Big Bear Lake

Woah, it was cold last night. Really really cold. I kept waking up, finding myself burying my head deep inside my sleeping bag. Keep in mind I sleep fully clothed; long pants, shirt, down jacket, and wool hat. This is something I’m not getting used to; during the day day you’ll get fried on the sizzling desert-floor, while during night you might find yourself shivering on a the chilly mountain top. Frivolous character of the PCT... I tried sleeping in, but no luck; wide awake at 0530. I did pack out at a very calmly pace after having the last two bars in my food-bag for breakfast. Then I headed out to get the final 4.5 miles for today in; Today there was definitely going to be a Food-Frenzy in town! I was treated to some beautiful views before setting off, and even though it was still really cold this early and my legs felt a bit sore, I listened to some great tunes and had a pleasant short little hike.

I crossed the road and tried hitching on the side where the cars where passing me in the direction I was heading. The problem with this was that there was an uphill and a turn just before cars were reaching me. Basically cars that were speeding up the hill would only get a moments time to decide to give me a ride before they would race past me. After 10 minutes I had some 20 cars drive along with no success. I decided to try my luck on the other (wrong) side of the road. If a car decided to give me a ride now, I basically had to cross the street again to get in. At least now the cars were able to see me from a much larger distance, which I figured would improve my chances.
The first car I stuck my thumb out to stopped. Victory! I was dropped off ten minutes later exactly where I wanted to be, near an All-Day breakfast diner in BB-Lake. Time for a big-time-calorie-fest!
Plenty of proper American Style breakfast options. I went with eggs, hash-browns, meatloaf and toast. And to top it off, why not, blueberry waffles. I felt a little shaky afterwards, but while devouring the feast, I was very very happy. Town-food is so satisfying after having had trail-food for 5 days.

Time to get my accommodation sorted. I was told about a hiker-friendly hostel a little further into town, which allowed PCT-hikers to camp behind their lodge at a reduced rate. I didn’t really care for a bed, I just wanted a shower and access to the utilities. The place was 2.8 miles away. No chance I was going to walk that. As I was waiting for the bus, a friendly gentleman asked me if I was lost. I told him I was waiting for the bus to take me to the hostel.
“Hop in!”
People are great here.
The man mentioned that he’d seen some other hikers around here who looked lost too, and I actually I knew there were 2 other PCT-hikers waiting around the corner ready to get onto the same bus I’d been waiting for. When I told him this he replied:
“Sure, let’s go get them too”.
And so I found myself happily at the hostel around 1100.

After getting my tent set-up in the backyard, I chilled out a bit inside, getting a feel for the place. It’s a great hostel, and has everything you’d expect from one. The majority of the people staying here are thru-hikers. I’ve stayed in plenty of hostels before, and it’s always so easy to meet new people there. Because of the large hiking community in which everybody around you is doing the same thing, it seems even easier to make contact. People you’ve never seen before talk to each-other as if they’ve known each-other forever. It’s really comforting and cool. I like the vibe it creates when people share a common goal. There is a very supportive, friendly and crazy enthusiastic atmosphere going on. After doing a whole lot of nothing, I got in touch with my hiker-buddies who I’d last seen in Idyllwild. We met up in the city center. Because it’s memorial-day-weekend there’s a lot of activity in BB Lake. There was a BBQ-Grill-Festival going on. Mark had kept hiking on, but Natalie, Thad & Jimmy where there. It was great seeing them again!

After a pretty large ‘appetizer’ of pork and nacho’s we went out for some dinner. We caught up on how the last stretch has been for everybody and swapped stories about other hikers we knew along the way, either ahead or behind us. After dinner we strolled a little through the town, where I ended the food-frenzy with a strawberry-cheese-cake-milkshake. I was now officially full.

It’s been a pretty relaxed day, for which my legs were definitely thankful. The others are staying at trail-angel-family closer to the trail, and will head out tomorrow. We said goodbyes and hope to meet up again in Wrightwood, some 100 miles further up trail. Tomorrow, I’ll need to get my resupply sorted, and then I’ll try to get out to the trail in the late afternoon, so I can get an early start the day after.
Apparently there’s a lake here (it’s in the name after all), which I yet have to check out. Maybe tomorrow I can have a look. I’m now relaxing at the campsite behind the hostel. My belly hurts, but I imagine it will be a pretty good nights sleep; well-fed, showered and at ease.

Everything that you thought you had
Was everything that you wish you had back
I’m on the freeway tonight
Everything that you had to give
Was everything that you needed to live
I’m on the freeway tonight
Everything that you thought was here
Was everything that could just disappear
I’m on the freeway tonight
Everything that was right in your face
Was everything that couldn’t be replaced
I’m on the freeway tonight

But before I leave you there is something you should know
All I ever wanted was to touch your empty soul
Everything I had I offered you a hundred times
The offer’s off the table and now I’m floating high

Freeway – Scapegoat Wax