Days 17 & 18 – Zeroes in Big Bear

MM: 277.7 Cougar Crest Trail Junction

Trail Miles: 0

Miles Walked: 0

On Day 16, Slim and I did 21+ trail miles and then hiked an additional 2.4 miles to the Cougar Crest Trailhead, near Big Bear. Friends of Betty’s Mom and BILS were picking us up. Our Trail Angels, Jim and Janet, would house, feed, entertain and care for us for the next 2 days. They were Angels in every sense of the word.

Slim and I with Janet and Jim, Trail Angels extraordinaire!!

I came off the trail hobbling, with banged up feet and a mental state to match. I feared I’d gone too far, too fast and injured myself, possibly jeopardizing my journey to Canada. While it’s too soon to know the answer to that, I do know that 3 nights sleeping in a comfy bed and 2 days off my feet has done wonders for me both physically and mentally.

The time at Jim and Janet’s coincided with a late season snow event (about 3 inches of accumulation). I was able to stay warm and dry in their beautiful home. My gamble on proper rain pants worked out by sheer luck and timing. My next resupply will have my water-proof pants in it.

Our hosts let us use their car to get into town and run errands. We ran into hikers we knew and gave them a lift to to the post office. We stopped by McDonalds and feasted on shakes, burgers and fries. It was as if we had been in the wild for years – my appreciation for the simple things you tend to take for granted was in hyperdrive.

Momento & Montreal Marc hitching a ride to the Post Office

Jim and Janet kept our hiker hunger at bay as well – bacon, eggs, sourdough apple pancakes, homemade tacos, perfectly gooey brownies with ice cream. I kept saying, “ I promise I’ll leave, but I don’t really want to.”

That’s what’s hard about going into town. As much as you may enjoy the trail, in spite of its daily trials and challenges, civilization is always dangling that carrot, calling your name……You don’t have to do this to yourself. You don’t have to be out there……

And that’s when you know, you HAVE to leave. To get back on the trail. Else the vortex will suck you in further and you’ll never leave town. Worse, you’ll never be able to face your family and friends for having quit after 16 days.

Time to get back out there. Pronto!