Tim & Gerri's Wild Ride
Email Gerri:
  • Home
  • Worldwide Travel
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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 20 (21 April) - Mile 186.61 - 197.18

4/22/2016

1 Comment

 

San Jacinto State Park Wilderness to Campsite on Fuller Ridge

It was a breeze and chilly night, but not as cold as I expected. The biggest issue was that I didn't pitch the tent in a flat spot. I seem to have a problem seeing if the ground is level. I guess I will never be a good at putting in golf.

I actually slept in till 7:30 AM. I guess my body needed more rest after all the climbing yesterday, plus we didn't get into the tents until 9:00 PM last night because we were talking with Linda; plus, I stayed up another hour to blog. When I popped out of the tent Linda and the German couple was gone and Brad was just getting up as well, so no foul.

We were able to get on the trail by 9:10 AM, proving I can get ready in under 2 hours.
Picture
Ready to hike.
As soon as we hit the trail, we started running into snow. Yesterday there was snow on the trail, but we were going up so it didn't seem as bad. Today we are going down making the snow traversing more difficult because it felt like I would slip down the trail. I am so happy i hike with poles. They really help with the snow. I don't know how some people hike this trail without them.

Here are some pictures of the harder snow crossings:
Picture
Brad negotiating the snow.
Picture
A slippery downhill.
Regardless of the slippery snow, the trail did not disappoint. For all of the morning we had views of mountains beyond the pine forest we were hiking through.
Picture
Beautiful mountain view.
Picture
Awesome.
Picture
Wow.
Picture
Self-portrait "Taking a break on a rock"
Picture
Incredible view of San Jacinto.
Picture
Cool tree beside the PCT.
Picture
Pine cones on the PCT.
By lunch we made it to the start of the Fuller Ridge trailhead. At this point we hiked down from 8,678 feet to 7,746 in under 4 miles. Now. The down really begins. As the crow flies, it's 4.3 miles from the Fuller Ridge Trailhead north to the bottom of the ridge at mile 206. Hiking on the PCT it takes 15.2 miles while descending 6,040 feet. Four miles beyond that is I-10, our goal for tomorrow where Tim and Brad's girlfriend will be meeting. All that stands between us and them is a 7,041 foot drop in 19 miles.
Picture
I-10, our goal, is down the trail.
Picture
Pointing way down to I-10.
At mile 193 we came across a lookout at 6,847 feet. What a view.
Picture
PCT sign of the day.
Picture
Self-portrait "At the overlook"
Throughout the day our view of San Jacinto got further and further away.
Picture
San Jacinto Peak.
Even though we were going down all afternoon, it didn't seem too bad on the feet and joints. It was probably the views and beauty of the trail that made the constant down bearable.
Picture
The beautiful PCT.
We made it to camp by 5:00 PM. We were glad when we got here that there wasn't anyone here since the next noted campsite was another 4 miles ahead. We made up camp and cooked and ate dinner. We were done by 7:00 PM and decided to hit the tents early since the temperature began to drop once the sun went behind the mountain. The good news is that we are camping at 4,908 feet, so the temperature should be warmer tonight.

While in the tent blogging I heard a group of 4 guys pulling into the area to camp for the night. They somehow found sites for 4 tents, probably not very flat ones, because they didn't have 4 more miles in them. It does pay to stop hiking earlier because then we have a choice of tent sites.

Check out my tent site for the night. Perfectly guarded from wind from the bushes, but still a spectacular view of San Gorgonio Peak to the north of I-10.

To make things a little better, there is now an owl hooting nearby...I love this trail.
Picture
1 Comment
Mona
4/23/2016 05:59:40 am

An owl....perhaps some encouragement/commentary from someone I know. 👍

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.