Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
Having hiked 1 day and 2 hours so far … I took a zero in Idyllwild, California. 😀
Most PCT hikers take a zero in Idyllwild. It’s one of the most popular towns on the PCT. Party time. But most hikers have put in 10 hard days or more to get here.
I hadn’t planned on taking a zero. I was fresh.
But the day prior my beloved MSR Hubba tent pole broke in two places. It took a couple of hours, one splint and plenty of duct tape to hack a fix.
There’s one good gear shop in Idyllwild – Nomad Ventures.
By the time I got the tent fixed and packed up … it was Noon.
The library opened at Noon. Free internet. A chance to fully charge all my electronics. I couldn’t resist. One thing led to another and …
… the library closed at 5pm. Too late to get back on the trail.
I returned to the $5 PCT camping area and set up my fragile tent. Again.
Reportedly the least expensive rooms in town were $150 / night. And were full.
Dinner was rotisserie chicken, my favourite townie food. And then I headed over to Higher Grounds Coffee Shop for LIVE music on Friday night.
I hung around the campfire until 10pm. That’s an hour later than usual. Hiker midnight is 9pm.
PCT hikers were in holiday mode. One insisted I have a beer.
OK.
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