We now have Morongo Nation 2445.7 to Paradise Valley 2503.4 left.
We finished the slack pack, got all of our gear and hiked to the saddle. Four other tents there. We all got up before four and got early starts.
Quietest at 4:00 am I’ve ever seen an active campsite.
We headed down towards Mission Creek which we completed yesterday. Over thirty water crossings. We camped in the only shade after the last with about sixteen miles left.
Happy’s blog post on Mission Creek
We got up early again and started packing up. A little lightning then it started raining after we were packed. Raincoats on until we got out of the rain. Six miles in and we got to the Whitewater river.
First crossing was ankle deep but the second (real) crossing was knee deep and moving. We crossed them Win helped some people cross. She crossed five times.
Video including Whitewater River
Happy’s blog post on whitewater river
Then we had ten miles left. What looked like only 500 feet of elevation. Map claims it is only around two thousand. Felt like more.
Up over another saddle then down into the desert.
But we had seventeen miles by 11:30 am.
At I-10 there was an Uber dropping a guy off so we flagged him down, paid him and headed to Paradise Valley and our ice axes for San Jacinto.
Win had Mother’s Day presents waiting at the cafe. Miracle children.
We are now at Richard’s in PVC.