The best campsite ever!
Making my way to Paradise
Day 8, has me really tired. I’ve been struggling even to make the lower end miles. Broke camp at 7 this morning, I needed that good rest in the morning after town day. I took a nap under a shaded tree. It’s been nothing but up towards Mikes Place. I have little to no water, which is not very smart of me. About 4 miles from the water tank, I have 1/2 a liter left, though it’s 6pm. Gonna pull into camp late, maybe night hike a little, then attempt to get to Paradise Valley Café tomorrow, hopefully in time to catch a burger.
Take a look around, you might like what you see
In the wild, trying to get to Idyllwild
Day 9, I woke up at Mikes Place where I decided to sleep in again. I didn’t break camp until 7am. Walked for a bit, then took a break. That was the plan for today. I felt too tired to go 5 miles without stopping. Waiting for that “second” wind to kick in so I can get to Idyllwild. After a long day in the desert, comes the Debenedettis Place. I cool spot to rest, get water and a snack. Nothing beats a cold soda after searching for water all day. My outlook on strangers is changing as I progress through the trail. This will have been my least traveled day so far at 7 miles. I’m just super tired these past couple days. Laying down earlier rather than heading on, hoping that rests my feet and ankle. Going to Paradise Valley Café in the morning to catch a burger, a hitch to Idyllwild for a zero, and a relaxing break. A FREAKING DOG BROKE ONE OF MY GUYLINES SMH.
I can see Cabazon, I want Taco Bell
It’s not a race
Day 10, I spoke with Richard from the Debenedettis. I spoke with him about this trail feeling more like a race rather than a peaceful walk. Like, you want to meet up with your friends, you want to get to Canada, but slow down. Take in the scenery. You’re walking through the most scenic trail in all of America. I personally have felt nothing but the need to keep going. As I fail to look around me, I’m wearing myself out with no necessity. Hoping to make it to Paradise Valley Café this afternoon for a burger and a hitch into Idyllwild for a zero. My body needs a rest and I need a resupply!
Foggy zero in Idyllwild, it was cold too!
ZERO DAY!!!
Day 11, I took my first zero! I had the chance to wash my laundry, eat pizza and pig out on icing and apples. I feel way rested and am ready to get back onto trail.
Annie are you okay?
I miss home, but
Day 12, I’m back on trail. It’s starting to sink in how much I miss home. First few miles back on trail make me want to be in my bed with my cat. I miss my mom and my friends. Looking forward to pushing through and making it home. Spoke with my Mom and she made a solid point, that the day after a zero probably feels like a Monday going into work. So true! Nobody likes Mondays. Sitting and having breakfast, I can’t tell whether or not I’m sad because I’m hungry or if it’s because I’m tired or all of the above. My ankle still hurts, trying to take things a bit slow to start the day. I don’t know how much I can go today, I’ll probably stay the night at the first major water source of this section. Hoping tomorrow I’ll be in a better headspace and I’ll pull into San Jacinto in a day or two. Found my trail family once again at Cedar Spring, I thought they were so much farther ahead of me. It’s nice to know that, at some point, you’ll run into your friends again. Pulled into camp the earliest I have so far, but I had a fairly late start time as my hitch took a while and I got back to the trailhead at 10:30am. I’ve done a smaller day today at 10 miles.
NOBO, SOBO, HOBO
It’s the climb, or what Miley said
Day 13 has me climbing, a lot of climbing. Too much climbing. It’s hot today, but reasonable. Going up up up is making things a lot worse however. It’s not a bad day by all means, but it’s tough. The hardest day I’ve had this far. Currently sitting at 7,776 feet. A tired day, but a strong day. I feel good. My body feels stronger. My mind feels stronger. The bonds I’ve accumulated throughout this adventure help keep me going. Although I do most of my hiking solo, it is really refreshing running into my trail family at the end of the day and to laugh and eat dinner together. Watching my body change is an incredible experience. My muscles in my legs are becoming more defined, my (full) pack weight is more manageable, my, white as snow, skin is becoming tan and I love it. Becoming the man I was meant to be by breaking myself down and rebuilding into a stronger, more capable person. Maybe it’s because I’ve been on trail for 2 weeks, or it was the exhausting climb today, but I feel sad. I miss my home especially hard today. Although, I won’t be leaving the trail any time soon, I still feel like going home.
200 miles!!!
200 miles and the end of Week 2
Day 14. made me scared for the first time. The trail is a bit hard to find in some sections due to huge blowdowns in the San Jacinto Wilderness. I ended up going around one which lead to me being on a steep descent that wasn’t the trail. I slipped and fell and felt like I was going to fly off the mountain. Thank goodness I caught myself and didn’t go that far, but I was certainly spooked. Now descending over 5,500 feet to my campsite, I will be hitting the 200 mile marker today. I’m averaging about 100 miles every 7 days. I did take a zero, so technically I’m making great time the second week. After my first 20 mile day, I made it 200 miles!! Ramping up my mileage and enthusiasm is getting me farther and farther and I’m only going to get stronger from here. I can see my body change, how my mind has changed, and how I’m just really beginning to become “hiker trash”. Stay tuned for the next 100 miles!
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