Out of Big Bear

I’m now on day 16. A Trail Angel dropped me off at the highway 18 trail crossing around 11:30 this morning, and it’s been a pretty uneventful walk today. It’s cool, the trail is rolling, hitting 20 miles even with the late start is going to be pretty easy. This is good, because last night I stayed up until 11 at a motel room in big Bear lake, knowing that I could sleep in in the morning. Unfortunately, my hiker brain jerked me awake at 6 AM anyway, so I’m a little tired today.

I went to the Grizzly Bear Café this morning for breakfast, and had barely sat down, when Altitude called me over to his table. I crammed into a small table with Altitude, Kate and Chase, ordered some coffee, but before I could get a menu, they insisted that I eat their leftovers. And like the hiker trash that I am, I grabbed Kate’s fork and went at it. It was a wonderful breakfast. 

I’ve hiked mostly by myself for 16 days. Altitude and I walked most of the way down from the top of Mount San Jacinto together, and we have crossed paths a few times since then. There’s a small handful of hikers. I’ve seen more than once, and a single handful that I’ve seen more than that. I haven’t taken a zero yet, so I am moving past some hikers while others zoom ahead of me. I’m sure after a few more weeks I’ll be seeing more and more regulars on trail.

I’ve hiked with Jeremy and Snap a bit. They are a wonderful couple from the UK near my age, and who usually hike about my speed.

I’m finding it interesting how much planning and estimating I do while I’m aimlessly wandering up or down outside. I’m taking a few zeroes this weekend to meet some friends from Pasadena . I have an option of taking it super easy and getting off the trail at Cajon pass, or pushing it a little bit and getting to Wrightwood. As any hiker will tell you, I can plan this stuff, but the trail and  my legs, will be the ultimate decision maker in what I end up doing.