MM: 168.6 – Fire Closure (2013 Fire)
Trail Miles: None
Miles Walked: 10 + running around town
With a little over 8 miles of the PCT still closed from the 2013 Mountain Fire near Idyllwild, CA, we had left the trail at mile 168.6. There was a re-route/alternate trail to get us to Idyllwild.
Wanderer and Medicine Woman were going to hitch into Idyllwild and then hike back to the PCT where it reopens on the north side of the fire closure. Their respective spouses were meeting them in Palm Springs for 3 days, so they had a schedule to keep. Slim and I were resupplying in Idyllwild and would spend the night. We would hike the alternate route around fire closure.
We said goodbye to Wanderer and Medicine Woman. I really enjoyed hiking with them. It’s possible we’ll meet up but with a 3-day zero, it’s unlikely.
I’m discovering resupply or “town days” are busy. If you don’t have a plan and hit the ground running, it’s easy to forget things or run out of time.
I needed to pick up my resupply box at the post office, mail some things home, buy some things at the local outfitter, do laundry, get showered/cleaned up and get to the local clinic to have the tick bite looked at. — It didn’t look bad, but there was a slowly widening red ring around it.
When I got in line at the Post Office, several locals asked me how my hike was going and where I was from. The lady in front of me handed me a Toblerone candy bar and said “Welcome to Idyllwild.” When we got to the local laundromat, the owner said free detergent for PCT hikers and gave us a free Tide pod. – Trail towns support hikers in a lot of seemingly small but very important ways. Their generosity and welcoming spirit is incredible.
Every piece of clothing I have was filthy and smelled. The cleanest was my wind jacket and pants. I changed into those and ran over to the clinic a block away.
I had to wait a bit, but they were able to see me. Yes, it was a tick bite. The Doc couldn’t find any parts of the tick, but did some digging just to be sure. She gave me a 30-day Rx for Doxy and said to take an epsom salt bath that night. Ugh, Doxy. I’ve taken it before – it’s an anti-malarial. It will upset your stomach if not taken with food, even though it’s recommended to take it only with water. And it makes you highly susceptible to the sun. Right. Good thing I didn’t have 550 miles of desert still to go.
After a bunch more running around to the pharmacy, laundromat and post office again, Slim and I went to the local brewery for dinner. A beer and a greasy cheeseburger had been on my mind for days. I needed something to wash that first dose of Doxy down.
This old pine cone is bigger than my foot
My laundry-day best
Idyllwild
Two bumper stickers I hope to earn.
WARNING; Graphic Photo follows
16 Comments
Oh honey! That looks terrible! Hopefully it’s not rubbing on your pack. Super happy you were so close to meds. Great picture of it!
Fortunately not rubbing. The PA said it’s just a hematoma — no head or tick parts in there.
Had to look again!!! Grooooooosss!!! (AND kinda awesome!) Keep on with your bad ass self!
Keep up the press! Looks like your doing very well from what I am learning from your posts.
You are something !
You are something very special !!!!
Thank you! Love you!
Well – you might say a chip off the old block, lol!
Awesome journey…thanks for sharing!!! For that tick bite…If you can, get some bentonite! It is basically a dead mud (clay) that pulls out toxins. It has worked on brown recluse bites, staph infections, and other nasty things. Further diluted, it will work as an internal detox. You can get it in liquid or powder form. I can send you more details later. If you can’t find it, let us know where we can send some to you. It is worth carrying!!!
Thanks Sherry. I’ll look for it in Big Bear and let you know.
I’m so inspired. You look great, even in your wind breaker and pants! I love your pics of the landscape and scenery. You don’t look like you’ve hiked 168 miles, but I bet you feel it.
I definitely smell like it too! Lol!
Just printed out all your blogs. Will read one a day to Furball. Worried about that tick bite. How far to Big Bear? Please keep an eye on it, not that you wouldn’t BUT….. Love you. You look great. Let us know when you want the next box mailed out.
Thanks Mom.
I find that reading your Blog is quite amazing! The more I read, the more I know it is something you’ll never find me doing! Wishing you smoother days ahead, Godspeed, and avoid other crazy trail people … LOL. The Goon misses you … it’s been keeping us very busy here with all the backseater training. 😉
Thanks Boone – I’ve been replaying your “5 months, really?” Comment in my head. I think you had a better understanding of time than me! Sorry to leave you with all the training at home. But I’m definitely paying for it in some ways!