Great day!

May 27

Best, longest and most pooping day of hiking yet!! :) Trees, mountains, views, what a day. All of the climbing reminded me so of the AT and I loved the feeling of the effort as I attacked each ascent. But the constant views were so un-AT like... 'cept maybe for the Whites in NH...

At one point I hit 8,500 or so feet in elevation and wondered if I was seeing the ocean in the distance. Thinking it was more likely smog or the "marine layer" though.

The trail was incredible too, sometimes carved into sheer rock faces and otherwise amazing rock work to create trail in very steep terrain.

Encountered my first Rattlesnake ever too!! It was a relief that it gave me so much warning. It must've been around eight feet downslope of me in the brush, not even that close to the trail. A constant and unmistakable rattle as in slid under a huge rock, its den? Barely got a look at it really, but given some black markings sounds like it was of the timber variety.

Saw patches of snow that had yet to melt away too :) Coming from the desert it was so wonderful to see a took pictures :) Should've seen my smile as I stood under this Huge sweet-smelling pine earlier that day. lol, took a picture of that too :) I was obviously lovin life.

The side trip to Tahquitz Peak late in the day was, while a little tricky due to snow, yet another highlight to a great day. 360 degree views in the evening light were sooo nice. Unfortunately felt the need to rush a bit in order to get down the mountain before dark. Sure would've loved to hang around for that sunset.

25.5 mile day with tons of climbing - I was pooped!! And the way I attacked the climbs ended up agrevating some blisters - one on my pinky toe had filled up with fluid nearly all the way around the toe!! But I literally flew down the side trail, running at times, given a pack weight nearly void of food and water and the prospect of a shower, town food, and a hopefully comfy bed! Fun passing by all the suffering Memorial weekend backpackers as they toiled up the climb and watched as I danced down the trail around them :) Did get stopped by a park ranger asking for my permit - was happy to not only have it but also to actually have needed it given I was carrying it all this way :) Was also amused at how I was momentarily stumped on how to answer his question of if I'd camped out up there... Uhhhh yeah... Umm, thru-hiking, so along the way... Thinking to myself that the last place I'd camped was more than twenty miles down the trail, well outside the park they were asking about :)

Getting a little long again, but JJ, a great Idyllwild trail angel who has done a good bit of the PCT himself, picked me up just as the light was fading, took me to his home, let me shower up and start a load of laundry, fed me, and directed me to their hiker loft full of inflatable air mattresses and blissful sleeeeep.

What a day :)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Idylwild