PCT Day 9, 21 May 2022 (Saturday)
“If A Tree Falls In The Forest…And The Trail Does Provide”Start Location: |
Wilderness campsite near Apache Spring |
Destination: |
Idyllwild |
|
PCT Miles Day 9: |
7.2 |
Cum PCT Miles: |
179.4 |
|
Non-PCT Miles Day 9: |
4.1 |
Cum All Miles: |
191.1 |
|
PCT Miles Remaining: |
2,473.2 |
|
|
|
Elevation Gain Day 9: |
2,344 |
Cum Elevation Gain: |
30,734 |
Sorry for time traveling, but I am posting this on Thursday, May 26th. I finally got my cell service working again ( I have not been able to send/receive texts or make/receive calls for nine days!!!), and am now at a hotel with WiFi, and a desktop computer. So, I am able to edit this blog somewhat properly. There will still be many multi-day stretches when I won't be able to get online, but it should be a bit better now.
Today was supposed to be a pretty easy day. The mileage is fairly short, mountain temps are comfortable, and the destination is Idyllwild. But, it was not to be. The San Jacinto Wilderness does not disappoint hikers that are gluttons for punishment. Today’s adventure included lots of steepness, but especially lots of downed trees. There were, literally, hundreds of downed trees across the trail. Most could easily be stepped over or walked around. However, there were several dozen that required more effort, and at least a dozen that required quite a bit more effort.
My agenda in Idyllwild was to get food re-supplies, and figure out where to spend the night. This task was very much complicated by the cellular service issues I am having. So, my plan was to walk down from the parking lot at the trailhead to downtown Idyllwild. And on the way, I would stop at every inn or hotel and see if they had any vacancies. The first place I stopped at, Fern Valley Inn, did not have any vacancies, but the couple who owned the place seemed pretty nice, so I asked if I could use their Wi-Fi. They gladly let me use their Wi-Fi, and the wife then told me that their next-door neighbor, Jeannine, sometimes hosts PCT hikers, and would I be interested. So, of course I was. She got Jeannine on the phone and Jeannine asked if I would be OK sleeping in a camper van in their yard. I said yes and asked the price, and she said that it was free, that she just does it because she likes to do it.
So, Jeannine not only let me stay in the camper van, but let me use the entire house, including the washer and dryer. And she also drove me to downtown Idyllwild and showed me where everything was. Later she even fed me dinner. And then the next day she drove me back to the trailhead. Pretty amazing. This is a great example of what is called a trail angel. Her husband, General (real name), is also very involved in this. They host dozens of hikers every year, and go way out of their way to do whatever they can to help those hikers. They wouldn’t even take a donation. This is also an example of what long-distance hikers like to say “the trail provides.“ Meaning that often when you need something, it just seems to happen, one way or another.
May gray for LA, but not here
Another downed tree to get by
Bad dog! This is Poodle Dog Bush, a plant you definitely want to avoid. It has a toxic chemical that causes a reaction similar to poison oak and poison ivy.
Idyllwild
My free room in Idyllwild
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