PCT Day 16 (4/15/22) Grass Valley Creek to Silverwood Lake

 After an excruciating ten miles in the morning, I made it to Silverwood Lake. At that point I was close to a major highway and had cell reception, so I gave my mom a call with a rundown of the situation. After receiving her counsel, I decided that I needed to go see a doctor. I called up my uncle from San Clemente, who was luckily available to give me a ride.

As I waited for him and my grandparents to arrive, I did some self-diagnosing on the internet and speculated that I might have had a stress fracture. About a week later, after some x-rays and an MRI, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in my Cuboid and Cuneiform, induced by overuse.

At first, my doctor did not believe that I would make it back on the trail that year. But in a later meeting I revealed my latest feasible resumption date of June 1st, and he let me know that I would probably be good to go until then. In the meantime, I could do anything I wanted, as long as it didn't make my foot hurt.

Needless to say, I was extremely bummed about my broken foot, but happy that I would be back on the trail in about a month and a half. I took my rest seriously and started planning to get back on at South Lake Tahoe and head north before coming back down to hike the Sierra Nevada later in the summer.

After this post, there won't be another until June 1st unfortunately. But the trail only became more exciting and entertaining as accumulated mileage, which will be reflected in my upcoming posts. I'm so excited!

Silverwood Lake, chillin' at the Silverwood Lake picnic area:

PCT Day 15 (4/14/22) Holcomb Creek to Grass Valley Creek

 "Great day today! Started off before six and had my best breakfast yet at a sweet bridge. Kept going until I got to some hot springs. Hung out there for a few hours. I met some cool people, swam in the river, and hung out in the hot tubs. I ate a ton of food before I left, and took a questionable recommendation from a local to drink the hot spring water, which made the end of the hike today a little uncomfortable." 4/14/22 7:23 PM

After an early start, I pounded some miles before taking a quick break for breakfast. Not long after resuming hiking, I passed the 300 mile marker. I sped along the trail and arrived at the location I'd been looking forward to all trail around midday: Deep Creek hot springs.

I had a wonderful time soaking in the various hot pools and swimming in the deep creek. The water was crystal clear and the perfect temperature to hop into after overheating in the hot springs. Most of the people there had hiked out for the day, and many had overpacked for their picnics, so I was able to inherit quite a few snacks.

While I was there, the hot spring local, Jason Stahlheber, arrived and started doing his thing. He showed me a copy of the local climbing book that he co-authored. He also sold me on the healing powers of the spring that feeds into the pools. Before I left the springs, I filled my water bladder to the max with hot spring water.

After I was done playing in the pools, I started to pack up, and I realized just how much my foot was hurting. I put my shoes on and continued hiking nonetheless. The day was hot, I had a full stomach, an aching foot, and the hot spring water was starting to cause a ruckus in my stomach. I took a break in the shade of some unusual water management infrastructure.

After I made the last creek crossing of the day, which was a shoes on and off ordeal, the foot pain really started to ramp up. By the time I made it to camp I was hobbling and forced to take frequent rests. I had also begin to adopt a very lopsided hiking style to favor my injured foot. I arrived at the creek, set up my gear, and hit the hay.

A sweet bridge, the 300 mile mark, Jason's book, leaving Deep Creek hot springs:

PCT Day 14 (4/13/22) Big Bear Lake to Holcomb Creek

 "Left Big Bear this morning and started hiking at 10 after going to the post office. Awesome trail today. Trail angel gave me some fat pineapple slices. Camping near a creek. Hopefully it isn't too wet tonight." 4/13/22 7:15 PM

Had a slow start to the morning after a late night the night before. I was able to make a quick pit stop at the post office to ditch my stove and make the definitive switch to cold soaking before heading up to the trail.

Once I was back on track I made quick progress on nice, loamy, smooth terrain. Around midday, I ran into a friend of friend who I hiked and chatted with for a while. Later that afternoon I made a pit stop at Cheshire Cat's aid station, who was serving up ice cold fruit. I couldn't have imagined anything better. After hanging out with him and his dog for a little while, I resumed hiking. Throughout the day I continued to have some foot pain, but at this point I was in denial about any potential injury. I figured I could keep hiking and eventually the pain would subside.

Eventually I started seeing camps set up here and there as the evening progressed, but I resolved to hike at least until dark due to my late start that morning. A descended off the crest of a ridge into the Holcomb Creek Canyon. I crossed the creek once, then found a nice campsite at the next crossing where I set up for the night.

A friend of a friend, Cheshire Cat and his pup:

PCT Day 13 (4/12/22) Coon Creek Cabin to Big Bear Lake

 "Staying in a hostel in Big Bear tonight. Took a shower and washed all my clothes. Sleeping in a real bed." 4/12/22 4:53 PM

I woke up in the middle of the night at Coon Creek Cabin with an unexplainable pain in my foot. Fortunately, I was able to fall back asleep. I noted the incident but decided not to worry about it.

When I awoke in the morning, it was very cold, and I decided to get going before the bad vibe crowd got up. My hands were absolutely freezing while I waited for the sun to come out. Eventually I found a spot in the sun where I was able to eat my breakfast and thaw out.

I hit the high point of the day at Onyx Summit and began my long, gradual descent to Highway 18. As I hiked, my shoe kept felt like it was getting tighter and tighter, no matter how much I loosened it. I knew something was up, but I decided to make to Big Bear and worry about my foot later.

When I arrived at Highway 18 there was a huge crew of hikers standing on the wrong side of the road complaining about how nobody was picking up hitchhikers and they were calling a shuttle. I decided to try my luck on the correct side of the street, and the first car to come over the pass pulled off and picked me up. It turned out to be an elderly woman who had lived in the area for years. And with her local knowledge came an adrenaline inducing driving style.

