Day Four – May 28

SUNRISE HIGHWAY TRAILHEAD TO MILE 71.1 CAMPSITE
11.6 Miles (Trip Total: 71.1)

We decided to spend most of the day in the neat little town of Julian to avoid hiking in the heat of the day. Stephen and I bought some hiking food to get us through to Warner Springs, the next town along the trail.

Carmen cooked some tasty burritos for breakfast and Stephen and I ate a humongous pizza for lunch. We washed our clothes, soaked our aching feet, enjoyed the company of other hikers, and Carmen's puppy, Rigby!

It felt strange to sit around all day, but it was just too hot to hike. 

We left Carmen's restaurant in Julian about 4:30 p.m. and walked to the end of town to get a hitch back to where we got off the trail along the Sunrise Highway. 

Stephen and I, plus our fellow hikers Baby Squirrel and Sarah, were hiking by just after 5 p.m., and the temperature was finally comfortable. Night hiking might be the solution to the dreadfully hot weather and lack of shade through this section. 

The trail was mostly gentle downhill and the miles flew by in the twilight. It was fun to hike with a group and we passed the time with conversations about home and family. We settled into our campsite about 10 p.m. after more than eleven of the coolest (literally) miles we've had so far. 

There is very little water available over the next stretch of hiking, so we have to be strategic about hiking in the sun.

Campsite