[pct-l] Quick Trip Report - Warner Springs/Ysidro Creek

[robert at beckersurf.com (Robert Gedeon)]

It was indeed a gorgeous past few days in that area - we came down the San
Felipes from the first gate into Warner Springs on Saturday while it was
raining. Despite the fact that we had no rain gear (what can you say! - we
ended up slicing a piece of waterproof ripstop into two panchos - thanks
Ron, if you get this, for letting us warm up in your van at Barrel
Spring!!), the scenery emboldened by the rain was fantastic and made the
damp miles more than pleasurable. 

Just as a note, if anyone's ever looking for a place to park at Warner
Springs. . . the folks who run the resort allow hikers to park their car in
the resort's "employee / additional parking" lot across the street. They
simply ask you to fill out a short form with your name and some info about
your vehicle, and you can leave your drive in their lot. Just talk to
whomever is manning the guard station at the resort gate. The fire station
is a short mile or so from the lot.

Robert 



-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Mike Saenz
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 10:24 AM
To: PCT Mail List (E-mail)
Subject: [pct-l] Quick Trip Report - Warner Springs/Ysidro Creek

Just got back from a quick overnighter to Ysidro Creek.
Here's some useful info:

1)	Both Canada Verde and Ysidro Creeks are flowing very well with clear
water.
2)	If you're a weekend hiker, DON'T PARK YOU CAR IN THE WARNER SPRINGS
SCHOOL PARKING LOT!

It rained the entire 4 miles into Ysidro Creek. The first mile and a half
was a pleasant walk under the dripping oaks along Canada Verde. The creek
was babbling happily with the additional water volume. Under the oaks, the
creek was noisier than the rain dripping down from the trees.
When I got to the crest of the hill, and began hiking down in to the
pastures, I learned the combination of being in the little canyon amid the
oaks shielded me from the wind that was blowing quite strong from the
southwest. The 2-1/2 miles in the pastures was a hike through a surreal
landscape: rolling grassland with the cloud cover touching down here and
there while it moved past at a very high speed. Very cool!
Dropping down into Ysidro Creek, the topography and trees calmed everything
down again. Tents were pitched and gear was stowed. I spent the rest of the
afternoon outside listing to the creek compete with the rainfall. Dinner was
chicken and pasta, french roll and, of course, my oilcan. The rest of the
evening was spent in the tent reading by candle lantern.
The drops falling on my tent were amplified by the taut drum of my rainfly.
Once in a while a few fat drops would hit the thick leaf bed I was camped
on, sounding for all the world like footsteps outside! I even unzipped and
peered out twice to see if what was just outside my tent, just to find
nothing in my flashlight beam.
The rain stopped sometime after midnight, but not until it threw a few
hailstones down at me. I heard snow fell a couple thousand feet higher. This
precipitation is going to really help the thru-hikers that will be heading
by here in a week or so...

Sunday morning was bright, sunny and warm. A noisy bird woke me up, I could
have slept longer. One more hour....
I spread my gear over a nice sunny patch of grass already dried by the sun.
re-packing was a leisurely task. After I was all packed up, I detached my
daypack and headed up Ysidro Creek exploring.
What brought me back to this spot was it's beauty. Maybe it's because it's
the prettiest spot since Mt Laguna. Maybe because of the flowing creek, but
when I came through the first time, I was amazed at how many absolutely
PERFECT campsites there were along both Ysidro Creek and Canada Verde. I
just HAD to spend an evening in these little slices of heaven!
My explorations up Ysidro Creek (up-creek from the PCT) confirmed my
expectations of many more outstanding campsites. All in very secluded and
sheltered areas. My advice to the Thru-Hikers: don't stop at Barrel Springs!
Keep on for 4 more miles and you'll be in Ysidro Creek. You'll find many,
many outstanding places to pitch camp just up the creek from where the PCT
crosses the creek. No cars and trucks roaring past you as in Barrel Spring.

The hike back to Warner was a different world from 24 hours before. bright
blue, sunny and the cool-breezy conditions the San Diego mountains are known
for this time of year. I lingered at each vista point to take in as much of
the gorgeous scenery.

All in all, a wonderful weekend! Except for when I got back to my truck....
I parked just inside the gate of the school, next to the fire station. When
I got back, the gate was locked and the school was deserted!
A kindly CDF guy lent me his bolt cutters and I cut one of the chain links
to get out. The CDF guy said that the ball field parking lot across the
street was always open. But I don't think I'll park inside a gate again...

Live -n- learn,
 

M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e    P l a n n i n g    I n t e r i o r s
w  w  w  .  m  v  e  -  a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s  .  c  o  m
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