PCT Day 10 – PCT Mile 150.0 to Mile 166.5

April 14, 2025

Total PCT miles: 16.5

Non PCT miles: 2.4

Total: 18.9 miles / 30.4 km

Total elevation gain: 4150

Steps: 45247

It was exceptionally cold out this morning. It must have rained a little more last night because my tent was wet. This combine with the cold weather made packing everything up painful but the Paradise Valley Caffe (PVC) and breakfast were calling my name so off I went. Slowly the sun started to crest over the mountains finally providing some warmth. The high temperature today is only 10 or so degrees but I’ll take it over a heat wave.

I arrive at PVC just as they opened at 0800 an shuffled in with a few other hikers. They caffe allows hikers to camp on their patio or in the back. One hiker I met had done just that and reported it was really loud due to cars most of the night. PVC is known for having the best burger on trail but unfortunately their lunch menus doesn’t start until 1100 so I settled for breakfast food. I will say their portions are very hiker friendly.

In the hiker box I found a giant piece of tyvek. I had been debating getting something to use as a ground sheet for my tent as I’ve already put a hole in it and to help keep it cleaner. Two other hikers wanted some as well so we cut it into pieces to share.

Just as i was leaving PVC I ran into Rocket Man. He said he had enough and he was getting off trail. I wished him well and off I went.

The hike today involved a significant amount of elevation change with difficult water access. There are three points along the trail where you can get water. But all involves a one mile hike downhill. I carried 4 liters out of PVC and with the cool weather I’m hoping I’ll be fine till a spring located on trail another 11 miles from where I’ve camped.

Here along the ridge on the left everything is green and to the right everything is brown and you can see into Coachella valley. At some point I passed the spot where I sprained my ankle in 2018 and eventually passed the spot where I hobbled off the ridge to hitch hike into town. So now I’m on parts of the PCT I’ve never seen. There were beautiful views of Mount San Jacinto and the valley bellow.

It snowed up here over the last two days but almost all has melted. I passed some trees that were raining ice that has built up during the storms. I decided to gather a bunch just in case I’m wrong in my water calculation!

I still have 11 miles to go until I reach the turn off for Idyllwild. I had hoped to make it further. But the next few miles involve significant elevation gain to 9000 feet. It will be warmer where I am and I’ll have fresh legs tomorrow for the climb. I really hope to make it into town at a reasonable time.