New Valley Hills

I’m taking a zero in the mountain town Big Bear. It’s Memorial Day weekend when America remembers its military fallen. Tourist towns like big Bear are full of visitors enjoying a 3 day weekend.

Yesterday I hit the 266mn marker – that’s 10% distance covered. While the walking is enjoyable with spectacular scenery I’m no where near the 398mn point I need to be to reach Canada in my timeframe. We’re told our ‘trail legs’ will come soon enough – those mythical pins which’ll propel us up the trail at 25+ miles a day. I look forward to those.

My longest day was 21 miles, of which 19 was on trail, though during the ascents of the two mountain ranges it slowed to 10 a day.

To help, I’m dumping weight. 4lbs posted off on day 6; I’ve refined sock needs to reduce quantity and weight carried; more stuff being posted today – items which haven’t been used in 3 weeks such as a towel; single use items which can replaced by a single multi-purpose item eg a buff replacing a towel and a flannel.

To reduce water weight carried I’m up at 5am and walking by 6 to avoid big miles during midday heat. I’ve even done 5am walking. Cooler parts of the day mean less sweating so less water needed. Rough rule of thumb is 1L for 4 miles, plus 2L for a dry-camp if not at a waterhole. I’ve been going through 1.5L for 5 miles during to much sweating. Clothes after 6 days are stiff from dried sweat and marked by salt tide marks. We’re an unusual fragrance when we reach a shower and laundry facility!

I’m overpacking food which is extra weight, but I’d rather have too much than too little.

For past 4 days I’ve been travelling solo – my compadre Daniela from day 1 and Joan Collins since day 6 parted ways overnight at camp at Mesa Wind Farm location. A desperately windy night (quelle surprise) brought to the fore our differences and hiking requirements. I think I’m a day ahead of them now, enjoying the experience of making my own way. Though sad that they’re not responding to messages in our WhatsApp group. My mind has played out scenarios how I may have inadvertently grossly offended them, beyond my excessive wind of course! Ah well, I’m here to hike this thing myself.

I’m not alone – the ragtag band of hikers around me changes daily as we pass by each other. Sometimes leap frogging multiple times a day or much less frequently. It’s nice to be recognised or recognise a face or name from a chance meeting previously. We share trail gossip and stories of progress good and bad.

I had a snooze yesterday after second breakfast. Later Sean and Erik joined me for a break. Sean is female and Erik is older chap from Denver.

When the trail is smooth and gently graded we waft along.

The San Jacinto mountains were plagued by blowdowns from forest wildfires.

Mission Creek had flash-flooded in a recent winter. What had been a stroll up a winding path through riparian chaparral was now a sufferfest of creek crossings and stumbling through sand, gravel, pebbles, stones and boulders with 5000ft of ascent. Pace shows to 0.5mph.

I sacrificed my left foot to the water. Invariably the creek was just too wide to leap over; left foot got the job this time for 20 crossings, right stayed dried.

Dawn last week.

Town of Idyllwild has a dog as its mayor!