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.
The elevation is getting high enough that heat is easing a bit. Terrain is back to plenty of rocks, but with more color, and reminds me of an Arizona hike. Smoke Break, Beehive, Puma, and Taco pass at different times, and we all end up at Mary’s Place, a campsite set up by a trail angel. 
Several other hikers are there, including Emily and Vesuvius. Conversation and laughter ensue. Mary brings her dog to visit. 
About 25 hikers stayed the night in tents or cowboy-camping.