The Mountains of Southern California - Idyllwild to Wrightwood

I am grateful the PCT visits the various mountains of southern California to provide brilliant breaks from the grinding days of desert hiking. I loved being back up on San Jacinto and San Gregornio. Growing up in Southern California. I have fond memories of climbing these mountains with my Dad and going on scout camps up there. I love being at altitude as the temperatures are cooler, the views are better and there is usually water available. And, at my age. I would rather hike up than down so give me some of those mountains.

A difference I will note between the PCT and the AT is that the PCT uses rolling switch backs providing more gentle climbs. The AT is more of a straight up then straight down approach. Also, the PCT goes pretty close to the top of mountains and then offers a side trail to the peak, while the AT always goes to the top of every mountain. So, PCT = Pretty Close to the Top and AT = Always to the Top. These are the brilliant conclusions that hours of desert hiking lead to :).

Loved this view with San Jacinto to the left and San Gregornio to the right

Day 12 - Hiking up San Jacinto

Grumpy picked me up at 8 AM and took me to the trailhead by Paradise Valley Cafe. No breakfast at the Cafe today, as I already have a late start to a 17 mile day. And, there is a lot of climb as I leave the desert and head into the mountains. First 8 miles went fast as I started listening to Saints (a book) when I hike. Had to drop .25 miles and a few hundred feet where I cameled up with 5 liters of water at a spring. With the extra weight, the rest of the day slowed down. Hiked into San Jacinto Wilderness and crept closer to my old haunts. Views were nice and a steady wind kept me cool. All in all a good day back on trail. Beef stew for dinner again but it's becoming a favorite. Camping alone tonight after a hard 17 miles and doing just fine. What a difference 10 days makes.

Day 13 - The Beauty of San Jacinto

So glad to be in the mountains. Today started rough as the first 8 miles were like a tough mudder with a rock slide and several blow downs to navigate on a trail that fell steeply away (see pictures below). Was worth it for all the views. I lost my favorite camp shoes along the route :(. Another hiker returned one when I was gathering water but alas the other one is gone. Will seek replacements when I get too Big Bear. Kept climbing and got to Saddle Junction. So many memories of passing through here with my Dad on our hikes up San Jacinto. Gathered water at the headwaters of the San Jacinto River (so nice to have natural water sources - love the mountains). Camped at 9,000 feet and woke to frozen water and frozen hands. Very different than the desert camping just a few days ago. This 18 mile day was by far the hardest and the best day yet!

Day 14 - What Goes Up Must Come Down

After two days of climbing up today is all about going back down. Over a 23 mile hike to the I-10 underpass I dropped over 7,000 feet as San Jacinto looms behind me. The PCT spreads that decent over long switchbacks but it is still hard on the knees and gave me a bad shin splint. I arrived at the underpass to find a little trail magic and some shade. Amazing how simple things like a hot dog in a tortilla taste SOOO GOOD after 23 miles. After the break, caught an Uber to a hotel in Banning where I did laundry and caught a shower. Passed 200 miles today so we are getting things done.

Day 15 - An Oasis in the Desert

Uber back to the trail at the I10 underpass and start a day of desert hiking. Memories of the first week: the cactus, the sand the heat. I Miss the mountains already. Luckily we pass by the whitewater river today. I took a 2 hour break there. It is idyllic places like this that lead me to hike. There are too few if these places in the first 500 miles so I enjoy it while I can. Running water, shade everything the desert isn't. After my break I hiked to a high point to talk with Peggy and Rachel before heading into the back country. Did a 17 mile day and trail legs are developing though the descents today aggravated the shin splint on my right leg. Everything else feels pretty good. Two more nights until Big Bear. Camped by Mission Creek with 8-10 other hikers. I used to like the company now I kind of prefer being alone in camp.

Day 16 - San Gregornio Means Back Up

Today was a big climb day. Coming up from the desert onto San Gregornio and ending at over 8000 feet. The day started with 9 slow miles winding around Mission Creek. The trail was poorly marked among all the rocks and growth in the creek bed. Got lost 4 times (thank heaven for Guthook) so the going was slow. After that warm up was 10 miles of climb up into San Gregornio. It was nice having water most of the day. Had to camel at the end as it's an 18 mile stretch tomorrow with no water. If I push 21 tomorrow I get to Big Bear a day early and can take a zero day. I need one to help this shin splint heal.

