A good day overall. Early on, I met some section hikers from Texas — older gentlemen working through the PCT in stages over several years. That kind of long-term commitment is genuinely impressive.
The wildfire zone continued throughout the day. Charred trees everywhere, fallen trunks to climb over — that part I enjoyed. The trail itself seemed designed to punish anyone in shorts: thorns on both sides for a long stretch, and today I definitely paid for my clothing choice.
At two points I passed turnoffs back down to Idyllwild. Neither tempted me. Apparently some kind of Star Wars festival was happening in town — a hiker told me there were people in Storm Trooper costumes on the trail. It sounded fun, but the detour wasn’t worth it.
Eventually I found a good spot — tucked behind a rock, off the trail, wind-sheltered, with a wide open view. I climbed onto a nearby boulder and cooked dinner up there. No water nearby, but everything else was exactly right. The valley below filled with lights once it got dark — cars, buildings, lamps in the distance. The sunset was decent.
One more discovery today: my phone case has been ruining my camera shots the whole time. I need to find a new one at the next opportunity.
