In this 4 day section we found the experience on the trail to transition from easy to the most challenging we have ever done. The gentleness of the slope leaving Warner Springs grew into longer ascents as we traversed the mountain sides and the steepness increased a few days in. Despite the higher elevation, it was the weather that grabbed us and gave us a good shaking.
It was innocent enough at first beginning with a clear, sunny day, then becoming a low-cloud misty day where we could only see 10 metres in all directions. Walking in a cloud like this, without any spectacular views to distract you, is introspective, less entertaining but carries its own beauty.
Easter Egg Boulders 
Low cloud hiking 
Misty water cache oasis
Again a clear sky offered us amazing views on the day we journeyed upwards through the 2013 wildfire area. I was filled with enthusiasm and inspired visually with the artistically coloured landscapes. Regrowth and destruction contrasting each other everywhere.
Up and up 
Crisp happy morning 
Slow new growth 
Cloud creeping up 
Wildfire slope
We set up camp at Apache Springs Junction for the night, elevation 7,000′ with the lights of Palm Springs sparkling below in the distant valley. The world was a good place when we went to sleep but upon awakening, a full force mountain storm was upon us. With minimal visibility, rain, and gusting wind, we didn’t want to get out of the tent. There were no pictures taken this day, there was zero water drank, only a small portion of the normal amount of food was eaten, we trudged through the 7 hours soaking wet. Early on I felt like I was an underwater diver where my clothing was the extent of the sea and I was swimming in the puddles of water in my shoes and gloves and inside my pant legs. At times the wind blasted us with piercing sleet which made keeping to the ascending edge trail difficult. The rain kept on relentlessly and I was reminded of a children’s book called, Brave Irene, where a young girl battles the wind storm to bring her mother’s work to the Duchess. I feel we came close, closer than I want to ever be again, to a survival incident. After 4 miles (seemed like hours and hours) we came to where snow was packed on the trail. We met up with Norm, another hiker, who with his red, bare hands was standing in the middle of the snowy trees, looking confused and lost to where he was. We stay focused together and continued to lose and find the trail multiple times and tried not to talk about how cold we all were. We kept going because there was no other way to get out. Our legs would fall through the snow to Jobie’s long leg depth and Norm took several major wipe-outs that made me worry about injury. I was losing my core heat as my back was now wet. My thoughts had to stay focused and I had to work at it. After 6 miles of snow trudging with thunder and lightning adding to the drama of the sleet/rain, we made it to a junction where we began descending. At this point I lost mobility of my knees and the trekking poles in my hands weren’t moving anymore. I am sure it was not a pretty descent, however, we made it down, hitched a ride and next thing I know I was in a hot shower. Life becomes normal so quickly!?!
Babushka survivors
Zip and Jobie Go Hiking 