Day 17 - Grinding through the Desert

Today was one of those grind days where you just need to push miles to move along. There was one cool point where San Jacinto and San Gregornio were both visible from the same vista. Otherwise, just 21 long undulating desert miles. I did pass mile 265 today which puts me 10% of the way done. Only 10% but going by so fast. I got to the highway 18 Trailhead around 5 PM and Jessica took me into Big Bear. No gear shop, poor selection at the sporting goods store :(. No camp shoes, no hat or gloves; they did have stove fuel thank heaven. I am taking a zero at the beautiful Motel 6 so I can try to mitigate this shin splint. Jessica, the Uber driver, is a Physical Therapist specializing in foot and ankle (what are the odds) so she will try to help. I am not a big believer in coincidence. Rather, I believe it is divine intervention that provides what is needed when it is needed. Happened on the AT and again here on the PCT. Prayers are answered after we do all we can :). I am grateful as there is no other way I could get by. I ate Dominoes for dinner, my first non trail food since PVC. It was tasty. Hoping a good night sleep and a rest day (along with some PT) get my leg right.

Day 18 - Rest to get Right

Sleep and a shower work wonders. Jessica also reset my ankle, eased some of the tension in my shin and gave me a brace for better support. Spent the day resting and icing and prepping some of this update. There was a Farmers Market in Big Bear today so I got fresh blueberries and fresh squeezed blood orange juice - yum! Hit the trail at 7:30 tomorrow morning - here's to my shin feeling better.

Day 19 - Back to go Forward

After taking a zero and resting I am optimistic as I head out of Big Bear toward Wrightwood. It is 97 miles and I have 6 days. I cover 6 miles in my first 2 hours and even with the late start (8 AM) I cover 10 miles by Noon. Only setback was something I ate in town didnt agree with me and that created some challenges. Still, was feeling good enough to push to the next water which would be a 19 mile day. A long day but would allow lighter days the rest of the week. Unfortunately, between miles 13 and 14 the wheels came off. My shin swelled up and became painful. The kind of painful you know you are not going to hike through. It was a tough moment and a difficult decision had too be made. I thought I was done. I could not afford an extended delay to recover and I could not push through. As I was agonizing over what too do, another thru hiker suggested I find a tent site close by, spend the night on the mountain and see how I feel in the morning. Sage advice. I hobbled back about a mile (was disheartening to be hiking the wrong way) and found a good tent site. Spent the night analyzing options.

Days 20 -21 - Busted in Big Bear :(

My leg felt better in the morning but it had felt good the previous morning as well. Part of me wanted too push on but that was an "all in" bet. If my leg blew out again I would not be close to a town and that would likely end my hike. So, decided to hike back to Big Bear and spend a few days letting my leg fully recover. Will then get a ride to Wrightwood so I stay on schedule. That plan is good for my leg but leaves an 83 mile stretch that I will need to come back and finish too complete my thru hike. Not how I planned it or prefer it but part of hiking is learning too adapt and adjust.

Day 22 - Jumping to Wrightwood

A trail angel took me to Wrightwood today. It was a good move as Wrightwood is a better town (closer together and better supply options). I acquired new hiking shoes, compression socks and other supplies. I will rest the shin splint today and test it with a day hike up Baden Powell tomorrow. Will check back in after that.

Day 23 - Baden Powell Up and Back: A Test

This was a big day as I tested my leg after two days of rest. Slack packed up to the peak of Baden Powell and back. 8 mile round trip with a steep descent on the return - a real test for me. Not sure if it was the new shoes, the compression socks, divine intervention or some combination but the leg held up better than I expected. Will try a longer test tomorrow and if that also goes well, will put the pack on and head toward Acton.

Day 24 - Wrightwood too Vincent Gap

Today is a 16 mile hike as a final test of my leg before leaving civilization and heading back into the woods. This section of trail was beautiful with pine trees and lots of up and down offering some good views into the valley. The only drawback was a 1.5 mile road walk at the end. Those are never fun. I hurt at the end of the day but after a little elevation, ice and a shower felt much better. Sadly, won't have those luxuries going forward. Still, feels good enough with the compression socks too go back out tomorrow. Funny story about the compression socks. My issues have all been with my right leg. When I put the compression socks on yesterday I saw the L on it and assumed that stood for Large. It turns out the L stood for Left. Today, i figured that out and put on the sock with the R on it. Fit much better :). There is a fire closure just north of Baden Powell mountain so will catch a ride to mile 403 tomorrow morning too get past that closure. Acton is next and then Tehachapi. Expect my next update will be from there in about 10 days if all goes well. Until then - thanks for the prayers, they are working :).