to our first ridge line. We ran into our first group of PCT hikers including one wearing a skirt "Bigfoot". After passing them and beginning yet another climb we were still going strong taking breaks of just a few minutes before striking out again. At another break we met David another thru hiker. after cresting Hauser Mountain we began the long way around Hauser we looked up to see the large looming Morena Butte, pretty but formidable, Sarah I think we have to find that kiddo. But we both laughed it off there's no way, that's more than 20 miles away. Then we passed another group of hikers, and two more before we headed down the canyon to what we thought was Hauser creek. Man we are doing good we thought we were 15 miles in so we stopped there cooled our feet in the creek by the rocks. thinkin just 4 miles to go. The day looked well in reach so we decided two liters would be enough water! "HA" two or three miles later we started really descending and soon came to a rugged jeep road. Near by we saw signs only in Spanish warning of heat and rattle snakes. Just a few more minutes down the trail and there it was ch ch ch Sarah that's a rattler, as we rounded the corner we saw 4 hikers one had passed and was helping the others to get around it. The snake was huge and very upset after the four hikers got around they waited to make sure we made it safely. "here's where i get a trail name" there we stopped to talk when one of the girls asked if i had a trail name nope i replied she said she was inclined to call me howdy because that seems to be my hiker greeting to everyone on the trail. Before they left we decided to wait for a couple of hikers that were just behind to warn them of Mr. rattler. Then we descended down to the real hauser creek. Just when we thought it was over the hard part was beginning rising in front of us was endless switch backs for miles and over 1000 feet up ugh we took a short breather at Hauser and stupidly didn't take any water. About a mile up I had ran out of gas and zombie walked the rest of the way. 2 and a half miles up Sarah realized we were out of water. Shortly after dehydration set in I was cramping up and Sarah was having trouble breathing kinda scary but a very good lesson all the same. Still we huffed and puffed all the way to our first nights camp where we met our mom and sister at about eight that evening . So 22 exhausting miles later and it was time for bed......