4.5.2018 Day 12

Well, the ZPacks Duplex made it through the night with two very jimmy-rigged anchors last night. Even though I could close either vestibule I slept more than warm enough in that beautiful ridge.

The rest of the day was quite defeating tho. To say the least, it was an uphill battle today. From 154.6 this morning to mile 166.6 this afternoon we climbed, a lot. There was a .5 mile downward hike to a horse trough, which was just pure torture coming back up with a mere 2 liters of water in hand. Then there was the fact that we had a decision to make at a fire closure up ahead. From Mile 166.6 the Fobes Trail (6 miles) takes you down towards Lake Hemet which was plan A, with a hitchhike to the campground as we’d be walking on highway 74. Plan B was hike the newly reopened 2 miles of the PCT towards the Spitzler Trail that would drop you out at the Hurkey Campground, but that added another 12 miles. Decisions! As Laura was headed toward Spitzler, Emily and I planned for Fobes.

What ended up happening was this: on our 3rd lunch break for the day Emily and I had a chat about going into Idyllwild tonight. The reality was we were already beat up after climbing 12 miles today. No rest days and our bodies were screaming this afternoon. It wasn’t fun anymore. After that chat we found Laura just half a mile in front of us trying to figure out her own decision. It was super windy and the extra 2 miles to the Spitzler trail would have been on a dangerous ridge. So the ladies were back together again, and the decision to take the Fobes Trail to a forest road to the 74 Highway (6 miles down, ugh) had been made. The forest road was disheartening. Each of us had hit our walls. We were tired, hungry, our feet hurt, we stunk, and the terrain just kept going down. Not a soul in sight. Miserable we all kept chugging downward to the highway. 18 miles to seal the day. Now that we were off the mountain side, the next order of business was to get a hitchhike down to Idyllwild. With the sun setting and the temperature dropping the amount of cars that rolled by were few and far between. Totally different from our hitchhiking experience in Julian–which was pretty much immediate. There was a lady who passed us by in a Subaru (Doran, you were sooooo right!!!) with her dog, we thought she was the ticket. But she wasn’t at first, she pulled into the forest road just passed us and let her dog run for a few minutes. When that was done, and we’d still been passed up by other cars, she drove to the end of the road and rolled her window down and asked where we were headed. Her name was Barbara and her dog was Rio. The 5 of us crammed into her Subaru, the hatchback BARELY closing, and Rio not really sure what was going on. Barbara dropped us off at the Silver Pines Lodge where we are currently resting our feet. Laura and I WALKED .2 miles to get pizza and beer which seemed like 10 miles as tired as we were. Emily was showered by the time we got back with dinner and then we gorged and laughed about our brutal day. The plan now is to stay in Idyllwild until Sunday. It’s time for a break. Laundry. Recharge. And reset.

To end on a sad (but deep down good) note I had my worst breakdown on the trail today. Around mile 164 I cracked. The uphill battle was slow and steep. And the few times that I’ve been on the trail solo, I’ve thought of the days a year ago when I was in the hospital with my mom. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of her passing. As everyone knows it’s been one of the hardest years of my life. I know my mom would want me out here, doing what I love. I know she’d be proud of the challenges that I have set forth for myself and in following my passion. I cried today like I haven’t cried in a while. And it was refreshing. It’s good to remember the strengths that our parents instill within us.

The memory of my mom will always be. Tomorrow will be rough but I know I’m surround by wonderful people who understand and care. I’m thankful for the friends that I have made already in my first 166 miles of the PCT. And for those of you who have offered such kind words of support and inspiration. Love you all!