Mile 188 – 200.5 – 12 miles total hiked

I had hoped to reach the end of the PCT California section B before the end of this day. But the long climb up to Mount San Jacinto made that a little un 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 through hiking.

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

I also had my second rattlesnake encounter this day. Yet again, I heard it first, but look down look thigh, look drowned and didn’t see it.

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

We never did actually see where it is, 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 tiptoe around the edge of the trail to get around it. Fortunately, we both made it past the rattlesnake and then continued our height. Never did get a look at it or a picture.

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

And then completed another milestone for this hike:

I reached 200 miles since I started at the Mexican border!!

To me if this is an important milestone because it puts me right at the about the same amount of mileage as the John Trail. Like this 200 miles, I hiked the JMT one continuous hike was only resupply stops in the occasional overnight break or zero day.

I had actually pushed myself to make it to this point instead of stopping earlier, so I stopped at the next campsite and had a good night.