Helloooooooooo (from the mountains, or at least about 6000 feet)! I came off the trail at mile 369.3.
Kicking this one off with two pieces from last time:
I rejoined the trail at Big Bear from 266.1, NOT 277.7. I want credit for every mile I do, though I claim I’m not being too precious about it 🤓
I forgot to tell you I got my long distance PCT tag in Idyllwild! Now I look as official as I feel!
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. I hitched a ride to the trail from Bob, a local contractor who threw me in his truck next to about 20 2x4’s which is honestly how my legs were feeling. He gave me an orange Gatorade and I was off on the trail. This was my first day in a few that I’d been hiking alone, and while I was a touch lonely, I was mostly excited to be able to set my own pace, break whenever, and pee wherever! I ran into my first personless trail magic, which included some 3-day-old homemade cookies. They were chip-your-tooth-horrible and made-with-love-awesome if that makes sense. I met hikers Julia (a rising senior in high school) and Walmart, as well as Oran and Niks (doing this for their honeymoon), but I was too content with my pace that I went off on my own after a socially appropriate amount of time. This portion of the hike was all along the lake and it was gorgeous!
The next day I hit the trail and continued my stride. I’m really getting the hang of my pace, and I feel SO strong (despite a few blisters). I did come to the dark realization that brown sugar pop tarts have been tearing up my stomach…and the worst part, I still had to carry them. UGH! The day was pretty hot and hilly but I hit mile 300 as I climbed the mountainside along Deep Creek. Around midday, I took a LOOOOONG break by an amazing watering hole. I replenished my water, did some stream laundry, read, ate lunch, and swam a ton! As the afternoon heat started to decrease, I added a few more miles to make it to a bunch of natural hot springs! I think there were maybe 6? And tons of hikers! We jumped from the cold river into all of the different springs, debating the temperature of each. There I met Ursalune, Ben, WolfMom (who gave me pointers on how to deal with bears, mountain lions, and bobcats) and her dog, Max who I met in Julian, and then a particularly spunky bunch of Pepper, her dad the Rowman, and Triplestep!
Pepper, The Rowman, Triplestep, and I were all really silly together and decided to hike together the next day. We left bright and early and this group SMOKED me. We hiked 10 miles before 9am! After a quick breakfast break I needed to fall back and find a more sustainable pace, even though it meant I couldn’t socialize while we walked. Turns out it was a total tortoise/hare situation because I almost ended up beating them to our midday rest spot: a beautiful picnic area on Lake Silverwood! I can’t believe it was my rite/privilege/opportunity/blessing to get to swim 3 times in 2 days! And I’m supposed to! To keep myself cool! Life. Is. Good. I totally feel like that cute t-shirt guy. This group ended up breaking my mileage record! We hiked 28 miles that day, though mostly so many at the end to avoid serious Bear area. We were still scared we might have an unexpected visitor that night, so I was grateful to stick with the group, especially because Pepper and Rowman both have knives they wear around their necks. They also gave me a potential trail name of Dr Danger, because I am so freaking scared of everything hahaha—they thought that yelling Dr Danger might feel empowering to me if a bear showed up to camp. Not sure I’m sold on it, but I’m gonna lightly try it on for size. Pepper and Rowman are also going for their triple crown on this hike, meaning they’ve already done the AT and the CDT.
(Mike is also pictured but more on him later.)
The next day we woke up and began the famous trek to McDonalds! I’m not kidding, there is literally a portion where a McDonalds is .4mi from the trail. We all skipped breakfast, and hiked like our lives depended on it! I ordered so much food over the course of the 5 hours I was there: 2 sausage egg and cheese McGriddles, hash brown, oatmeal, apple slices, a frozen co*ke, apple pie, Big Mac, chicken nuggets, and a McFlurry. PLUS, I ordered 2 double hamburgers to pack out for dinner. The group had mileage on their mind and I realized that I am having more fun taking my hike at my speed (at least for now) so we said our goodbyes for now. I then re-met Mike and sat with him for a while as well as Cholla, who I hiked with in the afternoon. The best part this journey is that I talk to EVERYONE! I got a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses to pray for me in the McDonalds! Not my faith, but how special that these people wanted to root for me too. Then began a pretty serious 9 miles section with 3500 feet of elevation gain and virtually no water for 16 miles. So yes, I hiked up all of that with 11 pounds of water on my back. The fun part was that we passed under the highway that my dad, Tia, and I drove over to get me to the starting point! How cool! I also had the most beautiful campsite ever.
Sunrise this morning was so gorgeous I almost cried. Of course the pictures don’t look half as good, but trust me. Today added another 2500 feet of elevation over 16 miles…ugh, but the reward is as the trail town of Wrightwood. I hitched into town with Marty and Carol, and proceeded to ravage the local Mexican joint, the gas station, and supermarket. My hiker hunger is kicking in! Tonight I will be very grateful for the shower I took earlier, a real bed to sleep in, and supposedly the PCT’s best coffee that I’m going to get at 6am tomorrow before hitting the trail tomorrow.
Also, as a final note, feel free to ask questions if you want to see anything in here! I’m just guessing what you all will like. I may not get to it right away, but I will
I’ll end with a list of some random things I’ve been craving/missing while on trail: mango lassi, couscous, using a VR headset to watch a movie (never done this, just SO curious), perfume, beets, frozen cantaloupe or grapes, eating chocolate midday (I can’t because it’s melted; can only do before 10a or after 5p), going to bed not with sunscreen still on my face.
With all that said, today was probably my first day where I really felt comfortable and thrilled to be on the trail even for the hard parts. My body is getting stronger, and I’m getting just so much better at everything (setting up my tent, eating lunch, calculating how much water I will drink, etc.). I’m so fortunate to be out here, and SO grateful to have so many of you cheering me on. I love you!
Until next time,
Drew
