Started: Mission Camp (240.0)
Ended: Big Bear Lake (250.0)
Total: 10.0 miles plus 6.0 bonus miles

Fishtank, Little John and I got up at five. Having eaten all our remaining food supplies, we had full tanks and felt much better. I had a spring in my step again. I felt like taking pictures again.

We made it to our evacuation point at mile 250 by 11:30. We hitched into Big Bear Lake. I looked pretty sweaty, and I smelled worse.

The white crusty stuff on my shirt? That is all the salt from my sweat!

We checked into our hotel and played Rock Paper Scissors to determine who would shower first. I purposely lost and put my chair in front of the air conditioner and drank ice water. Cold air on dry achy skin was so nice! Fishtank’s feet are absolutely destroyed. He has blisters on blisters.

When I peeled of my disgusting clothing, I was no worse for wear. My feet are unscathed. The washcloth, on the other hand, will never be used again. The EPA should declare it a Superfund site. Burning it with fire will not be enough.

Clean, Fishtank and I started the critical process of recovery. Calories! Delicious calories! As much as we could consume.

After checking in to our hotel, we showered. The washcloth will never be used again. The EPA will declare it a Superfund site and require it to be burned by fire.

Clean, Fishtank and I started the critical process of recovery. That meant calories, delicious calories.

No leftovers were taken home. It was all consumed at the table along with a pitcher of Mountain Dew. (Maybe a family sized cheezy garlic bread as well…)

We helped Little John by doing a complete shakedown and helping him plan a better resupply strategy.

I needed to make some gear changes, so I stopped off at the Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Big Bear Lake. Unfortunately, the zipper on my Outdoor Research Helium II broke. I wear it not only for rain, but also as a windbreaker. I bought a set of Foggtoggs to tide me over until I can find a proper solution.

I did a shakedown as well. I’ve also decided to eliminate the use of paper maps which I’m not using, so that also means I can send home my heavy compass. This will save me roughly half a pound of base weight. As I’m hiking in a group and we all have smartphones the likelihood of all of us losing our smartphones is very unlikely, the trail is well-marked, and we are working together effectively as a team. I will still carry a small compass that’s attached to my backpack, and I have a compass on my phone as well, so I still have two compasses. I’m also shipping home my glasses. I have not warn them once, and I’m keeping multiple sets of thirty-day contacts. I was able to drop a pound of weight in the process.

A trail angel by the name of Scott came by and took the three of us to get our laundry done, so we didn’t have to ride the local bus, and he gave us a tour of the different entrance points that run near Big Bear Lake. No longer hungry and chores done we called it a night early.