Daily Miles: 19.9, Total Miles: 258.5 Today was different from the very beginning – the clear skies and hot weather to this point has turned to cloudy and cool. Pretty hike through the San Bernardino Mountains eventually reaching 8,750 ft. I stopped and had lunch with Turtle and Willow at the animal cages owned by Randy’s Predators in Action. The PCT goes right by this place that has a lion, bear and tiger that we could see. When we arrived,…
Daily Miles: 20.0, Total Miles: 238.6 I awoke early and discovered I was camping next to a telescope that tourists use to gaze into the mountains. Just a short distance away, I found the water, bathrooms and picnic grounds I should have camped at – just too dark to see last night. Hiked up the Whitewater Creek drainage and then up and over into the Mission Creek drainage. After several creek crossings, stopped and had lunch with my feet in…
Daily Miles: 23.6, Total Miles: 218.6 A long descent with countless switchbacks, little shade and another snake got me to the drinking fountain near the mouth of Snow Canyon. On the way, I had problems with an eye, first thinking allergies and then sure it was a scratched eyeball. Flushed the sand out of my eyes at the water fountain and this seemed to help. I continued to the bottom of the valley, the lowest on the PCT until reaching…
Daily Miles: 16.4, Total Miles: 195.0 The Idyllwild Inn owner gave myself and another hiker a ride back to the Devil’s Slide TH. Her and her husband are very nice people. After hiking back up to the PCT, I proceeded around San Jacinto Peak (10,834 ft) and over Fuller Ridge which can be quite dangerous in high snow years. Fortunately only a few snow drifts remained over the trail down the ridge. I’m dry camping on a high ridge above…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 178.6 Relaxed, cleaned up my gear, did some foot doctoring and enjoyed my zero day. Speaking of feet, they seem to be holding up as well as could be expected considering the punishment. Blisters on the little toes are turning into bulbous callouses. A heel blister that had been tender for a few days seems to be coming good. I have seen some huge, nasty, painful looking blisters on a few hiker’s feet. I got…
Daily Miles: 6.6, Total Miles: 178.6 A beautiful, windy hike this morning along a high ridge in the San Jacinto Mountains peaking at about 8,600 ft. Still some patches of snow hanging on. Once at Saddle Trail junction, the official PCT mileage ends, but I still had to hike 4.5 miles into Idyllwild. I was almost at the Devil’s Slide TH when stopped by two forest service rangers who asked for my PCT permit. Surprised because I’ve heard that most…
Daily Miles: 14.0, Total Miles: 172.0 Live Oak was the best spring yet but I had to walk up the mile-long, steep climb back to the PCT. That started the tough, sometimes steep climb into the San Jacinto Wilderness. A real calf and thigh workout as I went into a baby step mode. I had to detour off the trail again at Fobes Spring to tide me over for tonight’s dry camp. I set up camp on a high ridge…
Daily Miles: 21.4, Total Miles: 158.0 The next section of trail seemed to wander up and down and all around due to some land ownership issues. Hot day and drinking lots of water, so good to see the Anza Hiker’s Oasis water cache at about mile 143. I finally got to Highway 74 but not before seeing the 4th, 5th and 6th snake. Enough on the snake count, probably counter-productive at this point. Only significant milestones from now on. I…
Daily Miles: 21.6, Total Miles: 136.6 While packing up, a hiker camping nearby said, “Purple Haze, I found my first white roses on the PCT!”. I said “Nice” thinking that Puppy must be a botanist because she commented on the diverse flora the day before. She said, “Purple Haze, white roses are used toilet paper!”. Now I know. A steady 2,000 ft climb out of the Agua Caliente drainage to the boundary of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I had…
Daily Miles: 19.0, Total Miles: 115.0 A few hikers came by my camp last night hiking to a full moon. I think I’ll save it for the real desert. I headed down the mountain to Barrel Spring to top off my water bottles. On the way, I saw a fox that looked to be inspecting a campsite. Took the short detour to Eagle Rock and had lunch – I have seen so many pics of this place but still an…
