The Trail:

In anticipation of the town filling with hikers, here’s a mini-course on everything you wondered about the Pacific Crest Trail. First of all, everyone refers to it as the PCT. It was conceived in the 1930’s as a long-distance trail similar to the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail in the East (AT), but was not formally finished until 1993. The PCT is 2,653 miles long and stretches from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada through 3 states, 25 National Forests & 7 National Parks. It travels along the ridge of the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade mountains and is broken into 29 “sections” of which Idyllwild is in section “2” appx. 179 miles from the southern terminus. The elevation change along the trail is from 110 feet above sea level in Oregon, to 13,153 feet near Mt. Whitney in California. The PCT is one of the 3 trails that make up the “Triple Crown” of long distance hiking: The Appalachian Trail (2,200 miles), the Continental Divide Trail (3,028 miles), and the PCT (2,653 miles). The PCT passes by Idyllwild at the top of Devil’s Slide Trail, and the San Jacinto Mountains are one of the most difficult portions of the trail, partly because so many people get this far on the trail, and partly because this section passes through both hot desert and snowy dangerous mountain portions. Only about 5% of those attempting to do the entire trail start in Canada and go southbound (they are called SOBO’s). So the great majority start at the Mexican border around April and head north. Thousands of people hike portions or entire sections of the PCT, but only those who apply for a permit to do more than 500 miles are kept track of. These are called “Thru-Hikers”.

The Hikers:

In the early years of the PCT, less than 200 people applied for permits to do the entire trail. After the book and movie “WILD” came out in 2014, the number of permits jumped 320%. In 2022 4,125 permits were given, but the all time high was in 2019 right before the pandemic where 4,725 permits were granted. About 25% of these hikers actually make it to the end. It takes an average of 5 months to do the entire trail, and that is doing 15 – 20 miles per day. The record holder for the fastest time is 46 days set by a Belgian runner. It’s a balancing acct between leaving too early and hitting too much snow in the San Jacinto’s, San Bernardino’s, and the rest of the Sierra’s, and leaving too late and encountering difficulty with the desert heat and finding sufficient water. The average age of the hikers is 20 -40 but there are many over 60 who attempt the trail, and a handful of children. The youngest was 4 years old. Most hikers have taken a 6 month break from work, or recently retired or may be in between jobs. Some even work from the trail. They usually prepare for the hike for 6 months prior to taking off, many traveling from other countries. They mail “supply packages” to post offices along the trail in small towns like Idyllwild, and often have to seek medical attention or new supplies along their route.

Having been an Innkeeper for 29 years, and my husband often drives hikers to airports or other locations, we have been lucky to get to talk with many of these hikers and they are very interesting people. They ALL have a story, and come from very diverse backgrounds and have different reasons for doing the PCT. Doctors, Engineers, students, retirees, etc. We met an Olympian who had medaled in both Summer and Winter Olympics in speed skating and road biking, and was doing the PCT southbound for her 2nd time IN A DRESS! She was amazing. I would encourage you to say hi and chat with a couple in the next 2 months as they pass through Idyllwild. They are grateful for the smallest kindness and you will get to hear their story of what brought them on their adventure.

Click Here to go to the
PCT Information Page

Money is Available…
Call Mountain Communities Firesafe Council to schedule an appointment to see if any of your trees have bark beetle. If they do, there are funds to treat it. Call for more information today.
951-659-6208

Due Wednesday
April 10th

Idyllwild Scholarship Fund
Application Acceptance Open

Please consider donating to the Scholarship Fund.

Postponed due to weather!

Saturday April 6th
Garden Club Class
“Empower Your Home
With Permaculture Principles“
Alderwood St and N. Circle Drive
10:00 am – 11:30 am

Join Tricia Pilkington and Todd Fowler as they discuss how to use the principles of permaculture to create a more efficient home environment and a demonstration of creating systems to grow year-round in Idyllwild. Tricia and Todd grow year-round in Pine Cove. They’ll share their knowledge gained from years of experience. The principles of permaculture guide not just gardening, but every aspect of one’s life. Tricia and Todd practice what they preach. They’ll share how they’ve put permaculture at the center of their lives. $10 Donation Recommended.

Saturday April 6th
Exploring Indigenous Lifeways
Idyllwild Arts
Krone Library
11:00 am

Lecture on Cahuilla Trail Use by Elizabeth Paige (Desert Cahuilla), Native American Land TrustConservancy

Native Food Demonstration by Sienna Thomas (Cahuilla)

Elderberry Sticks Mini Workshop by Rosy Cabrera (Cahuilla)

Saturday April 6th
Native American Film Fest
Rustic Theatre
3:00 pm

3:00pm | Native Film Showcase with Q&A

The Rustic Theater in Idyllwild Village

Saging the World (20 min)

Journey from Spirit Mountain (30 min)

Tuhaymani’chi Pal Waniqa (15 min)

Maathaaw: The Fire Within Us (trailer)

Pa’capa (trailer)

Sundays
Farmer’s Market
Town Hall
25925 Cedar Street
9am – 2pm

Monday April 8th
Partial Solar Eclipse
10:00 am – 12:25 pm

Stop by the Library and get a pair of solar glasses while they last.

Not a total solar eclipse from our vantage point in So Cal, but still very interesting. Because we are not on the path to view a “total solar eclipse” (you’d have to be in Mexico, Texas, etc.) we will still be able to observe a partial eclipse between 10 am & 12:30 pm.

From Space.com: A total solar eclipse happens when the moon appears the same size in the sky as the sun, or slightly larger, so fully covers the disk of the sun, giving observers a view of the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. 

