Day 18 - Sunday, June 11

Day 18

PCT Mile 320.1 to PCT mile 343.6

(23.5 miles today)

Today was a day of extremes. We woke up cold in the wind and started hiking in rain gear to stay warm. We even hiked for a while before breakfast to try to warm. 

We had a few miles of extremely ugly hiking through a work yard, with industrial rusty garbage and barbed wire fences in the morning. And then, not too long after that, we had some of the most beautiful miles of the trip so far. We came over a ridge and we're surprised to see a huge, deep blue lake, framed by mountains all around. It's called Silverwood Lake and it's managed as a recreation area. We saw boaters and fishermen, people running and people picnicking. I really enjoyed the stretch of trail along the lake. 

We stopped at a picnic area just past the lake for lunch and water, and there was conveniently a power outlet in the post near our table. Electricity has become very important on this hike, because we depend on the maps and water information in an iPhone app. Don't worry, we carry paper maps too, but the app has the most up-to-date information. We mostly use an app called Guthook's Hiking Guides, which has maps, elevation profiles, and information about campsites, road crossings, towns, and most importantly, water. 

We hiked pretty quickly after lunch, knowing that the singular McDonald's on the PCT was within reach for the day. To say we were excited is an understatement. Our excitement was extreme. We hiked up to a viewpoint, where we could see interstate 15 way down below. The trail followed a ridge down for several miles, which we hiked in knock-you-down level winds. We couldn't converse because the wind was so loud. It was a little scary, but thankfully we had trekking poles to help with stability. 

Just a mile before McDonalds, we talked to a hiker I hadn't met before, who told us the McDonalds at Cajon pass had burned down. My jaw dropped. I had, admittedly, gotten pretty jazzed about a milkshake and some nuggets. We hiked up to find out for ourselves and the McDonalds was still there, and definitely open. I don't know if that guy was trying to elicit a reaction or what, but it was enough to make me panic! That guy walked in after Stephen and I each had 20 nuggs, and when he saw us he said "I guess they rebuilt it."

After loosening my hip belt considerably, we left McDonalds and hiked two more miles to a sandy campsite in a dry creek bed, with wind gusts but not as bad as last night.