Daily Miles: 25.8, Total Miles: 317.4 An enjoyable hike down Holcomb Creek and then further down, crossing the steel and wood bridge spanning Deep Creek. Good views of the beautiful creek and inviting sand bars for miles. I eventually reached the Deep Creek Hot Springs and couldn’t resist alternating between the hot spring and the cold plunge into the creek. Several other thru-hikers, day hikers and a few partyers were also enjoying the hot springs. After drying off and packing…

Daily Miles: 26.3, Total Miles: 291.6 I shared a ride back to Highway 18 with fellow Arizonans, Will and Roadrunner. The trail traversed Gold Mountain which sparked my interest having been in the mining industry my entire career. A gold rush took place here in the 1860’s but also evidence of more recent activity throughout the day. Great views of Big Bear Lake and the San Gorgonio peaks at a lunch break at the Cougar Crest trail junction. I saw…

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…