Started: End of Closure (178.0)
Ended: Campsite (187.5)
Total: 9.5 miles, plus 6.5 bonus miles including a 4000 foot climb.

I woke up at 6:00 a.m., loaded up my gear and hung around the camp fire. Fishtank had electronics charging in the ranger’s office, and that didn’t open until 8:00 a.m. Getting out of Idylwild was going to be a chore. Basically, it is one the most difficult climbs up to far. Nine miles up for over 4,000 feet. Idylwild is at 5,000 feet already. Even the trail to get to the PCT was all uphill.

As I’m from Wisconsin, I’m not used to high altitude. It was going to be interesting to see how I do.

Once we got over 7,000 feet, I found myself breathing hard even though I wasn’t going fast. Eventually, there was nothing left in the tank. As Fishtank and I set up camp, our old friend Two Soles walked up. She is an older hiker who I have learned much from. It was good to see her.