Idyllwild - Big Bear

Day 11 - 14 Mile 178 - 266

After a relaxing day off in Idyllwild, we headed out on our hardest day yet. Our packs weighted down with 5 days of food we started at the Devil"s Slide Trail. A 2,000 foot climb in 2.5 miles. That's just to get back on the PCT. We reached 9,000 feet near the peak of Mount San Jacinto before beginning our long descent to Interstate 10 at 1,100 feet. This section is the largest change of elevation in such a short distance.
It's crazy that in 28 miles we can go from lizards and cactuses to giant pine trees and snow. Then back to the desert.
Today was nice practice for the Sierra Mountains. The views were unbelievable. You could see for miles down to the desert floor as we walked on crunchy ice and snow. The temperatures were much cooler for a change, halfway through the day we had to load up with water for another dry 20 mile section. This is the heaviest our packs have been so far and I'm pretty sure I exceeded the gross weight of my pack. Our water supply was the cleanest we had seen so far. I never thought I would be so excited about a mountain stream. Some how between the water, food, and high altitudes we finished to day with 18 miles under our belts.
This evening we are 5,000 feet overlooking I-10 and the largest windmill farm I have ever seen.
Back to the desert tomorrow.

It's amazing how the start of your day can be so different from the end of your day. This morning we continued our descent to the desert floor and crossed "The 10" as Boa says. It took us 15.4 miles to cover what a crow could fly in 4 miles. The trail had some of the largest switchbacks we had ever seen. Most of our short patience was because Boa's parents were meeting us under the interstate with burgers and fries from In and Out. By high noon we had covered 15.4 miles. Just in time to inhale lunch. Boa's dad is hiking with him this weekend and in the heat of the day (95 degrees) we picked up where we left off and continued North past a windmill farm. The maintenance office of the windmill farm had a makeshift shade shelter for hikers with water. On the side trail to the shade I hear a noise similar to the dry grass brushing against my hiking poles. This time it was not dry grass, but instead our first rattlesnake. A Western Red Back Rattlesnake! I jumped back almost knocking the other three down with this high step, hot potato dance. Their camouflage is perfect for the tan desert floor.
After a break from the heat and bellies full of water, we started up a hot gully to a incredible view straight out of a Western movie. It was exactly what the four of us needed to turn this boring day into a pleasurable walk. You could see for miles down Whitewater Canyon. The wind swept mountain showed layers of different types of rock. Our 23 mile day, farthest so far, ended with Boa's dad feeding us dinner (brussels sprouts, maple syrup, and cashews). He and his wife are vegans so his trail name came easy, Veg. Not only did we eat good, our campsite was right beside Whitewater Creek. Having all the water we could drink was such a nice change. We sat on the edge and cooled our tried feet as the setting Sun turned the sky a bright red. "You mean every night is not like this?" Veg said jokingly. If he only knew.

There's never a dull day on the trail. Just as the sun set last night an orchestra of frogs began. At first it reminded us of home. Then I had to get the earplugs out.
The morning started with a pleasant 2,000 foot climb before descending down to Mission Creek. Our map showed us following the creek the rest of the day. Of course Shadow and I are thinking lots of shade and fresh water. Both of which turned out to be false. In New Zealand they had an invasive species called Didimyo. It's a brownish green algae-like slim that grows in the creek and attached to the rocks. I'm not sure if that's what was in this creek, but it looked the same. The trail met the creek and crossed it about 20 times as we followed a gorge to where Mission Creek became a spring. The gorge was hot and Shadow's watch showed 90 degrees. Very little shade and lots of poodle dog bush...we thought. He even found a description of the bush and it matched what we were seeing. The maps said that it would be all over Mission Creek. We obviously were not the only ones to think this because previous hikers had moved the trail around it. I stopped a few times to wipe my legs down with hand sanitizer after mistakenly brushing up against one.
The best part of the day was finding a Horny Toad! I had told Boa's dad (Veg) earlier in the day that I hadn't seen one. About an hour later he stopped in the trail and pointed. I thought it was another snake, but no. It was a horny toad! With his pack on Veg rushed back and forth across the trail chasing it until finally catching it. I have to say it's the cutest lizard I have ever seen. He just chilled in my hands and as I rubbed my fingers down his horny back and head before placing him back on the ground.
As the afternoon heat continued we took more short breaks to keep morale up. The last 6 miles became unbearable for me. It was hard to continue drinking water and even harder to get my breathing under control. The next thing we know Mission Creek had dried up. Shadow and Boa pulled the water report out to confirm there would be water at camp. 2 miles from camp Shadow ran out of water. Everyone was quietly worried about our water source. Sure enough a half mile from camp that same dried creek bed, began to have a slow, small trickle.
We arrived at camp and immediately crashed to the ground. As we came too and began dinner, Zip and Running Dog came in. The first thing they said to everyone was, "Do you guys see that bush? This is the first Poodle Dog bush we have seen." We all turned and saw a plant that looked nothing like the plant we had spent all day avoiding! Running Dog said, "Look, I'm in shorts and have been walking right through that other stuff all day." They thru hiked the trail a few years back and spoke to a ranger that was out doing trail work.
About 30 minutes before sunrise we hobbled out of camp. I'm not sure what's going on, but our cool Hoka shoes have started to eat our feet. Especially Shadow's feet. I think there is more tape on his toes and heels than skin. We sailed through the first 210 miles. Maybe it was the tough day yesterday. Today we beat the heat by climbing above 8,000 feet. The first 4 miles was the toughest part of the day. Our legs just wouldn't go. We even discussed stopping for the day. The trail smoothed out and our little hiking bubble helped keep everyone motivated. That and the vortex of town sucking us in. About 15 miles into our 20 mile day we came across trail magic twice! Both were local businesses. One even had fresh fruit and a couch to sit on! It was our last night with Veg. He has made the last few days so much fun.
Our last 10 miles to Big Bear was mellow. Shadow seems to have bruised his heel bone so the day off will help. Another animal sighting this morning. Thins time it was wild burrows. This past section has been the most animals (Jack Rabbits and Mule Deer) so far. We slept at 7,500 feet last night and this morning the creek we passed had a thin layer of ice. We better enjoy this moment because back to the desert we go.


Country Mouse & Shadow