Category: Trip Journal

PCT 2018 Day 12, May 4, Friday.

Start campsites at mile 253.1

End 266.1 road crossing and exit to Big Bear Lake and Big Bear Hostel

Miles walked: 13

Last night I reserved a bunk at the nearby hostel using their website. Now a quick hike out to the road junction to get to the town of Big Bear Lake, where a researcher is asking hikers to fill out a questionnaire on app use on the trail. A trail angel comes up and asks if anyone needs a ride to town– wow, that was easy. Jan (pronounced yan) and Bob ( both Germany), and Marie (France) also ride to the hostel with me.

Sarge and Crocs introduce us to the hostel resources, and I grab a shower and do laundry. Jan and Bob invite me to lunch, and we try nearby Teddy’s for burgers with Lella (Hungary, pronounced leela).

Later I walk a mile to the grocery and prepare my food bag. The trail calls for the morning.

PCT 2018 Day 11, May 3, Thursday.

Start campsites on Mission Creek, mile 226.1

End campsites at mile 253.1

Miles walked: 27

The trail exits the San Gorgonio Wilderness in a few miles, and starts climbing steeply into an old burn area. This is now the San Bernardino National Forest. on the CDT national forest boundaries sometimes aligned with a sudden change in the design of the pathway. Expect steep grades now. The climb is from 3.5k to 8k. Past the burn area fresh snow is present, possibly from the same weather system that caused me to make a quick exit from Idyllwild. Few water sources are available, but trail angels have left water in a couple of spots. Near my final stop angels had left a mini-dumpster filled with sodas and bananas. Strange but welcome.

Other hikers at the campsite are Seth and T-Bone.

PCT 2018 Day 10, May 2, Wednesday.

Start mile 195.4, small campsite

End campsites on Mission Creek, mile 226.1

Miles walked: 30.7

Zig-zagging down the mountain took another 4 hours, down to elevation 2k. Then a few miles through loose sand, and a highway underpass, where trail angel Mama Bear was waiting to give out hugs and food. Hot dogs are in the cooler. The trail goes by the Mesa Wind Farm, which we could see while coming down the mountain. Their maintenance shed welcomes hikers, but was closing just as I got there. The San Gorgonio Wilderness had miles of steep canyons and grand views. The first designated campsite within the wilderness was too early, so I pressed on to get to their next site. Nonetheless, I met and chatted with several people at camp: Rattlesnake from the UK, Donna, Dana, Todd, Spooked, Ms Frizzle, Cathy, Skinny Santa.