Mile 227

Woke up at Ziggy and the Bear's to people shimmying out of their sleeping bags, still dark out. Rushing around, getting ready to leave. We hung around a little while to enjoy the trail magic. Ziggy and some volunteers were up early to make coffee, orange juice, and oatmeal for everyone. At home, I would have stayed there the rest of the day, cleaning up and helping out. It's weird to use the facility, eat the food, enjoy the company, and just take off in the morning. It is what they expect though. You have to get moving early to beat the desert heat. I always ponder what motivates people to become trail angels. To devote so much to it. Did the trail give them so much that they felt they needed to pay it forward? Will we feel that way at some point? Anyway, we left the house around 7:30 and it was already burning hot outside. We hiked 8 miles to the creek and realized that there was no shade for miles. We made the last-minute decision to take a side trail to Whitewater Preserve. It's a picnic area outside of Palm Springs with wading pools, grass, bathrooms with sinks!, and a huge room with air conditioning. There was a boy scout group, families, a reunion, an engagement party...it was kind of a culture shock. This is all out here? In the middle I nowhere!? We got over it when we were able to clean up and cool off. We spent the rest of the day there and headed out at sunset to hike the last 8 miles before bed. The hike at twilight was so beautiful and so much easier without the heat. The ranger at Whitewater told us that it's supposed to be 105 in the desert tomorrow so we're getting up at 4am to make it up to the trees before the sun beats down. We're learning how to hike our own hike and enjoy it.