It is much easier to see a person’s flaws than their virtues. I had to relearn this after spending the first day outside of Idyllwild just being salty. But that requires a bit of backstory.
While I was at the DeBenedetti’s pool, the weather report came in. There would be freezing rain and severe weather at the top of San Jacinto when we planned to pass through. Therefore, a plan was devised to reach Idyllwild early and zero during the storm. An 8-person cabin was reserved for 9, and we headed out for a ride from Paradise Valley Cafe to Idyllwild. We left early the next morning to quickly get to the city.
I was the first to arrive at the parking lot. There I found EU (a group of European hikers) starting from the parking lot trailhead. By the time EU and I started talking, TJ and Backflip had already started walking. A yellow truck in the parking lot offered us a ride to the cafe.
Paradise Valley Coffee
Paradise Valley Cafe was delicious and a meeting place for day trippers around us. Some head to the mountains and the storm, others retreat to the city like us. The cafe was full of hikers there the entire time we were there.
Paradise Valley Coffee
We were soon taken by a retiree who lived in the area and took a free tour of the city. As soon as we got to the post office, the local vet offered to take us back to the trail the morning we planned to leave. It seemed like luck was on our side in this city.
The group decided, since we were in Idyllwild for a day and a half, to shower as soon as possible. The cabin they gave us was huge for 9 people, two stories with 2 showers and laundry. The only problem was that there was no detergent, so I offered to run to the store and buy some.
Dictator Dog Max
We ate pizza, saw a live blues band, and just relaxed for the day. I woke up very tired the next morning, but we made breakfast as a group. The breakfast was great, but what made it great was the people I shared it with.
Cabin we stayed in.
Day zero was filled with walks in and out of town, which was easy due to the walkability of the cabin. I didn’t get to meet Blaze, Mayor Max, and I never went out to the Rustic movie theater. But I saw so many things about Invincible that made up for it.
Then came the day outside the city. I was sweeping and cleaning the cabin before we left. They correct me for throwing away the leftovers, since the people in the group had left them for the cleaning crew. It wasn’t the correction but how it was said; It felt like a slight against me.
take out my anger
I was salty from all the little slights I felt over the past 2 weeks. I know none of that was out of malice, but I was still angry about it. There was a solid minute of them watching me leave my bubble behind.
Finally I reached calmer waters. I realized I was only seeing the bad because of my mood. I realize how easy it is to see a person’s flaws, as they are rarely deeper than the surface. But a person’s virtues are deeper and harder to find.
Sunrise from Apache Spring
At the end of the day, I was happy to see the people on my tram. Apache Spring was an amazing campground. It offered a full view of Palm Springs and Mount San Jacinto and photography locations.
2 miles high
The next day I sent it, or at least others tell me that I did. I climbed up and over San Jacinto, covering just under 20 miles on a day with just under 7,000 feet of climbing. I kind of felt it, but not really.
San Jacinto and the next morning was like a mini Sierra, with the height and the pine forest. I had to climb rocks to find good places to poop.
However, the descent from San Jacinto was 7,000 feet deep and into a hot, hot desert. The only water was a single tap. I saw a rattlesnake on the descent and stopped two other hikers from tripping over it. I would have used my umbrella if it weren’t for the strong gusts of wind. The gusts were so strong that they almost made me lose my balance.
The only shadow around
I stayed at the water tap overnight as I needed to resupply in the town of Whitewater. Find the only rock with any color, which I have called “The Rock”. I played under The Boulder for hours until the sun crested the mountains.
“The Rock”
Cowboy camping near the water tap, I fall asleep listening to the stars and the sound of bats chasing bugs in the night. I got up early and enjoyed the walk along the river as the sun peeked over the horizon. The trains that cross this valley are very long, like dozens of miles.
I came to San Jacinto Hiker Haven for my nero, which is practically a zero. So I’ll leave it here, I have to try In&Out, I’ve heard the Animal style is the way to go.
I finally got a photo of these guys. They are my constant companion, but they are always too fast to photograph.
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