Whitewater to Coffee

Entrance sign to Whitewater Preserve

Any trail that touches the PCT is always on my list.  So when Kelly, my wicked stepmother, mentioned the Whitewater Preserve loop hike last year, I knew I wanted to check it out over Easter break.   Lucky for me, Kelly wanted to join me!  The loop itself is less than 4 miles, so to make it a hike worthwhile to wake up at the crack of dawn for, we planned on extending the hike by hiking the PCT for awhile.  The preserve doesn’t open until 8 am, so we had to park along side the road to the entrance, as the parking lot gate was closed.  Then we just hopped the fence to get to the trail.

Only 2,445.4 miles to Canada

Nicely carved hiker log book

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found was really going in” – John Muir

Heading to the PCT Access

Now I throw all these pictures at you quickly, as that is how I felt when I was taking them, as Kelly was full steam down the trail!  I kept apologizing, as I stopped to photograph the excursion.  Normally when Kelly and I walk together, it is great, we walk at the same steamroll pace and get the hearts pumping and those steps accumulating, but hey, this is a hike where I need to take in the scenery.  So I just need to turn on Kelly’s hike mojo and turn off the workout mode, especially since we were the only saps out here this early.  Can you say peaceful?

Beautiful layers

Trail is definitely well marked

Someone put a lot of work into lining the paths with rocks.

and bridge crossings…

Was chilly in the shade, but the sun was on the rise…

Only horses and hikers

Well lucky for me we started to climb up on the PCT to get to the Canyon View Trail where Kelly was leading fine until we came to the switchbacks along the side of the mountain.  She has a slight fear of heights (hence the reason the Ladder Canyon hike was not chosen this time), so she decided to let me go first.  So here are some pictures…

Valley view half up the PCT trail

Junction of the canyon view trail and southbound PCT

We made it to the top and veered left to explore the PCT trail further.  It was easy and flat, for awhile, then it started to go a little sideways and became a little harder to navigate without hiking poles.  We rounded one last corner and got a glimpse of the trail going across a meadow and was blasted by some chilly air, so we turned back towards the Canyon Ridge trail.

Walking along the PCT, how many more miles to Canada?

A new PCT marker

Better start learning how to identify footprints.

PCT continues through this meadow, we stopped here and turned back.

Along the Canyon Ridge trail, there were many pretty flowers, thank you El Nino!

Pretty dessert flowers…

Dessert roses???

Colors rocked, no pun intended.

I know, I couldn’t stop

So vibrant

almost orchid like

San Jacinto

Nature’s toilet? There was water in it….

Pretty yellow flowers along the Canyon View trail

Looking back from where we came

The fence closure that closes during fire season.

Starting to head down

The Whitewater Preserve picnic area (under the trees), can you see my white car?

Hiking back down into the canyon brought us to the road we drove in on, where we had to walk a little ways to pick up the trail again.  This trail followed the river bed back to the ranger station.  Again the trail was a great little rock path that someone put a lot of work into.

Walking along the creek, back to the Ranger Station

More rock paths

A spooky tree?

Dramatic setting, to accentuate the layers in the mountain.

It was a great morning spent with Kelly, we got back to her place, where I helped myself to a great cup of coffee!  Too early for wine today!  Maybe our next hike will be on Quadra Island…

Stats: 5.64 miles; approx 11,000 steps;  no backpack, just a camel pack; “Think Outside… No Box Required “- Author Unknown