Idyllwild to Big Bear City

The hike from Idyllwild to Big Bear City has been wonderful. Snow, sun, waterfalls, and wind turbines... once again a wealth of variety and interesting things to see. I hiked from 5,500 ft up to the summit of Mount San Jacinto at 10,800 feet and then back down again to Gorgonio Pass at 1,100 ft. Gorgonio pass is essentially the rift valley formed by the San Andreas fault and is one of the lowest points for the entire trail. As you can imagine it is a VERY hot and dry place. My hiking partner Hannah unfortunately got very sick and had to spend extra time resting up in Idyllwild so this has been a solo section. The solitude and freedom that come with solo hiking are beautiful things, but it will be great to meet up with her again in Big Bear.

Enjoy this photo journal from the past five days!

Leaving Idyllwild this sign gets hikers excited for the 5000 feet of elevation gain and large snow patches to come.

I was the first one to summit on Wednesday and spent the first half hour enjoying my private lunch spot

Low clouds in the valley accentuate the contrast between dry desert and luscious forest.

Summit picture after my friends arrived on top!

Took a shower in this little waterfall on the way down from San Jacinto.

Snowy San Gorgonio Peak was my reference for several days as I switch backed all the way down to Gorgonio Pass and back up the San Bernadino mountains on the other side.

200 miles. The second hundred went even faster than the first!

Surprised by root beer floats and shade in the middle of a very hot traverse toward highway 10 

Copper Tone is a trail angel notorious for his root beer floats in unexpected locations!

Wind farms, the South Pacific Railroad and Highway 10 were a strange sight after several days in the wilderness 

My typical set up when cowboy camping... looks messy but everything has a place around the tarp

The view from my little campsite - tucked up a little draw from Gold Canyon to get out of the wind

The rumor mill on the trail runs quickly so about 20 of us hurried to White Water campground for a free pancake breakfast!

The trail angel "Legend" has an eclectic truck named Gypsey

He let us borrow Gypsey for the day to take a side trip to Joshua Tree National Park

And here are the famous Joshua Trees!

Silly pictures with friends at Joshua Tree (trail names Burp, Wasabi, 68W, and Lizard)

Changing plant communities as we hiked north up Mission Creek

Finding beauty hiking through an old burn

It is a new perspective to hike through old burns and see the color and regrowth

Cedar trees!

Still looking at San Gorgonio peak but this time from the back side

Another silly example of trail magic... a couch and big bin full of treats on the side of the trail

Chuckwalla lizard 

Braid train after showers at the wonderful trail angels house: Mountain Mama and Papa Smurf'

Resupply from home, happy happy day! Shout out to M, D, and S... THANK YOU!!!