Elevation: 7260 ft.
Trail Miles: 274 miles
Our stay in Big Bear was short but sweet. With bodies getting more adjusted to movement, we needed less time in the city to feel recooped. Also our efficiency with which we can get tasks done in a city is getting better. Or maybe we just didn't want to spend as much money lazing about in a town.
After resupplying, showering, eating, resting, drinking Guinnes, and chatting with other thru-hikers we left the town full of friendly people to return to the trail. A lady from the diner we ate at was kind enough to take us back up to the trail.
Stepping out of the air conditioned van with a friendly driver we were placed back where we were 24 hours prior, in the heat of the midday sun. Jokingly I said "I quit." But moments later we were on the trail with weighted down packs (from a fresh resupply of food) and seeing again why we are out here.
One hundred feet from the highway the desert was unveiling its life. Scattered about the trail were brilliant wildflower displays. The first few miles started with small patches of purple flowers. These flowers ranged in color from white to deep purple, depending on the quantity of sunlight they could get in a day. Shortly after that we started seeing red flowers, Indian Paintbrushes, scattered through the carpet of flowers.
A few thru-hikers back in town thought about skipping this nine mile leg we did today. If any did they missed out because it was much better than the area they were comparing it to. Amidst all the red and purple flowers we saw one brilliant orange California Poppy.
After a short walk we ascended up the hillside looking down on Big Bear City, and a lake that rarely exists. It exists this year because of the heavy rainfall in California this year. As we went further up the hillside we looked down on a milky blue lake that was a delight and a problem for the citizens of Big Bear.
Stumbling up and over the scattered red rocks, Saragossa Quartzite, we worked further up the hill into the fir trees. These rocks are usually a red-gray color and have been seen often on the trail. Today as we ascended we hit a few rock slides. As we crossed over the rocks you could hear them grind across each other. The sound seemed to be the sound you might hear if you were in a giant clock tower and you listened the the old gears grinding past eachother. Once, perched until he saw me, I saw a brilliant blue lizard. It quickly hid under a rock as I approached, leaving me with a mere glimpse of the vibrant blue skin he had. That is a sad thing that most all lizards run and hide before I can get a good look at them.
Upon reaching the summit, Jon and I both wanted to look at the guidebook to find out what type of rock we were climbing over. After resting in a Man-Made Throne of these rocks we continued "North." The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering through White Firs, giant Juniper Trees, and the occassional Joshua Tree. With the elevation gain, the yellow flowers came back, and the purple ones were replaced by dainty little blue ones.
The idyllic walk took us over easy terrain with a mixture of shaded and sunlit patches. As we neared camp, I saw the perfect sitting rock. I sat there and had a snack while I waited for the others to catch up. Staring out at a tree that had been mangled by a lightening strike, I relished in all I saw today.
The desert seems so inhospitable, yet is filled with more life than I had ever imagined possible.
May 20th Early Evening
Elevation: 5380 ft
Trail Miles: 292 miles
Today was a day of animals. I saw a large lazy orange lizard, two snakes, a big grey squirrel, a beautiful blue hummingbird during lunch, a beaver, and about a million ladybugs.
The walk was an easy 18 miles. Starting out we wandered through similar conditions as yesterday, only with fewer flowers. The small white and purple flowers and the red Indian Paintbrushes were replaced by a very fragrant purple Lupine. The scent of the fir trees was ocassionally interupted by the smell of grapes that came from these purple flowers.
After a quick 11 miles we stopped for lunch at an idyllic campground which pulled us in for nearly 2 hours. After we realized so much time had passed we started up again to hike into swarms of ladybugs. For the next hour we passed massive flying swarms of ladybugs. The light reflected off their hard red shells making it easy to see all of them floating and pulsing with the wind. It was an hour of finding a ladybug on your arm, leg, face, or clothes every couple minutes. Guess we are blessed with luck today.
As our elevation decreased slowly we started leaving the shaded landscape for a more rocky treeless hillside. Large granite boulders shouldered the trail which had switched from a soft pineneedle duff to a more sandy decomposed granite. The occassional squirrel switched to more lizards. Decomposed granite is fairly easy to walk across, but occassionally it is too sandy. This requires more energy to walk across. Energy that is much harder to find in the heat of the afternoon sun.
Fortunately we came to Holcomb Creek, where we rested our feet in the cold clear creek. Prior to crossing the creek I looked over at it and caught a glimpse of a beaver swimming upstream. Shortly before I was ready to go, Debi and Jon continued down the trail. By myself I walked on to catch up. One hundred yards down the trail I passed a large snake, not a rattler, off to my left. Startled but not scared I walked past it. Not thirty seconds later did my heart jump as I heard a Rattler sound. Looking a round I realized the sound was just sand I had kicked onto dry leaves.
A few minutes later as I rounded the corner I heard Debi scream. I looked up and saw Jon running to the edge of the creek to drop his pack off. He then turned around and helped Debi out of the icey water. Apparantly she slipped on a rock and tumbled into the water with her pack getting submerged partially. She was fine, just wet and startled. Now as we get ready to sleep, she is finding her sleeping bag a little wet.
May 21st Afternoon
Elevation: 3187 ft
Trail Miles: 307 miles
After a long gradual descent through the desert we arrived at Deep Creek Springs. Passing through the remains of a 1999 forest fire and hot dry landscape we arrived at Deep Creek Hot Springs. Being too hot to enjoy the hot springs we took a dip in the creek.
Most of the day was spent with the sun beeting down on us, with a splendid view of a gushing cool river down the hillside from us. About three hours before we got to the springs we hit a feeding creek where we rested by dunking our clothes and hit in the mountain snow runoff. Three hours later we arrived at the springs.
Taking a moment to set the packs down and shed the boots we hopped in the cold creek. After being relaxed for a bit, Jean Luc and I caught a ride with two guys (Kyle and Paul) from Wrightwood. We are now going into town for steak, beer, and karaoke. Tomorrow they are going to take us back to the trail where we will meet up with Jon and Debi.
Heres to 300 miles, raise a beer.
:)
Happy Trails, Inner Peace, & Harmony
"Zing" and his cookie Parade
"Oh yeah, that's why I am on the trail..."
"...and that"
"Ladyface" takes a break on a man-made rock chair.
Big Bear Lake
"Yellow!!!"
Deep Creek