November 2

Distance: 19.4 miles | Ascent: 2530′ | Descent: 2270′

Mile marker: 2389.7

Lunch: J – jambalaya (B‐), A – tuna salad (B)

Dinner: J&A – pizza! (A+)

---

%&#@ it’s cold! This was definitely the coldest morning. We had ice on our tent from our overnight breath. The ground was icy. Our fingers went numb almost right away. When we collected water and filtered it, our water collection bags nearly froze shut. We were afraid our filters would freeze, so we kept them in our coats until it warmed up.

We said farewell and see you later to our friends – we’ll surely see them again. We left camp wearing our warmest clothes and still our toes were frozen. Fortunately, after just a little climb and sun peaking over the ridge, we warmed right up. The campsite was exposed in a bowl that must’ve collected the cold air overnight.

We quite like these high desert, piney forests. We get the double benefit of dry air and shade from the trees. As we hiked and the day warmed, the flora kept us relatively cool.

Hiking and camping is an exercise in temperature control. We are fragile little beings. We swing from too hot to too cold in an instant. We’re constantly layering and delayering. We sometimes rest in the shade, sometimes in the sun. Today we witnessed an extreme example of how the ambient temperature can swing so much between night and day (you should read Jason’s thesis about how we can use this for good!). With nothing but what we can carry and our fortitude, we just have to deal with this.

After our morning climb, we saw Big Bear Lake. That’s where we’d be later today! First, we had to complete this dumb section where we basically go due east for 100+ miles. If you look at a map of the PCT, you’ll see. We’ve been heading east for the past several days.

The forest soon morphed into a odd selection of forest and desert plants. Joshua trees mingled with sugar pines, prickly pears mixed with oak trees. It was quite the sight!

In the distance to our east, the desert floor opened up.

We reached the highway before 3 pm! We also got a hitch in nearly record time! He couldn’t take us all the way to our target, but dropped us in Big Bear City not far from the trolly stop. We rode the free trolly to Big Bear Lake and got to our hotel by 3:30. Even though we booked online for a higher price, the guy at the counter gave us the PCT discount which dropped nearly $30 off the room. That’ll buy dinner!

We did our usual chores: laundry, shower, sitting. Then we ventured out to get ice cream (also with a PCT discount!) and ordered pizza for dinner. We ate in our hotel while editing and finishing these posts (how meta!).

We’ll grab our box at the post office tomorrow and hit the trail to get a half day in. We have a super fun ascent in a few days (8500′ over 21 miles), and this town stop could be our last significant break before finishing. Hopefully, our pizza can carry us over the mountains and to the finish line.