PCT 2023 | DAYS 15-19 MARY’S PLACE TO HWY 10 OASIS

DAYS 15-17

Miles Hiked: 8.8 miles

Well, hello clouds. Woke up in a cloud this morning

It’s time for another TOWN DAY! I roped Woodsy and Kate into splitting an AirBnB in Idyllwild. Then they decided to double zero with me so we could hike out in the snow together. I got into Paradise Valley Cafe just in time for lunch and enjoyed a good burger with Woodsy and Milton. We got a ride from Grumpy to Idyllwild and picked up Wheelz along the way, barely visible on the side of the road due to thick clouds.

2023: Mayor Max III and Meadow

2022: Mayor Max II

Zero Day 1 was spent resupplying, doing laundry, and other town chores. I got to meet Mayor Max III and Meadow! They are the new politicians in town, after Mayor Max II passed away. Enjoyed dinner at Idyllwild Brew Co with Radar, Bobcat, Gritty, Carsten, and Milton.

Zero Day 2 was spent relaxing and then a fajita night with Radar (now solo), Woodsy, and Kate.

DAY 18

Miles Hiked: 10.1 miles

San Jacinto day…well, kind of. We decided to bypass San Jacinto and go up Black Mountain Road and then rejoined the PCT below Fuller Ridge. I had planned to summit San Jacinto this year, as I skipped it last year and followed the PCT around. Snow had other plans. Many people were skipping die to poor conditions. Paired with lack of snow experience and I was all for the new route. The snow started around 4-5 miles up Black Mountain Road. It was pretty easy going until the turnoff for the PCT, then the trail became more challenging. It wasn’t difficult, really, but the sun was shining and the snow was getting softer as lunch neared. We stopped for lunch when we realized two of the faster hikers in our group, Radar and Joe, had taken a wrong turn and were heading SOBO towards Fuller Ridhe. They eventually caught up to us and we finished out the last sections of snow. We made camp a short walk away from a water source, saving the big descent for the morning.

DAY 19

Miles Hiked: 16 miles

Down down down the mountain we go. Over 5,400 ft of never-ending descent. The mountainside was covered with wildflowers.

Radar and I were the first to leave camp. I had a goal of reaching Hwy 10 to make it to town. I booked a room in town to avoid the strong winds and make for easier resupply. It was a hard sell to get Radar to join, but pizza and a shower won. We reached 200 miles! Even though it wasn’t 200 miles hiked due to the bypass, it was a great site to see. We found a shaded spot for lunch, which is hard to come by in this section, and even had a surprise guest.

It was 20 minutes before Radar the southwestern speckled rattlesnake less than six feet from where we were sitting. I hiker stopped to talk to us and after he left, the rattlesnake moved its head and tongue. It was a few more minutes before is started to rattle and then proceeded to slither off trail. Much like other areas of trail, there were so many small streams on the descent this year!

After nearly being knocked over by wind multiple times, we made it to the glorious rusted pipe and water faucet. The remaining 3.5 miles to Hwy 10 were a continued battle with the wind. While climbing up an eroded section of trail, we found yet another rattlesnake just a few feet from Radar’s head (rattlesnake number four for me; a Southern Pacific rattlesnake). We caught an Uber to Beaumont for a cheap motel and then walked another two miles round trip for resupply. We stayed up until midnight doing chores and talking