Day 14

PCT mile 218.5 to 239

PCT miles today - 20.5

Left the lovely Whitewater Preserve for the trek ahead. We’re learning that we can’t even begin to predict what will happen each day, making this adventure all we had hoped for. We returned to the trail and passed 8-10 tents with sleeping hikers - at 7 am! Didn’t recognize any tents.

The PCT trail adjacent to the Whitewater River has apparently been washed out recently, so we followed rock ‘ducks’ along this beautiful river meandering through what looked like an endless Zen garden from one side to the other. We must have crossed the river 10 times. Sadly no photos because we were both intent on staying on trail and not wandering off path again. Started climbing up the San Gorgornio Mountain and the temperature dropped very quickly to well below freezing. Snow pellets (cold!) started when we were a couple of miles from our planned campsite. As we approached the site about 3:00 we saw about 15-20 friendly young hikers already set up, so no available tent spots remained. Smart to stop early this day! Did not recognize anyone in the group. Continued up another couple of miles as the sky grew darker and snow increased and it felt like temperature dropped even more. The next tent site we were hoping would work was destroyed by a couple of years ago and there were enormous downed trees everywhere (should have read the updates in the Guthook App). Met a young man from Australia who was considering where to camp for the night and said he really regretted sending his gloves home! Socks can work in a pinch.

We found a nice knoll top flat area not too far from the last water source and got the tent up before more snow accumulated. At 7700 ft - it was COLD. Every layer of clothing we had with us was on and 22degree sleeping bags didn’t quite make it. Chris regretted she didn’t go for the 0 degree bag.

First: Today was Rick’s first snake YELP. Mid morning after leaving the Preserve, a snake bolted across the trail from the under brush after Chris passed and directly in front of Rick. Rick - 1 snake, 1 YELP Chris - 5 snakes, 2 YELPS Zero rattlesnakes.