Start mile 285.6, end 303.8. 18.2 total miles. Elevation start 6581, finish 3990, total ascent, 1186, total descent, 3915. Average grade, 274 feet per mile changed. Partly cloudy, high 69, low 37. High wind warnings, up to 50 MPH.
I started this day eating pop tarts for breakfast, while listening to the rushing rapids of the creek and the breeze whipping through the pines.
The terrain between Big Bear to Wrightwood is fairly easy, trending downward. The trail is also easier, for the most part.
I had multiple crossings of Holcomb Creek today. The crossings were typically about 20 feet wide and up near my knees. Water is still not an issue as I am crossing running water 10-15 times per day, which I’m told is very rare. Thank you for a wet winter.
There are still lots of flowers and grass growing along the trail! Very unusual for this area. I met a new group of hikers today. They consist of 6 guys and 1 girl, and they passed me, hiking extremely fast! The last 2 in this group looked like they were absolutely miserable trying to keep up. All were twenty-something. I crossed paths with them 3 times, when they stopped for a break.
There was one occurrence I will mention with this group. I caught up with them while they took their lunch break. They finished their lunch and took off hiking, minus one of their group. He came up from the creek about 20-25 minutes later, noticing that his group left. He got a panicked look and said FUCK!!!! really loud!! I told him they left about 20 minutes ago. He was one of the two that struggled to keep up. He quickly slammed everything into his pack and began to run, tripped and fell flat, stuff spilling out of his pack. I then suggested that he slow down, not hurt himself and find their tents later after they’ve stopped. He actually looked at me and said FUCK THAT!!!!! then took off running again. He was absolutely panic striken about being temporarily alone. I caught up one final time later when they were on break, and he came over to me and twice apologized for earlier. I guess being miserable in a group is better than being alone for some people.
There was a high wind warning for today, so late in the day, when I found a small clearing big enough for a tent in a cove sheltered from the wind, I made it my camp for a night. I laid in my tent listening to the wind roar on the hills above me.
I don’t solo hike much anymore at my age, but my favorite times in the mountains have been long solo hikes when I was younger. This brings a lot of that back. I’m pleased you’ve seen a number of folks doing the hike. This is a good sign. So often when I’m in the Nat’l parks on off season I see no one and wonder if anybody is getting into the parks and wilderness these days. When I was young in the 70’s it seemed a lot of people were hiking.
There are a good number out here. I wonder if the overcrowding in our Nat. Parks drives many hikers away. In Colorado, if you don’t get a parking space by sunrise st the LATEST, you’re walking miles up the road.
Don & I enjoy your blog. Be safe…..
Thank you!!
Being alone and being lonely can be two different scenarios! That you man may one day appreciate the alone time that you are writing about.
Pretty bad that his group didn’t do a head count before they took off.
It’s a hike your own hike mentality. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how one looks at it. I’ve totally enjythe last few days!