Orange crushing it – The Trek

Today’s walk was completely worth yesterday’s struggle. The wild nature of San Gorgonio is impressive. We had mountain views all day, and the pine… the smell of pine is better than anything I’ve ever smelled before.

I walked alone most of the day, along with my little tram. A lucky stretch of cell service meant the perfect time to call a friend and help the climbs go a little easier.

I met up with the guys at Coon Creek Cabin, which appears to be an abandoned national forest monument. Lately our topics of conversation have focused on food. We’re contemplating a double zero in Big Bear for several reasons, but the main focus is the menu. We have reduced our meals to 4 courses, so we make lasagna, tacos, roasts or roasts. The hikers’ hunger must be setting in, since all we can talk about is food.

We passed 250 miles! Another milestone down. I feel super strong and I couldn’t be happier about it. I was worried about my foot for a while there, then again a little worried that I might have taken a beating walking up Mission Creek, but luckily I feel great. The hiker’s legs seem to accompany the hiker’s hunger. 17 miles flew by and if it weren’t for the tricky campsites beyond our end point, I could have kept walking.

About 1 mile from the campground we came across a magical little trail! An incredibly kind local hiker decided to carry a cooler full of ice-cold drinks down one of the dirt trails we crossed. I couldn’t tell you the last time I had Orange Crush, but seeing it in the cooler sounded exactly like what I wanted at the time. It was incredible.

We’re camping at Arrastre Trail Camp, which seems to be the hot spot on the trail before a day in the city. The campground is pretty full tonight, but it was fun to meet some new hikers and find familiar faces sitting around the picnic tables at the campground.

Tomorrow we have an easy 10 miles to town. I love Big Bear, it will be fun to show it to my team. And I can’t wait to go to a big grocery store. It’s the little things.

Plus, there’s karaoke at the local bar, Murray’s, every night (except Mondays. Don’t go on Mondays). I don’t want to get too excited this time, but the chances of karaoke seem good.

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