The Simplest Things

Friday, May 9
Mile 266, Big Bear City

Hiking into Big Bear Lake and peering into the great Mojave

After hiking in six miles and getting shuttled from trail to hostel in Big Bear City, we had breakfast with Sarge, an ex-military sniper with some incredible stories. One thing I want to keep in my memory forever is Smooth Operator's totally blissed-out face as he demolished massive chicken fried steak burger. His hands were literally shaking with happiness. Sarge chimed in with "THIS is why I love hikers. You guys appreciate basic things so much more." It's true. The scrubby I used in the shower? Rocked my world.

It was a typical town day, complete with showering most of the grime off, real laundry (as opposed to stream laundry), and a grocery run. We finished the day off with a marvelous grill feast on the hostel's back deck overlooking the lake, and I proceeded to down a burger and a hotdog and beer and cookies and some salad. Then we watched a terrible horror flick and rolled ourselves to bed. Such a good day!



Th

e Zone, Tenacious Rainbow, and Smooth Operator feelin fresh and fancy in their loaner clothes at Big Bear Hostel