07     Idyllwild - Big Bear City    -  92.5 miles

Idyllwild

Fuller Ridge                           14.0 m

Ziggy and the Bear                 21.5 m

Whitewater Preserve                7.5 m

North Fork Mission Creek         17.0 m

Deer Springs                         20.5 m

Big Bear City                         12.0 m

Following the break in Idyllwild we hitched to the start of the Devil's Slide Trail. This rapidly climbing trail took us back to the PCT again. Today we exceeded 9.000 feet for the first time on the thruhike. With a full load of food for the six days until Big Bear City I could feel the elevation. Most years there is plenty of snow along the Fuller Ridge were the trail passes along steep hill sides. This can be quite an endeavor. Luckily there was very little snow left in 2012. And then it was a shadeless long way down to reach Interstate 10 near Palm Springs. And here at Anza is the first hostel run by Ziggy and the Bear. After hours of hiking I finally reached the water fountain at the Snow Canyon Road. This was the first chance to refill my since some time dry water reserves. What a feeling when quenching my thirst. When arriving at Ziggy and the Bear every hiker was welcomed with a hot foot bath. For dinner we got a big salad and ice cream. This was highly welcome with these hot temperatures. The next day became unscheduled rather short. Without any shade we passed the Mesa Wind Farm and their endless number of windmills. Soon we reached Whitewater Preserve a former trout farm. My plans had been to stop here for lunch and then to move on. The rangers told me that they stopped looking at the thermometer once it passed 107° F. In this heat I didn't want to move on. The rest of the day I spent in the shade together with many other hikers.

Next morning I woke up while it was still dark and moved on with the first light. Shortly passed 11:00 am I stopped for lunch. I spent midday and early afternoon until past 16:00 pm in the shade. Only then it started to cool down a bit. I hiked on until sunset and stopped just before dark. This was to become my rhythm during hot days in Southern California. Near Big Bear City the trail passes directly along Animal Cages. These wild animals have been and are still used in various Hollywood films. Having reached highway 18 it took a while to get a hitch into Big Bear City. We had dinner at City Hall in Big Bear City. Besides good food they had Country Music and line dancing.

Fresh drinking water running across PCT in San Jacinto Mountains with snow and fellow hiker

PCT crosses a small snow field on Fuller Ridge in San Jacinto Mountains

The only shade far and near with San Jacinto Mountains in back ground

Bed time at Ziggy and the Bear's

Idyllic Whitewater Preserve

Dry landscape along PCT

View of Glocke Valley

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