Please Send Us Cookies!: May 2015

This dispatch is coming to you from the Best Western at Cajon Pass at mile 340 of the PCT. We took a day off because of a late season snow storm that dumped 10"+ in the high mountains ahead of us. Luckily we shouldn't have to deal with much of the snow because it will melt off in the next couple of days before we get there.
It's just another example of the various extremes we've been going through the past couple of weeks. We've experienced the extreme heat of the 110 degree palm springs desert, and frost in our tent from lows in the upper 20's in the mountains in the morning. There's the extremes of scenery- mountains made bare by wildfire, and 100 foot tall cedars and pines on the next ridge over; what seems like every species of desert plants in colorful bloom; the relentless sun, and the even more relentless El Nino winds. Yet there is a tranquility that balances everything out and reminds us daily of how lucky we are to be here.

Going up the Devils Slide Trail out of Idyllwild

Looking out over Idyllwild

The beautiful layered bark of the Ponderosa Pine

Holes in the boulders and some lingering snow on San Jacinto

Looking down into the Palm Springs Desert

Interesting rock formations on Fuller Ridge

Perched hummingbird

Sunset view of San Jacinto from our camp off Fuller Ridge

Moonrise over San Jacinto bathed in alpenglow

San Jacinto from the baking desert floor. It was 110 degrees down here and you can still see snow on the peak. There is a 9,000 foot elevation difference.