Zero in Big Bear – no hiking
We’re taking another zero day in Big Bear. The weather today is supposed to be near freezing all day and well below that at night with 40-60 mph winds, which paired with the arrival of Gently Used, Breaker, and Shades has persuaded us to stay. I know it’s practically the right choice, but that doesn’t keep me from also feeling frustrated at sitting around another day. The boredom is starting to tingle up my arms and legs, my brain chanting go go go, time to go! Today feels like money, time, and food I’d rather have spent hiking. It’s an unnecessary frustration, that I’m forcing myself to live through. The product of the brain of a chronically bored, restless person; I’ve always struggled with this. Though, perhaps this feeling is instead the symptoms of a slow weaning from the endorphins I’ve been bathing myself in daily. The reward for hours spent on the move. The impetus to wake early each morning and begin moving down the trail on sensitive bloated feet and tightwire tendons.
But time spent at the Big Bear Hostel with the other hikers is it’s own kind of PCT experience. One that I am grateful to have. Yet another situation where socializing is involved, I’m forced/cajoled into participating, and then I enjoy myself. I swear to god I’m than I am self perceptive.
Anyway.
This additional down day will be a good opportunity to take a suggestion Mihai left on a previous post, and talk about some of the people I’ve met on the trail who have left an impressive on me. Today I’m going to tell you about Kristine.
I met Kristine on my first day on the trail. Her and her husband came into the campground at Hauser Creek towards dusk. They caught my attention because her husband, Randy, had one of those collapsible camp chairs – one hell of a heavy luxury item, especially when paired with their ultralight tent. But this wasn’t a couples adventure, it was Kristina’s adventure with Randy tagging along for support until Lake Morena. Parents to five kids between them, together nine years, married only four, and both in their late 60’s when Kristina decides to hike the PCT. It’s a huge leap for both of them.
During lunch at the Lake Morena malt shop the next day Randy tells me their first grandchild has just been born. Kristina is in the bathroom and Randy takes this moment to tell me that she’s a wonderful grandmother, a complete natural, he’s never seen anything like it, beaming as he says this. Going on, he says it’s so hard for her to be away from the kids for this extended trip, it’s probably the hardest part of the trail. That’s saying something, because Kristina wasn’t a hiker until about two years ago. Randy and Kristina hiked half dome in a day in 2016, and that set the ball in motion for her. 2017 they hiked part of the Tahoe Rim Trail, and later that year she decided she’d thru hike the PCT. Planned everything out, bought the gear, and now she’s out here. She’s really doing it.
I saw Kristina again in Julian, all smiles and warm glow. Then, most recently on the hike out of Idyllwild, a bright spot even on a sunny day, surrounded by eight or more hikers, her rolling gang. She said she’s been loving the trail, found a great group to hike with. She looked like an absolute all star and I am so happy for her. I can’t wait to see her further down the trail.