After Maria left, I hiked out of Julian with a loaded pack. I had so much food!! Over the next three days I cranked out 25/26 mile days. During those 75 some miles, I not only saw my first rattle snake, but saw several! No matter how fearless you are, trying to pass a rattlesnake on the side of a mountain on a small path while it's rattling at you gets your heart pumping and your legs jumping...😂
One of the water caches along the way. These are maintained by random people but are a huge lifeline to hikers! For example instead of having 25 miles in between water sources, you are able to refill partway through because some gracious person has placed water along the trail! Carrying water for 25 miles of desert is no fun task!
This rattler was arched and ready to strike! It was crazy terrifying and cool! Ran across him in the late afternoon. Nothing was making him move off trail and because he was sitting on a part of the trail with no edge really, I ended up precariously climbing down and over the side of the mountain to get around him. I got a sweet pic though!!!😃
Magneto was doing trail magic at Barrel Spring. I had hiked 25 miles and was getting into camp as the sun was setting. Magneto was set up there with with cold sodas, watermelon, strawberries, and chips. It was an amazing mental boost and great way to end my evening! Magneto hiked the trail last year!
Eagle Rock
As I was hiking into Warner Springs, I met a trail runner who took my picture with a nice looking PCT sign.:) He had hiked the John Muir Trail and has a friend hiking the PCT this year.
I stayed at Mike's place which was only .3 miles off trail. This place is completely off grid up in the mountains. We made some amazing pizzas for supper!! Wood fire and all! That night it rained and the wind was howling....blowing the rain side ways. I had cowboy camped out in the yard. When it started raining I moved under the porch, however because of the wind, I was still pretty wet and most definitely cold in the morning! Scott and Mike invited us inside for some hot coffee and then later we cooked up some amazing breakfast tacos and french toast!!
I caught up to my group at Paradise Valley Cafe. We all cowboy camped that night on their front porch before heading out the next morning.
The first several miles were great! We stopped for lunch and chilled before getting back to walking. The last several miles turned into misery though as a storm moved in. It was completely socked in, cold, and terribly windy. We ended up hiking .3 miles down a side trail to try to camp out of some of the wind. It didn't quite work out the way we thought. We set up tents, but the wind was ripping the stakes right now. People were moving large rocks to hold down their tents. Four of us ended up bailing. We packed up and hiked up the trail a little ways to a (partially) flat area. There we all just cowboyed. It was a great choice! Mep Morp, Prom King, Riley, and I had a great time! We had an amazing view of the stars, named a couple constellations, heard the wind rustling through the trees and not whipping our tents!
Met the Mayor of Idyllwild...Mayor Max.
Because there is no rules defining breakfast foods when hiking....
Water break! (Featuring Corn Cob & Gypsy's back)
Creek crossing
Got our first snow hike in!! Fuller Ridge was a blast! I seriously had a ton of fun attempting to hike through the snow and got some small glisading in!!
One of my favorite evening hikes!! We stopped right after Fuller Ridge to eat supper before hiking another 3 miles. We hiked above the clouds as the sun was setting. The clouds went on forever!! So, so incredible!!
Trying to get off the mountain before the clouds descended on us! During the 17 miles down, the clouds kept sinking lower and lower and every once in a while we got a couple sprinkles as a reminder to keep up the pace!
Apparently Corn Cob doesn't think we smell too good when in a small enclosed space ...😂
Papa Bear with some trail magic as we hiked put of Cabazone.
We night hiked a few miles after hanging out and stuffing ourselves in Cabazone. It was a great evening as it was cool, lightening in the distance, and we saw a tarantula!! The rain even waiting until we had set up our tents and crawled in!!
Taking a long lunch break under some shade
When Hikers find service Mother's Day!!:)
Hikers and their food....
Today is my first zero day on trail! I am currently at mile 266 at Big Bear Lake! Eight of us went in on am Airbnb with a hot tub...of course.:) Sleeping in a bed felt amazing!!! I laid in bed until 8 this morning simply enjoying the comfort of the mattress and blankets!! My only other task on a zero day is to eat as many calories as I can!!:)
Until next time...😃👋
