Hundreds of people are now training, planning and dreaming about one of the most challenging adventures of a lifetime that will begin in a couple of months - A 2,650 mile hike on the PCT, Pacific Crest Trail.
The trail travels through California, Oregon and Washington. Seven hundred miles pass through southern California . A portion of the trail will be rerouted due to the Mountain Fire last summer. Fourteen miles of the PCT along the Desert Divide mountains overlooking Garner Valley in the San Jacinto Wilderness no longer exist.
The highest point of the PCT in southern California is along the San Jacinto Mountains overlooking the town of Idyllwild.
Normally, this time of year, the trail is impassable because of the snow. Because of its absence, I was able to hike along this trail for the first time last week.
The vanilla scent of the Jeffrey Pine trees fills the air as you hike up to 9,030 feet on the PCT. The views are spectacular. The small speck at the top of this ridge is Tahquitz Fire Lookout tower.
A portion of the PCT trail crosses Strawberry Cienega, the mountain source for water that fills Strawberry Creek in the center of town. There is great concern this year because the amount of snow that has fallen this winter is at a historic low - Only 17% of what normally accumulates in the winter months has been recorded.
The PCT thru-hikers rely on their ability to refill their water bottles along the journey. It is not only them that count on the life sustaining water that fills the creeks each year.
We all are hoping for a change in the weather soon. May the snowflakes fall!
