Thursday May 6
No one was too anxious to get up early, since we were up till 2am tasting our way through Barnaby’s collection of single malt scotches. He highlight was a 30 year old Laphroig….mmmmmm.
After a huge breakfast repast prepared by Anne, Barnaby drove us to the trailhead. We started up the Devil’s slide at 10:30 and found that going up after a day of rest as actually easier than when we came down, tired, hungry and with sore feet.
The weather has cooled off some and coupled with a high elevation ridge walk, we were actually chilly enough to break out jackets and long shirts. The walk along the flanks of Mt. San Jacinto and Fuller Ridge was delightful. Tough, but rewarding, with great views, dramatic rock out croppings and fabulous old growth trees the entire way. Many Ponderosa pines, some up to 6 feet in diameter.
We passed “JJ” on the way up Devils Slide and leap frogged with him throughout the day, sharing several breaks. At the tiny creek which is the last water for 22 miles we also came across Supertramp (from the AT in 97, the same year we hiked that trail) as well as “Sidetrack.”
We camped at the “primative” campsite at the end of Fuller Ridge, after 12 trail miles and 14.5 for the day. From here the trail will drop precipitously to San Gorgonio passs, with no real camping opportunities for over 20 miles. So altough it was a short day, it was hard enough and wise enough to warrant an stop.
In ’94 I camped at this same spot, with several feet of snow nearby and with a section hiker I had met in Idyllwild. And the snow had been so deep on Fuller ridge it took us two day to get here, not one. Today there were only some scattered patches of snow and there are 8 other thru hikers here besides ourselves, JJ, Keith, Bil, One Braid, Sidetrack, Supertramp, Squeek and Megham.
At almost 8,000 ft, it will be a cold night.
