Category: PCT 2018

With the alarm set for 6:15am Laura and I packed our bags once again. Leaving the comforts of a nice bed was difficult. Our shuttle was scheduled for 8:15 so we were already committed.

Getting back to the trail was exciting today. It felt new again but that sure didn’t last long. Our first task was to get back to the PCT via a side trail where we were dropped off. The Humber Park trailhead is the easiest start point in Idyllwild. Unfortunately it’s not an easy trail. The starting elevation was 6,479 ft. We climbed to the saddle junction at 8,114 ft. And then climbed to 8,992ft where you could take option A and stay on the PCT or be an overachiever and summit Mt. San Jacinto 10,834ft. I’d love to tell you how beautiful the summit view was… but I can’t. Laura and I stayed on the PCT while Justin went to the summit. I figured I didn’t need to kill my legs first day back on the trail and Laura agreed. There’s always time to climb that peak.

I think what’s really nice about hiking with Laura is that our groans and gripes are similar. The general statement has been: we never thought this would be EASY, but we have to admit that it’s hard. I’m hoping with a few more days the uphill climbs will become less of a struggle. With the brace on my knee, downhills seem to not bother me. Both of our packs were waaaaay to heavy today. We both overpack on food. I always carry a little too much water. I’m still learning to find a balance. I ate 5 times today but I can’t fathom counting calories so I don’t know how much I’m really consuming. I know its probably not enough for the amount of physical exertion we are putting out.

We saw our first bit of snow today. That is, leftover snow. Just little bits here and there. Fuller Ridge, which is what we descended prior to our camp spot has been known to be covered in snow early in the hiking season. Today, it was beautiful and sunny. I did hear a few Hikers were up on San Jacinto yesterday and had to descend as there was hail and rain. I have yet to talk with Emily and Dani as they could have potentially been part of that experience.

Other than tough terrain, it was a good day. We also claimed water from our first river crossing. The North Fork of the San Jacinto River was flowing quite well today. I carried 4 liters from there as our next water source isn’t for another 15 miles tomorrow. Which as a matter of fact those 15 miles will take us back down to the desert floor. As of now, there’s not much for campsites after that 15 miles mark, so tomorrow could be a long day over all.

Currently camped at mile 190.5 other than the soreness daily, I’m still having “fun” goodnight.

These past 2 days were well needed and well enjoyed. The mental exhaustion of thru-hiking on top of the physical pain of body overuse can make a hiker weak. In talking with all of the hikers we came across here in Idyllwild, we all had a common thread–we were all still having fun but it was certainly time for a day off the trail. This town is really cool. Lots of cute boutique shops and small businesses. Everything is within walking distance and the lodging options are a plentiful between cabins to campgrounds. All of this brings a weird mix of day-trippers, weekenders, families and hikers.

Yesterday I had a good chat with my Pops. Deep down, it was really hard for me to be away on the first anniversary of my moms passing. I knew I didn’t want to be alone. I knew I didn’t want to be cold on a trail either so being in Idyllwild yesterday worked out for the best. My hiking friends were very supportive.

As the story continues though, the 3 of us girls woke up early yesterday and went for breakfast at The Town Baker. Emily always cracks me up, she had 2 pastries while I ate a simple breakfast burrito. She said they were both delicious. After that we checked out our resupply options at the grocery store across the street and then we picked up Laura’s box of goodies from the post office. We had to check out of the Silver Pines Lodge at 11 so we found a few other hikers and stashed our packs in their rooms and walked around the few other blocks of town. We ended up finding Dani–who was planning to hike that afternoon but wanted a beer before she left. Clearly you can see where this is going to turn badly for her. Meg & Simon–who I met on Day 1, Justin, Dani, Laura and I all went over to the Idyllwild Brewpub for lunch. Emily was the smart one who stayed back and put her feet up with a book. I did get some inspiring words from Luc from Quebec. He’s on his 2nd attempt of the PCT. I can’t wait to see him again and chat some more.

Not that any of us were anywhere obnoxious it was just a fun group of people. The stories of our adventures always bring roaring laughter. Since we couldn’t check in until 3 PM we spent most of the afternoon there. We eventually found IdyllAwhile Wine & Beer which had live music. This is where the surprise visit of some friends from Vegas joined in. I was so excited to see Rod and Denise in town. They stayed at a campground in their new tent. Denise was super excited about her new camping “kitchen” but they never used it as they ate in town with us. As the night came to a close I was in bed by 930. A few others stayed up late playing games til the wee hours. Dani was caught up in those games and obviously never made it back to hiking. Actually, she was caught up in the afternoon beers before the games… but either way, she stayed the night and KNEW she needed to leave this morning to get back on the trail.

Simon & Meg went back to the trail with Megs parents who had come up from San Diego, Dani and Emily went in the hiker shuttle at 815am. The hiker shuttle is organized by the owners of the Idyllwild Inn (where we stayed Friday and Saturday nights). It’s an amazing gesture of them. I’ll get more on their story tomorrow but I think the property has been family owned 70 years. They have a whole operation to aid in our laundry chores making the rest day that much easier.

After we said goodbye to Dani and Emily, we went to breakfast and ran into Chris (Big Papa) at the Red Kettle. Belly full, I sat with Rod and Denise while they ate in town. I went back to work on laundry and resupply chores. Laura and I dumped our food bags and new town purchases and pitched what we didn’t want into the hiker boxes here. (Have I talked about the hiker boxes yet???) It was quite the mess of food. But this supply will last us a minimum of 5 days until we get to Big Bear.

Some low clouds starting coming in and Denise said they were headed out of town. I don’t blame them, it was cold! Rod and Denise graciously fed Laura, Justin and I with pizza before they left. So nice of them to make time to come out here, hang out and meet new friends with me. Thanks Guys!!!

As the day comes to a close, as much as I’d like to be outside of this room listening to the music I can hear across the street, I know I need to go to sleep. My pack is organized again for another 80ish miles to Big Bear. Tomorrow we will cross Fuller Ridge and hope to camp at a site just on the other side of it. It should be about 13 miles in total with water at the campsite. The elevation is 7,749 feet there so it’s gonna be a cold night. Now I’m glad I bought a pack of hot chocolate for dessert tomorrow evening. I feel like I could have hiked yesterday (and today for that matter) but I know that the body needed this time to repair. I just saw another post of a fellow hiker coming off Trail because her feet aren’t healing. I’m thankful for my time here. Taking a “zero” (or TWO) is legit.

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!