Idyllwild to Big Bear
DAY 15 | Mile 180.8 to Mile 193.6
Woke up at around 5.30am as the first of the 3 of us. Our tentsite was at an altitude of 9001 feet / 2700 m. Walked to the edge of the mountain where there was an ocean of clouds below covering the valley. Beautiful views while the sun was rising.
We walked approx. 5 miles to a spring to fill up water which was crystal clear but freezing cold when filtering it. We continued after our lunch break without going up Mt. San Jacinto peak. Despite that we still had to climb some steep ascents during the early afternoon.
Arriving at the trailhead there suddenly was trail magic again! A very nice couple had decided to make hamburgers and offer freshly squeezed orange juice at the trailhead on a Sunday afternoon. We continued another 3.3 miles before setting up camp.
DAY 16 | To Ziggy & the Bear (Mile 210.8)
All morning descending the mountain we had to climb the day before.
DAY 17 | To Mile 229.4
Got up at 5 am as we wanted to head out early at 6 am. Giggles was planning to come with me and Suds but in the end decided to head out later.
We walked through a beautiful valley along a river almost all day. Both hungry at 4pm, we started to cook "dinner" at nice tentsite, decided to stay there and set up camp right here.
DAY 18 | Campsite to Onyx Summit
We walked through partly burned area that looked like after a bomb attack. We hike into the night and had beautiful views down at Palm Springs that was all illuminated.
At 10 pm we finally set up camp just before onyx summit.
DAY 19 | Onyx Summit to Big Bear Hostel
Trail magic just after Onyx Summit from big bear hostel: sofa and lots of cookies and other supplies. Met Liz and Re from Australia again on trail. Hiked to highway 18 (more cookies there) and quite fast got a hitch into town with a Mexican guy. Checked in at Big Bear Hostel for one night, the weekend would be closed due to a private event. Great dinner at an Indian restaurant (something different!) but very tired. Shared room with snowman and woman from Oakland.