We were on the outskirts of Big Bear Lake before I could blink, and from there a took a couple buses, with a stop at the supermarket, down to the hostel I planned to stay at for the night. I was able to get organized and clean that evening. The hostel had nightly themes, and I happened to arrive on Taco Tuesday, where tacos and tequila were included with the room. Along with the eclectic and energetic hostel crew, the night devolved into mayhem.

Another view of Mt San Jacinto:

PCT Day 12 (4/11/22) Whitewater Preserve to Coon Creek Cabin

"Epic day today! Sleeping over a mile higher than I did last night. Sweet cabin with a fireplace to stay in."  4/11/22 6:31 PM

In reminiscence, this day was quite a mixed bag, with plenty of joy and sorrow alike. I began the day in the Whitewater River Wash. The trail was difficult to follow, and the deep sand was challenging to hike in, but I made steady progress nevertheless. As I approached the northern end of the wash, the trail began to climb.

I knew the night prior that there was going to be a lot of elevation this day, and elevation there was. The remainder of the day, I felt surprisingly great, and made speedy progress on the way to Onyx Summit, my ultimate elevation destination before descending into the town of Big Bear. Amidst my progress-induced euphoria, I set a lofty goal of making it to the Coon Creek Cabin for the night, which at that point was a questionable (but internally justifiable) decision, and within a few days would turn around to bite me in the ass.

By nightfall I made it to the cabin. Unfortunately, there was a dysfunctional "trail family" already there occupying the majority of the cabin. The vibe was off, and they were disappointed that I wanted to keep the fire rolling. I kept it rolling anyways. Another individual hiker arrived later that night, and we kept each other company. At about 10, I hopped in bed, with my biggest day in terms of both mileage and elevation under my belt. 

Mt San Jacinto poking through the clouds over the Whitewater River Canyon, a Gophersnake, Coon Creek Cabin, a happy fire:

PCT Day 11 (4/10/22) Fuller Ridge to Whitewater Preserve

 The report I wrote on the night of my eleventh day was the only one that did not survive. Regardless, I still recall quite a bit from that day. I left camp around dawn and begin making my way down the remainder of Mount San Jacinto. The total descent from the summit to the San Gorgonio Pass was about 10,000 feet, so I needed to get going. As I wound my down the mountain, within the cell reception bubble of Palm Springs, I decided to make some phone calls. My complacency grew, and before I knew it I was face to face with an angry six foot long rattlesnake. I waited for a few minutes, but the snake stood its ground, so I was forced to scramble through screen while avoiding cacti in order to continue down the trail.

Eventually I made my way to a water tank where I rested in the shade and let my adrenaline subside. Following the tank was a long, hot walk through a wash before crossing under the I-10 freeway. When I made it to the underpass, I was relieved to find plenty of shade and a friendly woman administering trail magic. I took an extended break to enjoy some refreshments before beginning my final section of trail for the day.

The exit route from the freeway was very uncomfortable, as the trail dipped drainage ditches of a partially defunct and totally sketch housing development. The most nervous moment was when I had to take an urgent crap just off the side of the road, with nothing but some thin desert brush to hide me from the residents.

I finally made it out of the neighborhood and enjoyed my climb up a canyon with a pleasant breeze. When I arrived to the top, I had to battle a vicious headwind along the rim of the canyon. By nightfall, I made to Whitewater Preserve, which had a man made pond (with swimming permitted) and a large field with free camping to hikers. It is here that I wrote my report that did not survive, while trying to sleep through intense wind that I had experienced earlier in the day. I made refuge behind the leeward side a hefty stone bathroom, which proved to be a worthwhile campsite.

The north face of Mount San Jacinto, an angry snake, trail magic at the freeway, a peaceful snake:

PCT Day 10 (4/9/22) Tahquitz Ridge to Fuller Ridge

 "Crazy day today. Started hiking around 4:00 AM and descended into Idyllwild. At breakfast and got my toe socks then headed back up towards San Jacinto with feet feeling much better. Summited around 1:00 PM. Super gnarly descent down the north side and hiked a few more miles before camp. Pretty wiped." 4/9/22 6:38 PM

That was a very crazy day. I hiked to the saddle at the top of Devil's Slide Trail and set up my tent to leave my stuff inside, before slackpacking down into Idyllwild. I had to walk almost all the way into town from the trailhead, as nobody was really out and about yet. I reunited with my friends that I began with at breakfast. They had resupplied and stayed in Idyllwild the previous night. I got to the outdoor store at opening to pick up a couple pairs of toe sock liners. As soon as I put them on, it was like all of blisters went away. It was much easier to get a ride back to the trailhead. I ripped my way up the climb with a near-empty pack, before packing up my gear that I had left at the top of the climb.

From there, I headed north again on the PCT until I reached the turn off for the San Jacinto summit. As I continued to climb, the snow became more and more prominent. At this point in the day, it was extremely soft, and every step was laborious. By early afternoon, I made it to the summit. I enjoyed my lunch, and began my descent down the notorious Fuller Ridge.

Being on the north side of the mountain, the snow was a whole lot thicker. The trail was steep, and the snow was soft. There were sketchy almost-melted snow bridges over raging rapids. I slogged along with another group of hikers I came across until we came to a well established campsite. The group of hikers stopped, but there was no way I was going to let any snow come across my path the next morning, so I targeted a site a few miles down the trail, and got going. I finally made it to camp, which I shared with a handful of others, made dinner, and went to sleep.

Alpine start, breakfast with the boys, on the summit of Mount San Jacinto, appreciating my new toe socks at lunch: