We are hiking on Mt. San Jacinto, a 10,000 ft mountain that stands above most of southern California. The actual PCT tops out just above 9,000 ft as it skirts around the mountain. It is quite popular to hike to the summit and then reconnect with the PCT about 5 miles later. Because we have stood on many summits, knew the views weren't any different, and wanted to stay on the actual PCT we chose not to summit. We were quite happy with that decsion.
The later afternoon took us across Fuller Ridge, a notorious slope due to the large amounts of snow that linger late in the year. The north side of mountains always hold their snow much longer. And snow there was! Much more than I expected since many hikers went through a couple weeks before us. We plunged along the top of the dense snow using our trekking poles to help balance. The trick is in kicking good footsteps, something a hiker in front of us wasn't getting. With a lot of energy he seemed to want to move fast, but was slipping all over the place. I kept envisioning him banging his knee in the wrong place and having to end his hike. The snow came with small patches of trail in places to keep you sure you're going the right direction. Our firm and steady pace soon put us in front and after about a mile of snow we were back on trail.
We hiked on as the sun set and made camp next to a large rock that offered some protection from the howling winds.
Total milage: 191.5
Todays milage: 12.9 (plus 4.5)
Camp 12: Rock Windshield
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