DAYS 18-21

DAY 18

5-11-2013

Mile 266-281.19

-I woke up at 6:00am ready to hike! Courtney drove me 1.5 hours to Big Bear City, CA. We ate breakfast at Thelma's; the cinnamon roll was to die for! Yummy! I am hoping to meet up with my friends Ruth and Dave, but I haven't heard from them so I might hop on the trail without them. I don't want to spend money on a hotel room tonight. I'm figuring out my water situation to determine if I can get on the trail today. 

-Got on the trail today at mile 266. I got a ride with another hiker, Lady Killer, from a man who works at Nature's Inn located in Big Bear City. I didn't know Lady Killer or intend on hiking with him, but we shared the same pace so we hiked together/in the same vicinity the entire day. He is a nice guy, fun to talk with, and good to hike with. He gave me my space and never once made me feel pressured to hike or camp near him. I truly appreciate the space he gave me. His daughter's birthday is the same as mine! She is coming out here to hike with him on part of the trail. Lady Killer's plans to hike with his daughter remind me of my father. My dad is thinking about meeting up with me in Oregon to do some of the PCT! Now how cool would that be?!?!? He is training at home... getting used to carrying his pack, gaining mileage, learning his gear, getting his pace, etc. I really hope he can make it out here. DAD: If you're reading this... Keep up the good work! I'm hoping to see you in Oregon! :)

-Im camped out above a huge bed of pine needles; I am so comfortable! I ate a shepherd's meat pie, hot chocolate, and some Girlscout cookies. I was starving! I love my new alcohol-burning stove... it works great, the fuel (HEET alcohol) is easy to find in every town, and it's light weight. Yay!

-Today was awesome, and challenging. My body has had off from hiking the last few days and my limbs were getting all lazy and stiff on me. The first 7 miles today were really difficult... my neck, back, knees, toes, arches and heels of my feet were very sore today. I felt pain, but I told myself to keep on going and not to quit. I'm so happy I pressed on! I emerged from a heavily wooded area to a ridge line overlooking Big Bear Lake. It was stunning and worth every bit of pain and discomfort. It is empowering for me to know that I can rise above my aches and pains... to tell myself that my spinal pain will no longer dominate my mindset and my life. I am so happy to be on the trail again! Woohoo!

-Today really was great. I am exhausted and am laying here in my tent as I write this. Time to try and pull up some movies on my phone before I drift off to sleep. Haha... technology is insane! Hiking is better. :)

DAY 19

5-12-2013

Miles 281-296

-Got "lost" twice

-Rattlesnake

-Seeker, Sphinx, Rum Monkey

-Woke up alone and loved it

-Hiked alone and loved most of it

-Hiking alone VS hiking with someone: compromise, encouragement

-Granola for breakfast, fruit pouch and pistachios during the day, 

-Camping alone; amazing campsite; can see twinkling lights of a city in the distance

-Loving life

-Hibijibis at night and in tent!!!! Lol

DAY 20

5-13-2013

Miles 296-308

-Hard ass day; trail and river teasing me; hot as all get out

-Hiked with lots of nice people

-Rushing river

-Hot Springs... felt like I was in Heaven!!!! Skinny dipped along with everyone else, drank some beer and partied with locals and other backpackers, camped on riverbank

-Exhausted!!!!! I'm going to bed early tonight. Today was a very frustrating, difficult, hard, lovely, turbulent, and peaceful day. It was ugly and beautiful all at the same time. I LOVE these hot springs! Not too many hikers are camping here like they said they would. It feels strange to be here in my tent all to myself... my first solo night on the PCT! Woohoo!

-Got naked and wandered around my campsite on the banks of Deep Creek. I'm sitting naked on a huge boulder overlooking small waterfalls. I feel free and wild... loving life more every second. 

DAY 21

5-14-2013

Miles 308-328.7

-Longest day yet, tired but I feel accomplished

-Marlene and Shepherd with root beer floats and hot dogs

-Shadey Acres, Commando, Tear Bear, Fat-man-do

-Insides of knees hurt

-Up&Downs, Gear, Hiking next to a river, Hiking alone... I'd like to expound on these topics later when I feel like writing

-Too tired to think!

-Skinny dipping (again) in lake

DAY 22

5-15-2013

Miles 328.70-347.18

-McDonald's!!!!!! at mile 342, Cajon Pass

-Hiked with Shady Acres and Commando

-Met First Light, Golden Hour, Nurse Betty, Peter Pan, and a few other gals

-Tired, but excited to be with great people & to be gaining a lot of mileage!

-Im slower than everyone else, but I think I'll start getting faster.