Just lookin’ for an excuse…
A decision needs to be made today. That decision is whether or not to go over the San Jacinto mountain’s peak where there is still plenty of deep snow.
Today is Paradise Valley Cafe day. Since it opens at 8 M, I’m in no rush. I’m a 15 minute walk to the restaurant. After breaking down my camp, I’m off by 7:30.
I was on the way by 7 AM. The goal is to get to Paradise Valley Café. I will never make it by their 3 PM closing time, so the plan is to camp nearby tonight.
The plan is to make up miles after falling short of yesterday’s goal. Before I left camp I rubbed in some pain killing cream on my right leg to ease the pain.
There was a stream, which I had to cross several times as the trail changed sides. And there is where we have some trekking pole drama.
The trail reached the 100 mile mark. I celebrated by stopping and eating lunch. After lunch, the trail headed down and turned into a hike through a meadow.
I departed the tiny house where I slept for the last two nights, and today, I’m leaving Julian behind. Before I go, I have to patch my sleeping pad.
Today is a zero day, which means no hiking, so I have a day off in Julian. A front came through last night and brought rain and cold temperatures.
With the extra miles hiked yesterday, the plan was now to go to Julian and beat the rain and cold weather front on its way to the area.
One year ago, I was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I hiked 52 miles before I heard a loud pop. I had torn my left ankle tendon, and it was the end of my hike.
