Day 23 - PCT 2024

April 02, 2024

Day 23 - PCT 2024

Miles Hiked: 12.3

Total Ascent: 353.3 ft

Total Descent: 3.892.1 ft.

I was so exhausted from the snow yesterday that I slept pretty well. It was probably my best sleep on trail yet! The wind overnight was subtle but enough to keep my tent dry. Those are the best nights! I was also almost too warm; what a great problem to have! The sunrise was magnificent!

I reached out to ULA Equipment about a new backpack to replace my failing Gossamer Gear Mariposa pack. They reached out right away to help me find a solution to my pack problem! Peter went out of his way to help by offering to send a pack immediately but unfortunately it wasn’t the fabric I wanted. It was a slightly heavier fabric. Weight is of upmost concern due to my shoulder issue so I wanted the lightest pack that could carry sub 40lbs. They have a new 2024 Ultra Catalyst that fits the bill! The current lead time is 3 weeks but Peter made it happen and this morning we have arranged that I’ll pick my new pack up at the post office in Big Bear next week. Thank you so much ULA Equipment! I’m so stoked for my fancy new pack! My credit card decided to decline the purchase and flag it as fraudulent so it was a morning of sitting in my tent on the phone (so thankful for cell reception up there!) with my credit card company trying to prove I’m who I say I am. It took way longer than it should have but after about an hour, my pack was purchased and I sighed a sigh of relief! And while I was hiking down the mountain, my hip belt buckle broke putting even more strain between my shoulder blades. Whew. A week away from a new pack. I’ll hold on somehow until then!

The hike down took longer than I thought despite being below the snow line. We left later than I hoped to. I was hoping to make the post office before closing at 4pm in Cabazon but unfortunately we didn’t make it in time. That’s okay because I decided I’d bounce my box ahead to Wrightwood and just resupply at Walmart in Beaumont instead. Saves me an Uber ride and I get to hang out in civilization for awhile since I have to slow down a bit due to an upcoming storm on Friday as well as waiting out the week for my pack.

San Jacinto looked beautiful while on the way down. The trail was a bit rocky in parts but significantly easier terrain than yesterday. The weather was hot but there was tons of water on trail so we never went without. Wildflowers are starting to bloom and we passed mile 200! It’s still surreal.

Patrick and I took the hike pretty chill and had a blast chatting, taking photographs and hanging out at water sources. The hardest part of the day was past the water spigot, into the desert floor. We were completely exposed to the sun without shade for four miles and although they were flat miles, we had limited water so we hustled to the I-10 underpass where we were so thankful to find trail magic!! Trail angels left oranges which I quickly ate one and packed away my peel in my pack, there was beer and water jugs available as well. Thanks trail angels!! 😇