Day 18: Big Bear to Holcomb Creek

Miles traveled: 19.8

Mile marker: 285.9

It’s 6:00 am when I get out of bed. Last night I dreamed that I forgot to take my crustless PBJs out of the freezer.

I start with a cappuccino mix I bought for this week’s meal. I had so many that I’ve been drinking them yesterday and today so I don’t have to carry more food than I need (which I always do).

Denis enters the bedroom and throws my encrusted cookies on the bed. Thanks Denis!

We all move around the house: packing bags, eating breakfast and taking out the trash.

I leave the bathroom and walk into a hallway, running straight towards Denis, who is coming from the living room. Rafiki bumps into us as he leaves the bedroom. Collision!

Denis eats the leftover pasta from last night. I have two packages of oatmeal, a bagel with cream cheese and an orange.

I brought extra snacks left over from… who? in my backpack.

Soon, a friendly lady comes to pick us up and take us to the trailhead. Her name is Christina and she says she is an unofficial angel tracker. Angelic enough for us though! The people who give us free trips are very kind. However, we often tip them because the price of gas is very high here in California.

Christina has a pet snake named Aphrodite. She wants to hike the trail someday too!

We begin our hike in sunny and cool weather in the shade. We crossed the road to the trailhead and spent some time on a subtle but steady incline.

Soon, the trail turns to rocks. We walked through scree fields. I wonder if they are called that because ‘scree!’ when you walk on them. It’s technical and reminds me of hiking Mission Creek.

Today I’m feeling a little anxious and a little bored. The terrain is a little monotonous, but I feel like I’m missing some socialization. In Julian and Idyllwild we were in closer contact with other hikers, and I missed that in Big Bear.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can’t wait to have a tram.

Dad and Denis come forward. Rafiki and I stay close and I am very happy to have him around. He walked the Appalachian Trail and often understands some of my anxieties and worries.

Dad has a headache and a hurt toe today, so he walks forward while we collect water. I wish I had eaten some of the leftover pasta for breakfast.

Connor! Photographer Connor appears! Nice to see a familiar face!

I’m about to leave when I strike up a conversation with a woman my dad’s age who has been living in New Zealand for 25 years! He wants to walk 20 miles a day, but he loves his current group. I secretly hope you will join our group.

Over the past year I have had a newfound curiosity about middle-aged women. I love seeing successful women doing what they love and want to be that when they grow up.

Rafiki and I walk among pine trees, the branches of the low bushes scratching our legs. My feet hurt and I’m pretty tired today. I can do more than the planned 20 miles if I want, but I’m ready to have dinner and sit down.

We stop at the sight of a path that winds through the hills. The mountains are in the distance in a variety of blues. Pine trees are scattered across the hills.

“How does this view make you feel?” Rafiki asks.

I take a moment to think.

«Sad. Lonely. Lost,» I say. «Like I’m stuck in the woods. Or stuck in life.»

I feel like only certain opinions resonate with me with more positive thoughts. I hope my relationship with nature changes soon. I love civilization too much.

We walk for a while and I suddenly stop when I come across a squirrel that didn’t run away when I approached. Rafiki and I stand there watching the squirrel right in front of us, until another hiker approaches and the squirrel runs away.

My legs are irritating, so Rafiki lends me his Body Glide. Burn! It was a bad idea! Believe.

I crawl another two miles until we reach Holcomb Creek and I see Dad. Hurrah! I let myself fall into the sun next to him.

«Are we camping here?» asked.

«We can. Or we can move on.» Dad says.

The next campsite is four miles away. I’m tired.

«Do you mind if we stay here?» asked.

«Whatever you want».

I want to stay. I am very tired and my feet hurt. «Let’s stay,» I say.

I feel like I made the right decision. I could go more miles, but I really didn’t want to. After all, who am I trying to demonstrate a 22 or 24 mile day to?

I make dinner while Dad looks for a place to camp. With my dinner in hand, I move my things out of the creek area to put them away, but I can’t find Dad or Rafiki.

I return to the stream where Denis and Connor are; Today they will walk another four miles or so. I eat my Bomb Udon, which tastes weird with the chicken fajita, and Rafiki and Dad join me shortly after.

I’m soon setting up my tent at the campsite and it’s only 6:00 pm! I love this morning!

I can hear the other hikers talking while Dad and I chat. Two birds chase each other in front of us and we see them fly nimbly through the air.

My tent zipper works perfectly now that I brushed it with a toothbrush and put some lipstick on it. Thanks dad for that advice!

The birds chirp loudly as I lie here in bed. My house should be ready now that everything is settled!

I’m ready for a good night’s sleep!

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