PCT Day 14 – PCT Mile 190.5 to Mile 211.6

April 18, 2025

Total PCT miles: 21.6

Non PCT miles: 0

Total: 21.6 miles / 34.7 km

Total elevation gain: 1171

Total elevation loss: 7164

Steps: 51193

Today was a long day. I had forgotten how painful the hike off San Jacinto mountain was. I woke up at a relatively reasonable time for a thru-hiker and was on the trail by 0630. The morning was cool and crisp making for perfect hiking weather. I was excited to pass interstate 10 where I ended my hike in 2018.

The day involved over 7000 feet of elevation loss and promised to be a long tough day. Unfortunately it did not all go completely to plan. I had two more instances of twisting my right ankle. The first time just 0.5 miles into my hike and the second time about half way through the day. Both with some short lasting pain, the second worse than the first causing me to fall to the ground. I was able to continue on the pain subsiding with no obvious swelling. I’m really starting to get concerned about if I will be able to complete this hike given this is now three times I have twisted it. I’m hoping that I get to Big Bear Lake without any more issues and can get an ankle brace.

As I descended San Jacinto the trees slowly turned into shrubs that got shorter and shorter removing all shade from the increasingly hot day. There were great views of the mountains on the other side of the valley that I’ll be climbing up over the next few days. The number and length of switch backs is a bit much. From where I camped last night to the road I’m sure is less than 1/2 the distance as the bird flys vs the switchbacks. I crossed paths multiple times with a 77 year old doing a section hike. I can only wish to be healthy enough to do the same at his age. We both crossed the 200 mile marker together but he slowed down and I continued on.

I was so happy when i got to the bottom of the mountain and there was amazing trail magic to be found. A1 and Shark, PCT hikers from last year were there serving burgers, cold drinks, and had all the things a thruhiker could want! They said they remembered how brutal this section was so they came out to make our experience better.

From there it’s a few miles to interstate 10 where I ended my hike last year. If it wasn’t Coachella weekend I probably would have found a hotel for a night or two to rest my ankle. But the cheapest one to be found was a two star hotel for 300 USD. I briefly debated camping under the I-10 but it would have been a miserable night sleep. So I’m nstead I took my first steps into the unknown onto trail I’ve never walked and new adventures.

If I’m being honest I still haven’t been able to answer if I’m here because I want to be or if it’s because I’ve been telling myself for so long I want to be. I’m hoping I figure this out soon. You would think that with all the time one has to think on the trail you could sort it out. But your so busy worries about basic necessities to address these types of concerns.

21.6 miles with 7009 ft of decent was a day. Tomorrow it’s going to be hot so it will be an early morning.