Hell week

We descended Mount San Jacinto in 108 degree heat after running out of water with 2.5 miles to our next source. After already drinking 5 liters before noon, we were sharing liquid from an orange to stay hydrated. When we finally made it to the bottom, we were let down that the map's "water spigot" was actually a water fountain that shot straight into the air and blew everywhere except into our bottles. We sought shade in the waning shade of a tiny boulder to eat lunch. After lunch we had the promise of flat ground. We soon found out the while we weren't summitting a mountain, we would be hiking up to our knees in a kitty litter box of sand during high sun. When we reached a sanctuary of shade beneath a highway underpass, we opened a cooler that a trail angel had left only to find that the last cold beverage had been taken 5 minutes before by a doctor that prescribes pie for extreme diharea. Luckily, we only had a little over a mile to Ziggy and the Bear's hiker house where Epsom salt foot baths and ice cream awaited! There we relaxed and caught up with fellow hikers. It was a great end to a not so great day.

The next day, the heat greeted us again leaving us feeling nauseous from dehydration. Ryan actually peed brown! It burned! Although we had been drinking enough water, our electrolytes were low. Emergen-C saved us. Midday, we came across a true oasis at Whitewater creek. We took a three and a half hour siesta in the cool flowing water. Absolutely amazing!
We rolled out of our sleeping bags the next morning and were hopeful for a cool breezy day. The weather seemed to cooperate as we followed Mission Creek upstream for most of the day. And then...we came across poodle dog bush! Poodle dog bush is the worse obstacle a hiker can encounter. Having a similar but worse reaction to poison ivy and poison oak, we had to strategically maneuver through the miles. Lindsay cried. Ryan's spirit was broken or the first time. We all felt utterly defeated. It took us eight and a half hours to hike eleven miles. In thru-hiking terms, that is absolutely ridiculous. It turn out, we weren't alone in our misery. Most others that we hiked with that day, including Larry, Captain Kristy, and Tortuga, also experienced the psychological hardship. Larry said his ego was broken. Later we found out that most of the overgrown poodle dog bush that we had to sidestep was actually a similar looking, non-poisonous desert plant. Talk about a slap to the face.

After taking a three hour nap, we made up for lost time by night hiking in the cool, brisk air. It reminded us of walking at home. We even saw the most beautiful sunset. Things began to look up from there!