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Day 11: mile 161-179.4 (+2.5 on the trail to get a hitch to Idyllwild)

It was a long one today my friends! I decided I would get an early start so I could have the afternoon and evening to explore Idyllwild a bit, boy was I in for a surprise. 

Sleeping at 7,000 feet, you just have to get up for the sunrise. It was really interesting, on one side of the peak the colors looked sharp and crisp, and on the other they looked like a pastel water color painting. Can you see it? 

I was on the trail by 7:20, go me! 😂 I enjoyed my early start, it felt more calm and peaceful for some reason. 

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Soon after starting I walked through part of the burn area. Great to see some green in here, it looks like regrowth is well on it’s way. Fortunate for the class of 2019, this is the first year all of this section is back open.

Just as I was feeling like I got super lucky and thought most of the snow had melted, I turned a corner and so it began! At first it was just a bit patchy, then it was surrounding me. 

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I learned I needed my microspikes (cleats you can slip over your trail runners/boots to help with traction in the snow) about 2 hours after my box with them inside was sent out, darn. The going was very slow. The last 4 miles to the saddle to Idyllwild took me almost as long as the rest of the day. Although gorgeous, it was work! Luckily others had gone before me, so there were plenty of tracks to follow. I slipped and fell multiple times, but nothing more than snow burn/scrapes to show for it thankfully. I did take a small short cut at one point, posthole hard and eat it, making my phone fly out of it’s pocket and into the snow. Still glad I did it, phone is clearly fine, and hasn’t been cleaner since I started the trail! 😂 

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By the time I got to the saddle the patches of dirt started appearing again, yes! Dirt had never been so exciting to see. 😂 I managed to do a little accidental off-trail on my way down to the parking lot for a few brief minutes. Seriously not sure where the trail went, the footprints just disappeared into boulder. At that point I was on a mission to get down as quick as possible, and I had my indestructible gaiters on, so on I went. 

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I made it to the parking lot where I proudly congratulated myself aloud for killing it today, and started walking down the street. I put my thumb out as the cars passed, hoping someone would stop. I walked ten minutes or so and the most wonderful gentleman stopped and gave me a ride. My first attempt at hitching was a success! He dropped me in the middle of town where I decided after this long ass day I’d splurge on a room, 150% worth it! I had a glass of wine while I waited for my pizza and salad to go, and then headed back to the room to eat dinner in bed. 

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Goodnight! 

XOXO Becks