Order by Monday April 8, 2024
Next Food Delivery Thursday April 11, 2024

MOUNTAIN AID
Need food or other items?
Want to help those who do?
Twice monthly food boxes for every budget.

Pick-up will be at the Camp Maranatha
www.MountainAid.net

Tax Forms Available FREE
Idyllwild Library

Most of the tax forms are here! Just waiting on the Spanish 1040s. They are located in our front lobby, come help yourself.

Click here for trailer

Saturday April 6th
Native American Film Fest
Rustic Theatre
3:00 pm

3:00pm | Native Film Showcase with Q&A

The Rustic Theater in Idyllwild Village

Saging the World (20 min)

Journey from Spirit Mountain (30 min)

Tuhaymani’chi Pal Waniqa (15 min)

Maathaaw: The Fire Within Us (trailer)

Pa’capa (trailer)

26890 Hwy. 243
951-659-1122

Saturday & Sunday
April 13th – 14th
Weekend of Recovery
Spirit Mountain Retreat
10 am – 4 pm
FREE

Monday April 15th
Old Time Radio
“Rebecca”
Middle Ridge Winery
5:00 pm

Wednesday April 17th
Non-Profit
Idea Exchange Workshop
Idyllwild Nature Center
1:00 – 3:00

Moonrise / Moonset
Fri. 4:46 am / 3:55 pm
Sat.5:19 am / 5:07 pm
Sun. 5:50 am / 6:20 pm
Mon 6:21 am / 7:32 pm
Tue. 6:53 am / 8:45 pm
Wed. 7:28 am / 9:58 pm
Thur. 8:10 am / 11:09 pm

The New Bathrooms are OPEN!
Next door to the Idyllwild Gardens Nursery – Across the street from the Rustic Theatre.
Open Daily 9am – 5pm

Thank you to Shane & Ashley Stewart for donating the land for these bathrooms and to Stephanie Yost with ICC for her persistence with the County of Riverside to FINALLY get us public bathrooms. Thank you to the County of Riverside and Supervisor Manuel Perez for making this happen. It’s been a LONG time coming! Bathrooms will be locked at night. I’m not sure what time yet.

Hotel Information
Upcoming Weekends
www.IdyLodging.com

Idyllwild Churches

Body & Soul

Click Here for a list of Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, & Meditation in Idyllwild.

All events, venues & programs run by
Idyllwild Community Center

Fit after 50
Free Exercise Class
Town Hall

Mondays
12-pm – 1pm

Tue/Wed/Thur
10am – 11am

Fridays
12-pm – 1pm

Last Day to Register Monday March 25th!

Youth Baseball
Registration Open
Season: April 8-May 30

Kids After School Program
Mondays – Fridays
2:00pm – 6:00pm

Wednesdays 12pm – 6pm

Kids Camps at Town Hall:
Spring Break
Memorial Day Holiday

Spring Sing Break Camp
April 1st – 4th
Town Hall
10:00 am – 4 pm

Al-Anon Meetings
Tuesdays
7:00 PM
Town Hall

Camp Idyllwild Cabaret
July 8 – 9
July 22 – Aug. 2
Town Hall

San Jacinto Trail Report

Snow, weather, & trail conditions for the San Jacinto Mountains

Open Friday 9am – 4pm
Open Saturday 9am – 4pm
Open Sunday 9am – 4pm
Closed Monday
Closed Tuesday
Open Wednesdays 9am – 4pm
Open Thursday 9am – 4pm

Nature Center Banquet/Meeting Room available to Rent for your group activity.
951-659-3850

The Help Center is Open:
Monday 10-4
Tuesday 10-4
Wednesday 10-4
Thursday 10-4 (Donations accepted 10-1)
Friday 10-5  (Donations accepted 10-1)
Saturday 10-5  (Donations accepted 10-1)
Sunday 10-5
Call 951-659-3000 to schedule donations outside normal donation hours.

Idyllwild Community Church
Thrift Store
Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday
10:00am – 3:00pm
Behind the Church at 54400 N. Circle

Donations accepted Thur/Fri/Sat 10:00 – 1:00

Idyllwild Shuttle Service – FREE

Monday – Palm Desert
Tuesday – Around Idyllwild
Wednesday – Hemet
Thursday – Around Idyllwild

Friday – Not in Service
Saturday – Not in Service
Sunday – Not in Service
Call for more details: 951-426-9688

The shuttle is available to rent to outside groups when available.

FEEDING AMERICA
First Tuesday of each month.

Idyllwild Pickleball Court
26375 Hwy. 243
Behind Skate Park
Open Daily 7 am – Dusk
First come-first-serve basis
More info call: 951-659-2638

Idyllwild Community Playground
Open Daily 7 am – Dusk
54195 Ridgeview Dr.

Idyllwild Dog Park
26375 Hwy. 243
Open Daily 7 am – Dusk

Idyllwild Skate Park
26375 Hwy. 243
Open Daily 7 am – Dusk
Skateboard & safety gear required.
Un-supervised – Ride at your own risk.

If you run across someone and they want to find out which restaurants are open but they don’t get Good Morning Idyllwild delivered to their inbox, they can always go directly to the website http://www.GoodMorningIdyllwild.com and find the Restaurant Chart. You don’t HAVE to sign up to see the most recent newsletter or see the restaurant chart. Just go to the website.

If you would like some business cards to hand out with Good Morning Idyllwild, please message me back at the bottom of your email and I will get you some to hand out personally or at your business.