Started: Campsite 146.2
Ended: Idylwild 151.8
Total: 5.6 Miles plus 2 Bonus Miles

As an experienced Wisconsin backpacker, I was ready to handle the below freezing temperatures. The combination of a well placed shelter and wearing every single piece of clothing I had kept me quite comfortable. I woke to frost everywhere. My tent was icy. My quilt was icy. My beard was icy. The desert was icy. The sign was icy.

Seriously Icy, both the beard and sign.

When I woke up, the back of my knees were sore. When I touched it, I had blisters and it burned to the touch. I cleaned it with some wipes which royally sucked and put some ointment on it. There was nothing else I could do but carry on. The views were still awesome.

The cafe opened at 8 a.m., so I was in no rush. When I arrived, I was told that a trail angel would be there later who would be taking people to Idylwild. Now that I was able to see my injury, I concluded that a trip there would be the smarter choice.

I enjoyed breakfast with Sunshine. Sadly her section is done.

There are two ways to Idylwild. One is to hitch from the cafe at 151.8. The normal was is to hike to 179.4. The trail is closed from 168.6 to 179.4 due to a fire. There is an alternative route with road hikes but Brian and I could not understand the water situation. It seems that we needed to walk up to a mile off the alternative trail for water.

That just reinforced my decision to hitch into Idylwild. I cannot hike without a pair of shorts. It is going to take me a couple of days for my knees to heal. Hiking on will only make things worse. There is an outfitter in Idylwild.

I’m going to zero here. That was eleven straight days of hiking and I need to heal up for this next haul.