`PCT 2026 DAY 19 – CA Section B – 200

Saturday, April 18th 2026

I had hoped to reach the end of the PCT California section B at I-10 before the end of this day. But the long climb up to San Jacinto Peak made that a little unlikely.

The fact that I had another ridge to crossover (Fuller Ridge), also made this a longer day than you’d like.

But that is part of thru-hiking.

The challenge, the beauty, and the exhilaration of doing something I never thought I could do makes it all worthwhile.

As I stared across Fuller Ridge, I got my first sight of Interstate 10. Still a long way away.

I also had my second rattlesnake encounter this day. Yet again, I heard it first, but this time I looked down and didn’t see it anywhere.

By the time me and the hiker behind me figured out what it was and where it was, I had already passed it.

We never did actually see it, but by the sound it was underneath a bush right next to the trail. Obviously, I had annoyed it and it started rattling.

The other hiker threw some rocks to try to scare it off and then tiptoed around the edge of the trail to get around it. Fortunately, we both made it past the rattlesnake and then continued our hike. Never did get a look at it or a picture.

But I did get a picture of this Coastal Rosy Boa snake later that day. Non-venomous, but I still waited for him to get off the trail before I continued walking.

Looking back, I saw the North side of San Jacinto.

And then I completed another milestone for this hike:

I reached 200 miles from the Mexican border!!

This is an important milestone to me because it puts me right at the about the same amount of mileage as the John Muir Trail (211 miles). Like this 200 miles, I hiked the JMT in one continuous hike with only resupply stops in the occasional overnight break or Zero Day. Every mile after this will be that more satisfying as I build on my successes hiking this ridiculously long trail.

There were a couple more hand made trail markers as I continued, including one for the iconic 200.2 mile mark. 😀