PCT 2023: Day 7
Trail Miles: 6.4
Elevation +: 1910
Elevation -: 702
I did not journal on this day. This is written 2+ weeks after the fact.
Woke up after a peaceful night cowboy camped at Mary’s Place. I casually packed up as Red, Taylor and Ryan gathered their things. We all hiked out together around 6:30am. We were all looking forward to a hot meal at Paradise Valley Cafe (PVC), only 1 mile off the trailhead. We only had 5-ish trail miles to get to the road crossing, plus the 1 bonus mile, this morning.
My Body felt surprisingly good overall, after my 30+ mile day yesterday. My right ankle was a bit stiff and achy. My pack felt light with only a couple snacks and enough water to get me to PVC. My only remaining food supply was a bag of my morning protein powder & instant coffee - in place of hot coffee since I had not been carrying a stove. My shoulders had started healing and I had nearly no more pain or irritation where my pack straps rested on my shoulders. Physically I felt like I was in really great trail shape after only 1 week.
I passed the 150 mile marker on the morning of Day 7. I had averaged just over 24 miles per day the first 6 days on trail. This included time off trail to head into Julian on Day 3, hitching back to the trail from Julian on Day 4, and 4 hours of time well spent at Montezuma Market on Day 5. Days that did not include town stops I was hiking 26-30 miles per day - and this was only week 1! Despite these successes I also knew this might be my last day on trail for my 2023 PCT thru-hike attempt.
I had decided I would either head into Idyllwild as planned, do my food resupply, and hike up and over the Mt. San Jacinto section, ending at I-10 near Cabazon, or I would just end my hike after my meal at PVC. I felt relief knowing I could end my thru-hike attempt whenever I wanted. I wish I felt differently. I wish I felt excitement in “living” on the trail. I wish the reality had met my expectations. They say, “never quit the trail on a bad day”, but I had not had a single really good day in my first 150 miles. My mental and emotional trail shape did not line up with my physical fitness.
We all sat at a table on the patio together and enjoyed our hot breakfast. There were a couple hikers there at another table. I found my gear package waiting for me at PVC containing my ice axe and micro spikes - in anticipation of the snow covered trail near San Jacinto.
After enjoying my delicious breakfast burrito, orange juice and a couple cups of hot, real (not cold and instant) coffee, I called Silvia and told her I was done. She had been so supportive of this entire endeavor and told me this was my decision alone to make.
I knew the trail will be there another year, and for such a sustained effort, and coupled with so many sacrifices, this was not the trail experience I wanted. The rewards were not lining up with the sacrifices.
Two other hikers had called a trail shuttle to pick them up and take them into Idyllwild. Red and I joined them. The two young hikers had just graduated from university and were starting PA school, one this fall and the other the following year. We chatted about the upcoming sections of trail and I wished them all the best ahead.
I made a stop into Nomad Adventures gear shop in Idyllwild and chatted with them about my ANDA gear, and small business challenges. I left them a stack of stickers and thanked them for being there to supply hikers.
My mom drove up and picked me up from a market in town.
A good friend of mine I met on the PCT in ’21 reminded me a few days later when we spoke that the thru-hike blogger, Jupiter, (who has hiked 14,000+ trail miles) had done a video about attempting WAY more thru-hikes than actually completing them. This provided much needed comfort. I’m proud I tried. And I’m happy I ended my attempt this time. I know I’ll enjoy next time too.
