Tim & Gerri's Wild Ride
Email & Facebook Gerri:
  • Home
  • Worldwide Travel
    • Eastern Europe 2022 >
      • Eastern Europe 2022 Blog Summary
      • Eastern Europe 2022 Packing List
    • Narrowboat Holiday 2022 >
      • Narrowboat 2022 Blog
      • Narrowboat 2022 Packing List
    • Ireland & UK 2019 >
      • Ireland & UK Itineray
      • Ireland & UK Blog
      • Ireland & UK Blog Summary
      • Ireland & UK Packing List
    • France 2018 >
      • France Itinerary
      • France 2018 Blog
      • Blog Summary
    • European Tour 2017 >
      • European Vacation Blog
      • Blog Summary
    • Southeast Asia 2014-15 >
      • Southeast Asia Blog
      • Packing List
      • Blog Summary
    • Afghanistan 2011-12
  • United States Travel
    • Great Lakes Sail 2020 >
      • Great Lakes Sail 2020 Blog
      • Blog Summary
    • Trans-America Bicycle Ride >
      • Trans-America Bicycle Ride Blog
      • Blog Summary
      • Our Team
      • Equipment
      • Breweries Along Route
    • Pacific Crest Trail >
      • Pacific Crest Trail 2016 >
        • What is the PCT? - 2016
        • Why Hike the PCT? - 2016
        • Gear - 2016
        • Itinerary - 2016
        • Blog - 2016
        • PCT Blog Summary - 2016
        • Where are we now? - 2016
      • Pacific Crest Trail 2014 >
        • What is the PCT?
        • Why Hike the PCT?
        • Gear
        • Food
        • Itinerary
        • PCT Blog
        • Blog Summary
        • Where are we now?
    • Motorcycle Ride 2014 >
      • Motorcycle Blog
  • Brewery Visits
    • 2022 Breweries
    • 2021 Breweries
    • 2020 Breweries
    • 2019 Breweries
    • 2018 Breweries
    • 2017 Breweries
    • 2016 Breweries
    • 2015 Breweries
    • 2014 Breweries
    • 2013 Breweries
    • 2012 Breweries
    • 2011 Breweries
    • 2010 Breweries
    • 2009 Breweries
    • 2008 Breweries
    • 2007 Breweries
    • 2006 Breweries
    • 2005 Breweries
    • 2004 Breweries
    • 2003 Breweries
    • 2002 Breweries

Day 10 (11 April) - Mile 91.19 - 101.22

4/13/2016

5 Comments

 

Third Gate Trail to Mountain Valley Retreat

I saw my first sunrise of the hike...not by plan, but nature called early this morning. I don't have a picture to share, but believe me...it was a nice view while taking care of business.

Barbra and I woke with anticipation for today's hike. Today we hike past mile 100 and get to go to Mountain Valley Retreat for 2 nights. We were rearing to go and was actually eating breakfast by 7:30 AM. Maybe we will get an earlier start today.

While earing breakfast we noticed some weird pods hanging off a vine hanging on a tree. Any guess as to what these alien pod looking fruit things are?
Picture
Mysterious plant pods.
Somehow, even though we woke up earlier it was still 9:00 AM when we took our daily picture. Today we were lucky enough to have Wildcard in the picture with us:
Picture
Ten fingers for 10'days.
Today's hike starts climbing for the first 4 miles continuing on the ridge as yesterday and eventually drops down towards Warner Springs. Throughout the day the views remained incredible.
Picture
Incredible view behind Barbra
Picture
My incredible view of Barbra
Only 1,5 hours later we could see where we spent last night and it looked pretty far off. I really love when we can see parts of the trail that we have been on.
Picture
We were there last night.
As we continued hiking we came across "Grandma" taking a break. She is 70 and plans on hiking the entire trail in sections by her 75th birthday. Wow...what a strong woman she is. Up until recently she hasn't ever camped and now here she is hiking the PCT solo. I want to be that kind of 70 one day!
Picture
Grandma
Just before the 5 mile point, we came across the landmark "Billy Goat's Cave." I have no idea who blasted this cave or why, but it was pretty cool.
Picture
Billy Goat's Cave
As I stated earlier, the views just continued. As I like the times we can look back and see where we were, I also love it when you can see the continuos trail ahead as in this picture:
Picture
The PCT keeps going and going.
I stopped at a point in the trail that wa overlooking the town of Ranchcita to try calling Tim, but Barbra was feeling her stride and kept hiking. As I was trying to catch up I caught a glimpse of her on the other side:
Picture
Where's Barbra?
We finally found a flat spot to eat lunch which wasn't easy since the day pretty much stayed on the ridge. As soon as we sat down Wildcard showed up about 10 minutes later Grandma showed up. We enjoyed lunch and conversation and then continued on towards the Mountain Valley Retreat. As we were just waking along Brad spotted the 100 on the side of the trail. I can't believe we almost missed it.
Picture
100 miles complete.
Just to prove it, I took a screen shot of Halfmile's app showing that we are exactly 100 miles from the southern terminus of the PCT:
Picture
As we continued the trail seemed to get more beautiful:
Picture
What an incredible trail.
Picture
Sign of the day.
By 3:00 PM we finally made it to Montezuma Road crossing where we left the trail and walked 1.3 miles to Mountain Valley Retreat. We will be spending 2 nights here enjoying home-cooked healthy meals, a yoga class, a massage, and most importantly not hiking tomorrow. Tomorrow is what is called a "Zero Day." We will not hike and let out body have a day off to heal.
Picture
Mountain Valley Retreat. Our home for the next 2 days
5 Comments
Mary Wilson
4/13/2016 05:52:24 pm

Thanks for the photos and narrative. Also, if you would like a SoCal break to catch up with the laundry and comfortable sleep, you're welcome to stop at our home. Brad knows how to get here!

Reply
Orly
4/13/2016 07:43:53 pm

Awesome photos and narrative Really enjoying the PCT vicariously Congrats on 100 miles Did you ever figure out what the interesting fruit pod was? Looks like you've met a lot if very wonderful folks. Really a, impressed by grandma and wildcats both following their passions and living life to the fullest. What inspirations!

Reply
Carla link
4/14/2016 06:10:57 pm

you all rock! It looks like such an adventure. Barbara you look so happy

Reply
Olivia
4/19/2016 08:59:07 pm

100 miles, awesome!

Reply
Sarah Williams
4/23/2016 06:55:36 pm

I did some googling, and I think the spiny pods on the vine were wild cucumber. It's not edible, but the native Americans used the vines for some medicinal purposes and google says you can soak the (dried?) pods until the spikes come off, then use them like a loofa. Cause, you know, every hiker needs a loofa now and then, LOL!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.