Start point

Indian Flats PCT Connection, mile 119.6

End point

Tule Spring, mile 137

Miles hiked

17.4

Wilderness area

Started in Cleveland National Forest

The day on trail

My goodness. Last night was chaos. There were 19 (someone counted) tents in this tiny space. One guy (inconsiderate) ran his guy line under the corner of my tent and set up while I was getting water.

It was pandemonium. I basically got stuck in the middle of two or three bubbles of hikers. I did not like it. What was cool is that it was the site that Shark and Half Pint met at a few years ago! Or maybe last year. Whatever, time is a construct and illusion.

Today, most everyone set out to make it to Tule Spring. It’s a reliable water source but a good distance away.

I had a bit of a slow start because of two reasons. I’m slow in the mornings and the chaos was distracting. I left camp about three hours after the main bubble left and 20 minutes after the last hikers before me left.

After hiking about two hours and change, so about 4-5 miles, I stopped to refill water and take a lunch break. I’m trying to stay hydrated better. It really helped me power through the rest of my day. I planned it because it was the last reliable water source for a while and I wanted to settle into a hiking groove and just crank the miles out.

I also made the decision to hike listening to podcasts. I’ve been in my head and I felt it dragging me down today, so it was time to distract my mind so my body could do what feels good. And it sure did!

Where the prior days had long distances where you could see the trail, today it dodged and hid behind brush and twists. It was scratchy and playful today, and really fun to hike.

I think a lot of people lost items, stored on the outside of their packs, to the brambles and brush. I found a hiker’s pouch which contained her inflatable pillow. I ended up finding her (it was Lingo).

There were some stretches of slushy snow and mud, but my feet did stay mostly dry, which was nice. There were a few especially treacherous parts. And it’s just really hard to see in photos, but I’m going to try.

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Slushy snow and mud have nothing to help. In the morning, at least micro spikes can help with iced over snow and frozen mud is as good as rock. But as soon as they warm up, man, you can just give right in to Sir Isaac Newton.

Mt San Jacinto keeps teasing us as we get closer and closer.

Here are some happy purple flowers.

And a lizard who didn’t know what to make of me.

This prickly pear with long, fat paddles.

And some views. Notice in the first one how the trail just bends and disappears.

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Signs and gates!

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And one more showing the trail just…fading away.

This mountain and mineral feature was fascinating.

And I think I caught my first sign of poodle dog bush. It’s a horrible plant which, when touched, can cause blisters severe enough to take people off trail. (Edit from the future: this is thistle. I’m paranoid.)

My day was getting long and my feet were getting tired. I passed by a group of hikers, it was the guy who ran his line under my tent, his pal, and Oopa (from Switzerland). Guy line guy posited that everyone else made it to the springs, and gave me a dismissive “enjoy the crowd”.

I ended up passing “the crowd” a mile or two later. Then I saw Pamela and Henry, then Cally and Michael. We’re all on the same page about getting to San Jacinto. There are some other Canadians who want to join us, too.

Well, I made it to the springs and it was just Shark and Half Pint here! Quiet! Finally!

As I was setting up my tent, I tried moving a rock to make more room for my rain fly. I ended up finding a termite nest under the rock! I placed it back, gave them some dirt so they could hide, and moved my tent a bit. They’re important out here.

I’m also in the middle of coyote country! I can hear them howling and there’s coyote scat on the trail. I love it out here so much.

What a gorgeous day. My heart is full and my legs are tired.