MM: 256.2, elev 7600 ft
Trail miles: 20.7
Miles Walked: 21.0
Woke up at 0427 to see Montreal Mark and Momento packing up. They were planning to summit Mt San Gorgonio. I passed on summiting. I feel like I am in need of a zero. (As in a day off, e.g. zero miles). After yesterday’s heat, I felt like I was starting to burn the candle at both ends. So I tucked back into my sleeping bag for another 30 minutes while looking at the PCT water report. I had some planning to do. There’s water 4 miles ahead, but after that it’s another 16 miles. I’m hoping the elevation gain (back up to 8000ft today) will moderate the sun/heat.
The plan today is to get another 20+ miles and then push for to Big Bear, CA tomorrow.
The trail climbed out of the Mission Creek valley. The valley was steep and had been burned in recent years. It would have been beautiful, but for the fire. Instead it was like a Lodgepole Pine graveyard.
I got some nice pics of San Gorgonio mountain. It’s the tallest in SoCal at over 11,000 ft. Years ago Betty’s Mom took me backcountry skiing there.
North side of San Gorgonio
A few miles later we walked by a hiker talking on his phone. Somehow in the middle of the forest we were in cell range. I sent a picture of San Gorgonio and it’s snow-covered north slope to Betty’s Mom. Slim stopped to call his wife. I continued on and tried to call HH. He had sent a text saying he was working so I was pretty sure I wouldn’t reach him. It was worth a shot.
Overcast towards San Bernardino
I checked the weather for Big Bear. Snow was still forecast for Monday & Tuesday nights, into Wednesday morning. Uh oh.
I need to get some water proof pants. I have some but they’re in my resupply box destined for Kennedy Meadows, at mile 700. When I left the border, I made the intentional choice to go with my light weight but 20-year-old, formerly water-proof pants. I was betting I wouldn’t see much rain, let alone snow, in the desert. Even after the one day of rain near mile 77, I thought it was worth the gamble. Now I wasn’t so sure.
I’d need to reach Big Bear before the weather and either buy some pants there or wait out the weather. My feet would soon weigh in on that decision.
It wasn’t so much blisters as the pounding. My feet would do all right in the morning. By afternoon, they just ached from the pounding, especially on descents. I’d specifically trained for the PCT, starting last November, in an effort to alleviate any foot issues – walking up to 20 miles with a 26 lb day pack. It seems after 15 straight days of hiking, my feet wanted a day off. I just needed to make it to Big Bear tomorrow or the next day.
We made it to Arraste Trail Camp at mile 256 at 8600 ft. Eventually about 12 people arrived and camped with us. (I have solo-camped only one night so far.) The area was large and had room to spread out. Slim and I and a few others opted to cowboy camp again, forgoing our tents. —The temp would drop to 32 deg. My Western Mountaineering sleeping bag is proving itself.
The biggest draw of the trail camp was a creek 1/10 mile down the trail. Water availability makes for a natural stopping point for the day. But the bonus was it had two picnic tables. I didn’t have to find a rock or log to sit on while boiling my water for dinner. We all sat together at a (trail) family table. Who knew what a luxury that would be after only 15 days?
Slim, T-man, Montreal Marc & Momento
Diet:
Breakfast: 2 instant oatmeal (apples and cinnamon) with tea
Lunch: cold soaked Lassen Volcanic Eruption Chili
The portion was large so I ate half the bag and saved the rest for another meal. We’ll see if it lives up to its name.
Dinner: Thai noodles with spices and sesame oil. It was OK. Kinda difficult to eat foot-long noodles with a Spork.
Trail magic was all gone, but the couch was a “treat”