I will let the pictures do the talking (for the most part)
The morning started at 6:00am. I ate a terrible flavor of oat meal (peaches and cream) with lukewarm water out of a coffee mug that smelled like windex. Trail angel Stacey was meeting us at 7 to give us a ride to Devil's Slide trailhead. Since a large portion of the PCT is closed coming into Idyllwild, this trail, after 2.6 miles of uphill brilliance links you back to the PCT and onward towards San Jacinto peak.
It was 40 degrees out but the cool morning air felt refreshing to breath in. I made my way up the Devil's Slide and waited at the saddle for Jenn to arrive.
While I was waiting I peed her name in the snow.
After some corn nuts and beef jerky we continued on into the wilderness.
And that is when everything went so right. For the first time on the trip Jenn and I were alone. Thankfully we enjoy each others company. Giant trees lined the trail and I couldn't resist reaching out and touching each one as I passed. As we continued our ascent white snow rested up against the cool side of boulders and at the base of giant stumps.
After another couple hours of climbing we reached the spur trail that took us up to 10,800ft. Prior to the summit a historic cabin sits, still open to use by those who find it. Inside its cupboards were emergency rations of pasta, chocolate and condoms. We passed on the rations but signed the log book and took some pictures.
After exploring, it was on to the peak, which I insisted we do with our packs on. We had to scramble up giant boulders to get there and navigate barely visible trails of dirt and black snow that ran across them to find the proper path. After some foul language and heavy breaths I spotted the summit marker. I waited for Jenn to arrive before touching it. As I stood atop the second highest peak in Southern California I thought, "man, I'm hungry."
We descended 1000 feet for lunch 1. And another 1000 for lunch 2. We made coffee from the snow melt and refilled our water.
That gave us the energy to start the technical descent down Fuller Ridge which would eventually link us to a trail that would drop 8000 feet to the desert sands and windmills of Cabazon. Before that we had some fun.
Found a great (windy) campsite
And had some dessert.
We also had cell service so there was a lot of this:
The wind that night was wild and loud but it didn't bother me.
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