Author: Jim, Sagebrush

PCT 2018 Day 9, May 1, Tuesday.

Start Idyllwild, walk Ernie Maxwell trail 2.6 miles, then the 2.6 mile Devil’s Slide Trail to PCT mile 179.4, just past the fire closure

End mile 195.4, small campsite

Miles walked: 21.2

Weather is coming, in the form of rain and likely snow, and I will be stuck here in town for another day, or likely two, if I do not move fast. The Ernie Maxwell Trail starts as side-streets through Idyllwild, then a trail, and only one set of footprints is there before mine. This trail climbs from 5.5k to 6.5k elevation. The Devil’s Slide Trail climbs to 8.1k. There is no rain yet, foggy, and little wind. Rejoining the PCT, the climb is to 9k elevation, above the clouds, still little wind. An alternate trail goes to the San Jacinto peak at 10.5k and stunning views most days, but I stay on main trail to be ahead of the weather. At a creek I stop for water, and two other hikers are there, all of us silent, enjoying the peace and water sounds. These are the only hikers seen until 1PM. The trail goes through San Jacinto State Wilderness, and some old-growth trees, their tops beginning to fade in the fog. The route goes from 9k elevation to 2k elevation and very dry and warm desert. This is the biggest elevation drop on the PCT, and will take longer than today to finish. As the trail descends into the fog, some ice is blowing around and accumulates on trees. Donning cold-weather gear, I hike in blowing snow down to 5k elevation, where the snow turns to showers and mostly stops. The campsite is exposed to the wind, and my tent is buffeted by gusts through the night.

PCT 2018 Day 8, April 30, Monday.

Start mile 4.7 of Idyllwild Alternate at Spitler Trailhead

End mile 6.7 of Alternate, then get ride and later hitch to Idyllwild.

Miles walked: 2

Starting down the first roadwalk of the alternate route in the morning, someone comes by and offers a ride part-way. I gladly accept. He drops me off 4 miles to town, near a cafe, which he recommends as maybe the best in the area. I have a pleasant breakfast, discover that highway 238 has no shoulders in places, so is unwalkable. However, hitching was easy, and I get a ride in seconds.

In town, I see Smokebreak and the rest of the group already in town! They had taken an alternate, shorter route down the ridge. Now they warned that rain and snow were forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, and they were heading up already! Wow, but my body was telling me that a day of rest was imperative.

I get a spot at the campground, not being able to get a call through to an actual person at the nearest hotel, then do the routine of shower, laundry, and so on, and try to actually rest.

The town is small enough that everything is close together, great for a hiker. The car traffic from tourists is high, though, and this is only a Monday in April.

It rains most of the night.

PCT 2018 Day 7, April 29, Sunday.

Start mile 145, Mary’s Place, to mile 168.5 Spitler Peak

End mile 4.7 of Idyllwild Alternate at Spitler Trailhead

Miles walked: 28.2

A cold wind blew all night, and the day seems 20 degrees colder than yesterday. The expected fast hikers Puma, Smokebreak, Beehive, and Taco pass me on their way to Paradise Cafe for breakfast, but I just had town food and wanted to hike. Most of the day involved gradually climbing. After going from 5000 at the road up to 7000 on the ridges overlooking the town of Idyllwild, the wind is fierce, blowing me back and forth at times. And after days of clear sky, suddenly dark clouds start blowing over the ridge. The regular PCT is closed at mile 168.6 because of a past fire, which all of us hikers had been warned about, so I proceed down the alternate trail fairly late in the day to escape any weather, and camp at the trailhead parking area, joined by a couple of others.