PCT Map Miles 161.9
Miles Hiked 110.2
Elevation 6,778 feet
Miles Hiked Today 11.1
Today is Paradise Valley Café day. Since it opens at 8 AM, I’m in no rush. My campsite about a 15 minute walk from the restaurant. After breaking down my camp, I’m on the way by 7:30. The trail to the restaurant is pretty easy and I arrive ten minutes before PVC opens. My early arrival gives me time to throw away my garbage and look around.
Finally, it opens and I’m first in the door. The proprietor got smart some time ago and came up with a hiker menu. Everything on the menu is large portion. I ordered this huge, three egg omelet with just about everything you can think of in it. Then there were hash brown potatoes and biscuits and gravy. I thought to myself, “I’ll never eat all of this.” Wrong! It got scarfed up. I just didn’t realize how hungry I was. It’s called hiker hunger
I hung there until 10:30 charging my phone and battery pack and drinking tea. Every seat in the place was full. A couple of girls sat with me, too. There are no strangers among hikers. Finally, it was time to go.
Leaving Paradise Valley Café, I caught a ride to the trailhead and headed north hiking. The trail began its climb towards 9,000 and San Jacinto. It was a brutal climb but uneventful. I was ready to camp by 5 PM and call it a day. I decided not to fix a freeze dried meal for dinner in light of the massive breakfast I had. Also, water was scarce on the climb up, so I opted to conserve my water. Tomorrow is another day of climbing. I am not looking forward to it.
