Day 18 (Castle Rocks to Cabazon)

Start Location: Castle Rocks (On Fuller Ridge)

Finish Location: 10 Freeway and PCT (About 1 mile east of Cabazon)

Daily Mileage: 21.5 miles (on trail)

Total Miles: 209.5 Miles

Miles To Finish: 2450.5 Miles

Waking up in the snow again . . . but the first priority was water. While some of the snow Dave put in his bladder had melted - there was much more snow than water. So Dave used some of the water to melt the snow - until his bladder was full with water.

The original plan was to hike about 26 miles to the wind farms. But the day started in snow again - slowing Dave and Ed's pace down considerably.

(Cool rock formation.)

Although Dave was set on water, at one point Ed needed more water - leading them to back track a bit to get some. But they both knew that they had trail angels meeting them at the 10 freeway crossing with water, gaterade, and food.

(Water along the trail - always happy to see it.)

Eventually, Dave came to about 4000 feet and a clearing in between the mountains.

(Looking back up as they had made it out of most of the mountains.)

By that time, Dave decided he would not hike the additional 5 miles from the freeway to the wind farm. In fact, he decided he wanted to go home - have a nice warm shower and sleep in his bed. The three plus days walking through the snow and climbing around San Jacinto had taken their toll and he was ready to sleep in his own bed for a night.

But along the way he saw some critters. 

Dave was kind of surpised by the color of the rattle snake, as it seemed to blend right into the brush.

He could see the little, itty, bitty cars on the freeway - and knew he was almost there. Meanwhile, the trail angels put on their best shoes (not) and decided to hike in the soft sand and wind to meet him.

(Jane trying to get the rocks and sand out of her sandels.)

About a mile from the freeway he came upon a few trail angels, keeping him company for the last part of the day's hike.

(Dave just a short walk away from the end of a tough three days.)

Looking back on the mountain range he conquered, Dave was tired but satisfied.  He had made it through, and unlike other "thru-hikers" was not simply skipping a section that may have seemed a little too hard.

The PCT trail hits the 10 freeway about a mile east of Cabazon. There is a tunnel that goes under the railroad tracks and the freeway, but the car was parked just above off a service road.

(Dave and Ed guzzling a gatorade before Dave hit the car and Ed hit more of the trail.)

By the time he reached the car, Dave decided that being he was going to be home - he would take a zero day on Thursday and rest and relax at home. So from there it was a date shake from Hadleys and then Chile's for some protein and a few margaritas. (It was Cinco de Mayo afterall.)

After a day of rest, Dave will head back out - again thinking it will take him about 4 days or so to reach Big Bear!

~Midget Trail Angel