Pacific Crest Trail: Mile 210 to 240.5

Mission Creek looking upstream on day 1. The dried Yucca
Blossoms were very unique.

Section C
Heart Bar Ranch to I-10 - Sobo
Miles: 30.5 miles (2 days)
Hiking with: Solo

Lodging: None
Car Rental: None
Dining: None

Start: We took Hwy 38 north from Redlands to Heart Bar State Park. We turned south off the road and at the “Y” we took a right and drove for about 30 minutes. There was a PCT sign and a wide bend where the PCT crossed the road.

End: I-10. Off of I-10 take the Haugen-Lehman Way exit 110 which is right before the Hwy 111 exit to Palm Spring if you’re coming from LA. Go to the north side of I-10 and turn left on Tamarack Road. About 100 yards past the last house on your left you’ll be able to see where the dry river bed goes under I-10 (this is a big overpass – you can’t miss it). This is where the PCT goes under I-10 and you should be able to see the trail on both sides of the road. I understand that cars left unattended here will get towed!!! If you have to park go further north at mile 111.5 where the PCT crosses Desert View Rd where there is a parking lot.

People along the trail: None. However they were other car campers at the Whitewater WildernessPreserve. A couple of old ladies came over to my tent as told me they were Christians – I told them I was hiking all day. I was as interested in their religion as they were about my hiking. Boring.

Description: My two boys (23 & 15) decided they wanted to do Disneyland and so I had them shuttle me. They dropped me off about 10 pm in complete darkness. They looked a little concerned as their dad hiked off into the darkness by himself – that probably lasted about 30 seconds and then they were worried about finding their way back to civilization on this dirt road. I hiked about ½ mile until I got to Mission Springs Camp at mile 239. About 200 yards away were two springs so I thought I would hear animals all night – not a one. I was up before sunrise, packed up camp, ate breakfast and was on the trail before the sun came up although the sky was blue – perfect. The trail rapidly descended from the alpine forest down mission creek down to a large wash. The trail follows a spectacular desert stream for a long ways. About 1:30 pm at mile 226 it was getting pretty hot so drenched myself with water and napped under a tree for about an hour. It was the ideal spot as shortly after the trail steeply climbed up a ridge and then descended into the Whitewater River drainage. At about 4 pm and mile 220 I stopped in the shade next to the river and drenched myself again and cooled off another 15 minutes before I completed the day’s journey to the Whitewater Wilderness Preserve.

The Whitewater Wilderness Preserve is pretty impressive. They have tap water, nice bathrooms, picnic tables and grass to camp on. There is signage from the PCT to the preserve ½ mile away. I guess the old owners weren’t friendly to PCT hikers – these guys were great.

I was up before the sun the next day, packed my tent, ate lunch, used the restrooms, and on the trail with my headlamp. The sun was up within 10 minutes. The trail was very different today as it climbed out of the desert wash and up through the neighboring mountains. There were horse tracks on the trail and what I thought were mountain lion tracks (I’m sure it was just a big dog following the horse). After a while I popped over a saddle and was hiking alongside a windmill farm – maybe this stops air pollution but they make up for it in noise pollution. About 2.5 miles from I-10 the terrain opens up and you hike around the little community to get to I-10. My boys were supposed to pick me up at 10 am but had slept in (who would have thought). I camped out in the shade of the I-10 overpass for 30 minutes until they arrived. We cruised back to Phoenix.

This was my first PCT solo hike. I’ve solo hiked once before and find it very peaceful. It is also very efficient as you can stop and start when you want and hike at your own pace. My biggest worry is getting lost but with maps and my GPS I feel very confident.