15 — San Jacinto Summit & Trail Magic

Miles 176.4–190.5 San Jacinto Wilderness (14.1 miles)

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Rose: trail magic at the campground Thorn: lots of coughing and hacking on my ascent this morning Bud: soon

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Well, the wind did not die down. It raged through the night. The earplugs allowed me to mostly sleep. I did have to restake one guyline in the night, but it was for the tent door, so I never even left my bed. I also only had to pump up my mattress once in the night. I’ve figured out a routine with it.

Our bodies were slow this morning having not slept and hiked a hard long day the night before, and the wind still raged on in the morning. We waddled out of camp dressed all in wind gear.

Thankfully, we hiked into tall forests which were cool but minimal wind. I have missed forests. I have always felt comfortable in the forest and mountains; it’s my safe place. The desert is most definitely not a place where I’m comfortable.

Our route through the forest was a pleasant 1–3 mile alternate to the PCT. Unlike the PCT, we avoided some elevation gain and loss. The relatively flat ground was welcome for our bodies. Then we started ascending through bush and Boulder fields. My legs felt really tired then. I slowed down to the back of the group with Semi.

The wind had stopped by then and the day was a sunny inversion! Just what we needed. Of all the things that the wind could have carried in, I did not expect an inversion layer. The views above the clouds was pretty cool. I summited at 11:30am.

We sat at the sunny summit for about an hour taking photos, eating lunch, and telling stories.

Then came the business of start a 2–3 day descent off of San Jacinto back into the desert heat.

I stopped for a break at the junction where the summit trail rejoined the PCT. I took off my shoes, napped, and read my book while the others pulled ahead.

I roused myself from my siesta and only 1 mile, stopped to collect water. This is our last water source for 19 miles. It’s supposed to be a grueling descent. I am carrying six liters (13.2 pounds) since we will be dry camping before we reach the next water source.

I ran back into the group right after the water source. We had siestaed 2 miles apart. But I had the better spot. Instead of the expected 4.5 miles to camp, they announced we were hiking 6.5 miles to camp. That was a lot of mileage on tender feet and heavy weight with just enough daylight to do it in if I hustled.

I got to descending and climbing. It was going to be close with the sunlight. I really didn’t want to walk that extra two miles.

I was thinking this as I started hiking through our original camp location (and where I was considering bailing for the night), and LO AND BEHOLD! TRAIL MAGIC! A bonfire with a dozen hikers, a picnic table laden with food, and a cooler full of ice cold beer. And my friends were already settled at the fire looking like they weren’t leaving this spot tonight.

We ate good food, drank beer, and talked and talked until darkness came (1.5 hours) and hiker midnight called.

After a tough ascent and descent, some trail magic is just what our spirits needed.