I decide to take a zero day today and enjoy some down time. As much as I want to keep moving today I need to prioritize rest and recovery. I am old and washed up after all. Body wise I feel pretty good, my muscles are in shape. Feet wise blisters are a problem. The sand gets in everywhere and just rubs me raw. I definitely need to pick up some gaiters soon.
I start my day off by sleeping in and waking up around 6:15AM and going downstairs to do my laundry, there’s no one there. Perfect!
As I dump my laundry into the washer and just run everything on cold I head over to the continental breakfast in my boxer shorts and raincoat to enjoy some eggs, sausage, bacon and 2 cinnamon buns. I’m the second person here, BP beat me to the breakfast.
I raid the kitchen for some salt and pepper packets and come up empty, honey, grape jam and peanut butter is there in excess though. This stuff will come in handy tomorrow morning back on trail. I envision a nice breakfast tortilla with jam honey and pb. Mmm some good fresh Mexican tortillas have been all over my radar lately, and with how many I’ve eaten in 2025 it makes me think of someone back home who actually makes them.
Best of luck with your marathon next month!
I finish my breakfast and head up stairs to shower and get ready to go run errands. Town days go by fast, I need to go to the Big 5 and get a new gas can, sandals and to see if they have anything to patch my air pad. I’ve been sleeping on the hard frozen snow for 3 nights now as my pads been deflating. I initially popped my pad 3 years ago on my first trip to Havasupai. I patched it then and it’s held since, even though I felt I did a good job. It’s clear a temporary patch won’t/didn’t last forever. I might swap it for something more insulated in Big Bear. We will see.
At 10 AM we head out, first it’s Big 5, it’s only 7 minutes away, I grab sandals and hand warmers for 15$ and head out, I shipped my crocs home from CLEEF because I didn’t want to carry them. My blisters really don’t want to be inside my shoes, so sandals for camp it is. Definitely not ultralight.
My next stop Walmart. At home, uuuuuggggh I absolutely hate Walmart. After years of going to the Tilton NH Walmart I’d rather shop anywhere else even though they do have everything you need. So almost a full resupply of food while I’m here and I get more stuff for my blister. Tape, gauze, and neosporin, the bare minimum. It’s just skin.
After Walmart Bp as pilot and me navigating it’s a maze of a parking lot to drive over to Taco Bell for lunch. I haven’t had Taco Bell in literally over 15 years, I just wanted to get some sauce packets to maybe spice up my ramen noodles on trail. But while I’m there I smash some tacos and some other trash. I also got a frozen Baja blast and crushed it. Me gusta.
Taco Bell actually hit the spot, the Baja blast was even better. It’s 3 miles to the green store to pick up that resupply, it had the weirdest parking lot design I’ve ever seen, and then back to the hotel to pop my blisters and chill.
After some poking and popping I head out to the parking lot to lay out my tyvek and dry it out. I scroll FarOut and semi plan my next 5 days of walking. I thought they’d be easy miles coming up but I guess not. Uphill let’s go!
I hit the US post office anyways with Seven and we both mail our ice axes forward to Wrightwood. I also shipped home my Doomswell hat. I grabbed my Melin from my shoe package in PVC because it’s “water resistant.” After over a decade of wearing this bad boy it’s time to retire it. I should throw it out but for the 6$ it can head back home and wait for me to get there.
If anyone needs a quality surfboard check em out.
After the post office it’s off to the liquor store and the market across from the hotel. They have an amazing Hispanic food selection and I’ve been in love with all the choices since I’ve been in so cal. Tajin peach rings? Who knew…And the tacos. Ooooh the tacos.
After grabbing some new snacks inside for the trail and some tacos outside off the truck. Tres por favor. it’s back to the hotel to pack it all up, in my food bag and my stomach.
As Im packing up my belongings Seven’s playing chess on his phone, he says he wants to order Chinese food. Google search says the place in town is called “Wall Chinese Food.” Alright then let’s send it. We order up the usual, chicken fried rice, sweet and sour pork, lo mein and some spring rolls.
After dinner it’s one last double pack and then off to bed early. My plan tomorrow is to stay till 10AM when I need to check out, say good bye to my trail friends here as they all go separate ways for a bit and then take an easy day on trail. Starting in the mid day heat and wind as I move through the Mesa wind farm. It’s looking like a few days to Big Bear and the weather is looking variable.
The Pacific Crest Trail 