PCT SOBO DAY 128 – Cowboy Life

Day 128

Start: Whitewater Preserve Visitor Center, near mile marker 2437.3

End: Campground, mile 2455.3

Miles Traveled: 18 miles + 0.5 miles from center

We woke up very early today, but the sun was already up and shining when we left. Another hiker had arrived at camp before us last night, so we were able to see him and chat before we left. He really wanted to get home to his girlfriend, who had to get out of the way, so he moved fast and put in long days.

As we began our first climb, the sun was shining above us. It was already hot! I was grateful that we stepped into the shadow of the mountain and stayed there for the second half of the climb. My plan for that day was to meet a special angel near Cabazón, so unfortunately I would have to let the boys go ahead of me again. Good thing they were planning to resupply in Idyllwild. I was going to skip that town, so we’d probably find ourselves back on the road in a couple of days.

The road to the highway, although flat, seemed endless. All I could think about was getting into town and having a great meal, but I was stuck in the hot desert. Finally, we reached the I-10 underpass, where there was a huge water tank. The guys were about to tackle Mount San Jacinto, a climb of over 8,000 feet of ascent, in the middle of the day. There was only water at the beginning and end of the 21-mile section, so they had to go up by camel.

I wasn’t looking forward to doing this climb, so I was more than happy to take a break in the city. I chatted with the boys as they drank water and prepared their minds for the torture to come. When it was time to leave, we said «see you later» and they continued out into the sun.

After taking a Lyft to the Moringo Reserve, I felt like I was in the land of plenty. There were so many places to eat! Since I was in California, I opted for In-N-Out and was very disappointed. I had tried it years before and hadn’t understood the hype at all, and my opinion still hadn’t changed. It was mediocre at best.

I had a couple of hours until the trail angel arrived, so I sat at Starbucks and lazed around, carrying my things while drinking an overly sweet drink. Late in my charging session, the angel of the trail let me know that something unexpected had arisen and that he would not be able to receive me. Damned. I was a little discouraged, but I had to come up with another plan.

I decided to resupply like I had planned to do and just get back on the road. I could start climbing when the sun went down and not have to deal with the heat. In about an hour, I was back on the trail and ready to hike again.

Walking at night was definitely the way to go. I needed a lot less water and could enjoy it a little more. When the sun set, I climbed higher. The city sparkled beneath me and I soaked in the fantastic view from the mountainside. I felt like I had climbed quite a bit, but I still had a good climb ahead of me tomorrow.

I stopped around 8:30pm and camped on a flat spot nestled in the bushes on a small outcrop. It was one of my favorite places on the road. I didn’t bother setting up my tent, instead opting to walk under the open sky. The air was a perfect temperature, a gentle breeze blew over me, and I could see the stars twinkling as I gazed at the endless sky. This was the real life.

This was one of my last nights on the trail, so I tried to soak up the feeling of sleeping under the stars and holding it tight. I didn’t want anything at that moment. Peace, joy, and a quiet contentment spread through my body. There is nothing like sleeping outdoors.

And that’s a day in the life of a PCT SOBO hiker!

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