The pinnacle of happiness
We officially hit 100 miles on day 7! Leah was in front of me on the turn when I heard her shout “100 MILES!!! » “WAHOOO!!!!!” I shouted back. I increased my pace, conscious of my aching body. There were stones placed in the shape of 100 to signify our achievement! Even though it was only a small part of the trail, it seemed like a big deal.
With a little more energy with each step, we hiked a few more miles to our campsite for the night. A storm was coming and I could see the clouds starting to form over the mountains, beckoning us to take shelter. I quickly set up my tent and prepared a dehydrated meal, beef stew! This was the first time I'd used raincoat since I'd been on a trail. The wind blew all night with some scattered rain.
We woke up the next morning and lounged in our tiny tent palaces before braving less than ideal weather. After the hot sun, it was nice to have a change of pace. Today's hike was special. We walked through meadows of waving wheatgrass while the big fluffy clouds cast their shadows on the ground. The best part was the special appearance of COWS. They wandered onto the trail and got out of our way as we approached them. The wind was blowing hard but it felt good on my skin and we kept our momentum going to get to Eagle Rock.
Eagle Rock was a sacred site used for ceremonies and gatherings of the Kupa tribe. It truly emerges from the earth in a distinct and beautiful way. I had the honor of traveling this land that meant so much to its indigenous peoples.
The day we arrived in Warner Springs, my first resupply box would be waiting for me at the post office! That night, while sleeping next to the local school, I woke up for the first time to frost on my duvet. I was cold, wet and tired but happy to wake up in the sun. A local lady even delivered breakfast burritos to the trail for hikers. What a special treat. After a delicious breakfast and full food packs, we headed back out on the trail.
We hiked through rock canyons and ridgelines offering expansive desert views. Water was becoming scarce, which meant water was carried around longer. (extra weight = more pain) We stopped for dinner before heading to camp. Dinner tonight was Ramen Bomb (my first ever!) which is a mix of ramen and instant mashed potatoes. It gave me an instant smile and a full belly.
Highs and lows
The next day we hiked 20 miles of water to our final destination of the day, Little Bear Inn. The promise of pizza, beer, and a warm house propelled me onto the trail. I didn't know how long the day would end up being. The extra water in my bag made me move slower and the sun was HOT. We took a nap and ate lunch to wait out the hottest part of the day. I noticed that the first 10 km are easy, and in the last 10 km I work harder mentally to get to the end of the day.
To get to the hostel, we had to descend from the trail via a makeshift path including rocks and steep drops. After 30 minutes of hustling, we arrived in front of a house. Greeted by dogs, chickens and a sweet family who graciously welcomed the hikers into their home. After taking off my shoes, I realized that the blister on my heal was now twice as big and filled with blood. I showed the trail angels the damage and the father (little bear) immediately got to work, having a blast and helping me repair my sad feet. I felt so taken care of and couldn't stop saying thank you. My broken feet meant it was time to head to the town of Idyllwild to rest. Off to town we went!
We were able to get a hitch from a lovely lady named Jackie with an adorable van. Going into town was exactly what we needed. Idyllwild was a wooded retreat and we enjoyed the amenities of food and a bed! What luxury. We also met Mayor Max, who is also a golden retriever.
We really couldn't ask for a better way to enjoy the town before returning to the trail to the top of San Jacinto Peak. We'll talk about that later…
Till next time,
Emma
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