First night in the new Big Agnes tent. Didn’t even need the instructions, just winged it. The spot I picked was windy and lumpy, but hey, I managed. Slept totally alone, which was nice, until that two-hour middle-of-the-night pit stop. That wasn’t so funny. Woke up to the tent fly frozen solid, inside and out. Good thing my water filter was tucked away in my sleeping bag.
Hit the trail again just after 8 AM, heading back to the junction where I met up with Charlie. Together, we made our way to the Paradise Valley Café (PVC). Turns out Liam, Rock, Chris, and Carina were already there. It was such a genuinely awesome reunion, it actually got me a little choked up.
Breakfast at Paradise Valley Café
We practically sprinted to grab some breakfast, and man, was it worth it!
Omelet with hash browns
Biscuits and gravy
Honestly, not my jam, but it’s a classic American thing. Photo_2: A serving of biscuits and gravy.
Pancakes
These, on the other hand, totally blew me away!
And to wash it all down, we had so much coffee and ice water, there was barely room on the table.
Moving on to Idylwild
After stuffing ourselves, I hitched a ride with one of the guys to the town of Idylwild. We’ll be here for two nights because of all the storms and snow. We’re crashing at a “resort”, which is more like a massive house, and moving to a different spot tomorrow. It’s not exactly cheap – $74 per person for two nights.
Idylwild is a beautiful town, I like it way more than Julian. And yes, they really do have a dog as their mayor! 😂
Hygiene and Shopping
Today, for the second time on the trail, I got to shower and do laundry. It’s an incredible feeling. I also hit up the store for a few things: food bags, a new fuel canister, a 3-liter CNOC bag for the price of a 2-liter, and some grub for the next few days. The hiker box here is a bit sparse – nothing to eat, but I did find a solar panel. No idea if it works, but I’ll definitely give it a shot.
Tech and Mobile Data
In the evening, I sorted out my AT&T data situation. I was supposed to have 8 GB, but after a quick chat with support, the rep kindly upgraded me to a 30 GB plan at full speed, with a slowdown to 1.5 Mbps after that. Solid deal, thanks! 👍🏻
Daily Summary
- Miles Today: 0 (The hike back doesn’t count).
- Total PCT Miles: 2,484 miles to go.
- Day’s Highlight: Breakfast at PVC, reuniting with friends, the move to Idylwild, and the first night in the Big Agnes tent.
Tomorrow I’ll stock up on dehydrated meals and see what the next few days bring.
