Day 33 (22 May) - Mile 337.00 - 341.87

RATTLESNAKE to Cajon Pass

I have been looking forward to this day for the past 3 weeks.  I am finally heading back to the Pacific Crest Trail to hike from the site of my excavation due to the rattlesnake bite to Cajon Pass.  It is only a 6 mile hike, but it will confirm (or not) that I am read to get back on the trail.  I am still not at 100%.  My ankle still aches and stiffens up when I sit for a while.  However, I am done sitting...I need to get back on the trail.

Tim drove Mary (Brad's mother) and I to a point about 0.5 miles from the excavation point.  From here we have to hike in 0.5 miles or so to mile 337 and then hike back and beyond to Cajon Pass.

Here we are ready to get going:

Mary, Tim, and I ready for the day back on trail.

Tim didn't start the hike with us, but is planning on hiking in from Cajon Pass and meeting us for the last mile or two of the day.  So, Mary and I took off to go back to the location the helicopter airlifted me out.  Mary asked me if I was nervous about being back on trail.  I guess I was jumping at anything that sounded or looked like a snake.  I know that I can't worry too much about getting bit by a rattlesnake again because the chance is slim that it will happen again, but it is hard to not.

We arrived at the site and stood there contemplating what happened 19 days ago.

Contemplating the past events.

OK.  Time to get over this and move on...so move on we did.

Leaving the past behind. (Photo courtesy of Mary Wilson)

Check out this incredible scenery we hiked through today:

WOW!

Mary at awe with the views.

Walking through incredible landscape. (Photo courtesy of Mary Wilson)

Usually I try to take a daily picture of a PCT sign standing on its own, but today I was so happy to be back that I had to include myself.

It's great to be back.

Wow...the time sure went by fast today.  Before we knew it we met up with Tim about 1.5 miles out from the end.

Tim joins the hike.

Right at 12:00 PM we made it to I-15, Cajon Pass.  Welcoming us was a sign letting us know that Canada was just up the trail...2,296 miles up the trail!

Not really almost there. (Photo courtesy of Mary Wilson)

The good news was on the other side of the sign that let us know that I have hiked 341 miles from Mexico.  That's not too shabby.

Pretty good accomplishment.

The good news of today's hike is that I completed it and feel that I am ready to rejoin the trail tomorrow.  The not so good news is that I was pretty tired at the end of the 6 miles.  After sitting on the couch for 3 weeks I seem to have lost some of my conditioning.  Also, my ankle was tired and hurt a bit after the hike.  The ankle definitely is not at 100%...probably more like 90%, but I won't let this stop me.

Tomorrow I have to hike uphill 10-12 miles.  This will really be a test.  I figure that if my ankle starts hurting or gets tired, then I can stop and rest for a hour or so.  I will still be able to make the miles and set up camp before sunset.  I'm figuring that I will be so excited to be back on the trail that anything will be possible.