well I took off from hw74 on Thursday around 12:30-1:00 pm headed into the San Jacinto wilderness. I was alone for real for the first time, no real group I was hiking with or camping with, which was nice. With no mile number to make it to and no group to catch up to, I hiked 14 miles to the top of a mountain where I witnessed one of the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen. It was really sort of sad no one was there to share such an amazing moment. It is times like that I sort of wish I had a hiking partner.
The next day was ALL up hill, 16 miles kicked my ass, but when I got to Saddle Junction where about 5 trails interconnect I was reunited with Blacksnake and a fella I met at KO ned Eddie. Eddie and I did 19 miles the next day up and down Fuller Ridge and through the snow to descend out of the amazing mountains back into the crappy hot desert. Today we did 16 miles to put us back into the 100+ degree heat at 1300ft elevation. 9000 plus is more where I prefer it!
So today we stopped at a trail angel home here on I-10 about 4 miles east of Cabazon and 14 west of Palm Springs. These folks (ziggy and the bear) run an awesome trail angel home and promptly give you a tub of hot water and epsom salt as you arrive to soak your feet in, and the love just goes on from there. Food, computers, ice cream, the works, all for simple amd cheap donations....
Five of us got a taxi and took it 5 miles to the Indian Casino where we gorged on a buffet and came back here to hang out with 10-15 other hikers or the night. We have a 55 mile push to Big Bear and I can hopefully get there by late Wed or def early Thurs. I am going to be staying at the BB Hostel in BB Lake part of town...can't wait to get there and take a good shower and do some laundry...
I posted some of the pics from my digi cam on facebook...check me out there as well...
I STILL miss you all, and love getting txts and emails when I get service, so please keep sending them, it's really the only way for me to still feel connected to you guys at all. I find myself missing home a lot and wishing you all could be doing this with me. I get super jealous when I see a group of friends doing this together...
Hope all is well...I know I am...
Gonna weigh myself in Big Bear to see if I have lost any substantial weight yet...
Until next time..
~ Kristo
