PCT Day 11

 

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PCT Day 11, 23 May 2022 (Monday)

"Just Deserts"

Start Location:	West Fork Snow Creek	Destination:	Whitewater Preserve
PCT Miles Day 11:	24.6	Cum PCT Miles:	218.5
Non-PCT Miles Day 11:	1.0	Cum All Miles:	233.8
PCT Miles Remaining:	2,434.1
Elevation Gain Day 11:	2,547	Cum Elevation Gain:	37,514

It was another scorcher today.  There's hot, and then there's HOT!  And today was the kind of HOT authorities warn people not to hike in, and will even close popular day hike trails when it's this hot.  Even though the trail wasn’t the hardest, it’s hard for me to believe I did another 25.5 miles (including side trails) in these conditions after 11 straight days of hiking.  Being very fit at the beginning of the hike was definitely a huge benefit.

The terrain today was really unique from any other day.  Going down from the desert part of North San Jacinto, then walking through desert areas that are like what people envision when they think of the desert.  Then hiking under Highway 10 near Cabazon (near Haugen-Lehmann Way, ~6mi. east of the Dinosaurs), and up into the desert hills north of there.  Finally finishing at the Whitewater Preserve, a really unique area, and one that most people probably don’t know about (you can actually drive here--wish I’d known that before walking over 25 miles in this heat).

Anyway, I’m exactly where I want to be at the end of Day 11.  Tomorrow is going to be another very interesting and challenging day.  And then the next day, if all goes well, I’ll be in Big Bear, where, hopefully, I’ll get my cellular service issues resolved.

BTW, I heard, and then saw, my fourth rattlesnake of this hike.  I couldn’t get a pic because it moved deeper into the bushes too fast.  Too bad, because it looked different than others I’ve seen.  But, it sure startled me.  I was walking along a section of trail that had a steep drop off to the left, and the snake rattled at me from the right.  I jumped onto a small rock just to my left and then jumped forward back onto the trail.  Rattlesnakes are much scarier when you hear them right next to you before seeing them.

 

200 Mile marker

First time I've seen this flower, Sacred Datura

Important water faucet

 

One of the few parts of the PCT that is paved.  This is the road that goes down from the important water fauct.

 

The PCT going under Hwy 10, a few miles from Cabazon (bet you didn't know that every time you've driven over it going out towards Palm Springs).  An interesting place to find shade.

From the mountains to the desert...just another day on the PCT

Starting Section C, near Mesa Wind Farm

Whitewater River basin (if you look to the back of the basin, you may be able to discern the narrow band that is the river)

Whitewater River

Of course I'm soaking my feet in that river
 

 

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