Mile 341.9, Day 32

Day 19-22 (4/16 – 4/19):

With our new fanny packs fully stocked with a variety of snacks and sunscreen, we set off on a huge day to summit Mt. San Jacinto (10,834 feet). We had a long brutal descent through snow, made longer by our stubbornness that we didn’t need to stop and put our microspikes on because the snow would end soon. We got into camp as darkness was falling, and went to bed well past our bedtime.

On Day 20 we started by crossing over Fuller Ridge, which is notoriously dangerous early in the PCT season with snow. We’re lucky this is a low snowpack year, and we cruised through it in our microspikes. Then we began the most-exhausting descent: 7,500 feet of elevation loss in one day, plus it was a dry 20 mile water carry. We got into camp beat up and exhausted, but proud of what we accomplished.

On Day 21 we had a short hike to the I-10 underpass, where we got picked up by Kerrie’s former coworker and taken to her beautiful home in Palm Springs. We swam in their pool, got to resupply at a Trader Joe’s, and bike around town. On Day 22 we took a zero day in Pamona to go to the Chelsea Cutler concert!! It was AMAZING. The next day we got back on trail and started the trek to Big Bear.

---

WEEK 3 STATS

• Week 3 Miles: 57.8
• Week 3 Average Miles: 8.25/day
• Total Miles: 209.6
• Total Average Miles: 9.98/day
• Resupplies: 2
• Showers: 2
• Favorite Trail Foods: pb&j tortilla, salt and pepper chips
• Least Favorite Trail Foods: beef jerky

---

Day 23 – Day 27 (4/20 – 4/24):

We were a little tired starting our trek out of Palm Springs, but we had the most beautiful campspot at Whitewater Preserve. Our meals are becoming more “gourmet” (creative).

We woke up on Day 25 (Earth Day) to snow! It was fun until the snowstorm didn’t stop at 11 when our outdated weather report said it was supposed to. Kerrie’s tent and rain poncho was soaked from the night and the quote of the day was “I feel like a wet dog” -Kerrie. We got some sun around lunchtime and laid out all our wet gear and took off our socks to dry things out. Mother Nature thought that was pretty funny and quickly sent in a surprise snowstorm that caught us scrambling to pack up and put our shoes on as snow poured down around us. Luckily by 4pm the snow stopped and the sun came out. It was our longest and hardest day yet (20.7 miles).

Day 26 we hiked into Big Bear and reunited with our trail family to stay at Kenny’s Place, a local trail angel. We went out to a local bar for Karaoke Night which was so fun. Naturally, Kerrie and I sang Man I Feel Like a Woman by our girl Shania. We tested out Kenny’s hot tub, and he cooked us a delicious breakfast in the morning. We took a zero day on Day 27 and enjoyed Big Bear. On to trail again!

---

WEEK 4 STATS FILL OUT

• Week 4 Miles: 69.5 miles
• Week 4 Average Miles: 9.9 miles/day
• Total Miles: 279.2 miles
• Total Average Miles: 9.97 miles/day
• Resupplies: 1
• Showers: 2
• Favorite Trail Foods: baby bell cheese, lucky charms with powdered milk, naan sandwiches, Annie’s mac n cheese
• Least Favorite Trail Foods: trail mix, RX bar

---

Day 28 – 32 (4/25 – 4/29):

The stretch from Big Bear to Cajon Pass was beautiful, a little more mellow on the elevation gain/decline, and had great group camp sites to fit the whole trail family. Plus, we finally found a body of water to swim in!! (Somehow it took 29 days, ah the desert). We took a freezing dunk in Holcomb Creek, and then a more relaxing swim in the slightly warmer Deep Creek and Deep Creek hotsprings. The hotsprings is such a destination on the PCT that there was probably ~30 PCT hikers camping there that night, we got to meet so many new people! Including Bodie, the world’s cutest dog, who is hiking the PCT!

We pulled our biggest day yet in this stretch, 21 miles to Silverwood Lake. Kerrie received her trail name on Day 31, Carry On, or Kerrie for short 😉 The quote of day was “I know it’s you guys camping because no one else pitches their tents that close together” -Brett. Honestly, it’s true. We like to pass things between our tent doors and whisper our deepest secrets all night. On Day 32 we finished out this stretch by hiking to the infamous Cajon Pass McDonalds that’s .4 miles off of trail! I’ve never worked so hard for a chicken nugget.

It’s also our hiking group’s 1 Month Trailiversary! It’s surreal that it’s already been one month. Time has begun to pass quicker, which makes me sad because that means it’s becoming more routine. However I heard a great quote: “you can tell a story from every day on trail that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. In ‘real’ life how often can you remember a story from a random day many years later?” Even though a month has passed, it’s true. I can think back to those earlier days and remember many moments, laughs, meals, and funny stories that I know I’ll remember for many more years. I’ve been feeling extra grateful to be out here lately, and grateful for the people that I’ve met!

---