PCT: Campo to Warner Springs

Overview

Starting from Campo heading north, your first resupply town is at mile 42 and is called Mt. Laguna. You can choose to buy some food here. To get there, it is 2 miles off trail. The sign says 1 mile, but it lies! The trail does enter a nice wooded area that can get cold, which is a nice surprise from the first 42 miles of desert. The Mt. Laguna shop is SICK, stocking all the ultralight gear you need, and the folks there can help you with a shakedown, and help you ship things home. Mt laguna also has a small restaurant, post office, shop, and motel. The campground there has quarter operated heated bathrooms with outlets. Pay area (around $20.00 split between all occupants, came to like $3.00 for my stay).<br><br>From there you can make your way to the next town at mile 77, Jullian, know as the home of anything apple or boysenberry. It is a 11 mile, uphill hitch from succors crossing with narrow road shoulders, so if you're thinking about walking it, I'd hitch. It's a small town with a couple small grocery stores. The best one is located at the end of town. Mom's pie shop offers a free slice of pie with ice cream and a free drink with PCT permit. The town is VERY touristy, so prices reflect that. They have restaurants from cheap to expensive, and a post office on the outskirts of town. Carmen's Mexican Restaurant gives PCT hikers a discount and she might let you stay there the night for FREE!!! Stop in and see if she still does, because everything else is expensive.<br><br>Leaving Jullian and getting back on the PCT, you go right back into the desert on long winding trails that skirt ridges. You can see the trail 1000ft away a lot of times, but have to head a mile up the canyon and then back down the canyon just to get there. Get used to it. Going through to 3rd gate area, you'll reach the first on trail log book. There was also a HUGE water cache there, otherwise it's a dry 30+ miles from the scissors crossing (water cache) to barrel springs. If the scissors crossing cache isn't there, it's even further unle

Trail Stats

Photos

San Ysidro Creek

San Ysidro Creek

The Path of Choice

The Path of Choice

Portion of PCT near Fred Canyon Rd at dusk. Oct 18, 2017.

Portion of PCT near Fred Canyon Rd at dusk. Oct 18, 2017.

Heading up the dusty trail

Heading up the dusty trail

Ravenhome

Ravenhome

Desert plains

Desert plains

3rd Gate Trail Log - giving it 5 stars because there was a water cache here!!!

3rd Gate Trail Log - giving it 5 stars because there was a water cache here!!!

Kitchen Creek Southbound to Kitchen Creek Falls on PCT. Creek was completely dried up at this time of year. Oct 17, 2017. Well-maintained trail until turn off down to creek bed.

Kitchen Creek Southbound to Kitchen Creek Falls on PCT. Creek was completely dried up at this time of year. Oct 17, 2017. Well-maintained trail until turn off down to creek bed.

A day-visitor on the Pacific Crest Trail early in the morning.

A day-visitor on the Pacific Crest Trail early in the morning.

Rain shadow effect.

Rain shadow effect.

Looking at out at the desert from the PCT.

Looking at out at the desert from the PCT.

Looking south along the PCT.

Looking south along the PCT.

Kitchen Creek Rd at its crossing with the Pacific Crest Trail

Kitchen Creek Rd at its crossing with the Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail is still verdant in June.

The Pacific Crest Trail is still verdant in June.

Whale Peak sunset.

Whale Peak sunset.

Small pinnacles flank the Pacific Crest Trail on the way to Kitchen Creek.

Small pinnacles flank the Pacific Crest Trail on the way to Kitchen Creek.

Starting point for NB and ending point for the SB! Early morning for Day 1 to camp at Lake Morena, a VERY long day...

Starting point for NB and ending point for the SB! Early morning for Day 1 to camp at Lake Morena, a VERY long day...

Morena Butte

Morena Butte

Hacienda del Florasol

Hacienda del Florasol

Lake Morena Ahead

Lake Morena Ahead

Lake Morena

Lake Morena

Valleys in the distance

Valleys in the distance

Across Cottonwood Vly to Lagunas

Across Cottonwood Vly to Lagunas

Trail Sign above Hauser Canyon

Trail Sign above Hauser Canyon

Hauser Canyon

Hauser Canyon

Cool rock formation!!

Cool rock formation!!

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