Third Gate Trail to Mountain Valley Retreat, Ranchita, CA
Broken record, broken record...another wonderful day on the trail. Our campsite last night was flat and comfortable. We went to sleep fairly early around 8:30pm but still slept until 7am. I know...that's a lot of sleep...but as the days get longer our sleep will get shorter as we seem to go to sleep when it gets dark and wake when the sun hits the tent.
Today's hike, for some reason, seemed greener than other days. It might just be because the last 2 days was typical desert...hot and tan colored.
We also saw some nice flowers today. Maybe they are ones we haven't seen yet.
Overall the hike was fairly easy today and we met and re-met many other thru-hikers along the way. This is Ian (no trail name yet) taking a lunch break in "Billy Goats Cave" (one of many landmarks along the PCT). He actually pulled out his stove and cooked a hot meal in there.
Maybe today's hike felt easier beacause we were reaching mile 100 and we were walking towards the location of our first zero day (a day where you don't hike, just relax). We came around a corner and there was the valley with Ranchita, CA. That is where our retreat is located...only a 5 mile hike from here.
I don't know if you can see, but the trail we just hiked runs along these hills. I always think it's pretty cool to see the long trail behind and in front of us.
Finally, at 1:30pm we hit the 100 mile point! First we have a screen shot of Halfmile's app that tells you where you are on the trail, next is us holding up 1-0-0, and finally, because there wasn't a sign on the trail, I had to make one myself.
Just 1.19 miles later we left the trail and walked 1.8 miles to our home for the next day and a half, the Mountain Valley Retreat, where showers, laundry, home cooked meals, yoga class, and massage awaits.
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