Day 12 – 5/3/16
Campsite 190.53 to Ziggy and the Bear 210.8
Total miles: 20.17
Woke up today at 5 and Jim came by my tent to tell me he was taking off already. I told him I’d take off in 30 minutes. I packed up as quick as possible to take advantage of as much cool weather as I can since there is a long exposed descent from 8,000 feet to 1,700 feet.
The morning was fairly easy and quick since it was cool and still within the trees. Once I broke out of the trees I could already feel the increase of temperature. I tried moving as quick as I can without hurting my knee.
After awhile I checked my phone to see what mile I was at since I had a feeling I was around mile 200. I was at 199.5 so I knew I was close. I started looking for some rocks on the ground to spell out 200. 20 minutes go by and nothing.
At about mile 202 there was a wooden post with “200” on it. Hope the water source isn’t also 2 miles further!
The rest of the trail to the water source was more of the same. Just hot and down hill with zero shade.
Finally got to the water source and tried to sit in the shade of a Boulder. There was a sliver of shade and I crammed myself in it. I loaded up with some water poured some Gatorade powder into a bottle and took off for the next 5 miles to Ziggy and the Bear. The temperature was around 105°. Just brutally hot.
On a rock next to the water spigot was the head of a snake with a lizard in its mouth. I learned at Ziggy and the Bear this guy named Rattlesnake killed the snake and lizard and set it up. He also apparently captured a snake and carried it with him for awhile. The dude is strange. We came across him under the I-10 sitting and rolling up a snake skin. He had a huge 6 inch knife in a leather holster on his hip, tank top with extremely sun burned arms, and a half smoked joint that was no longer lips. Luckily he didn’t stay at Ziggy and the Bear, he decided he wanted to go to the Morongo casino about 7 miles down the I-10.
The last 5 miles across the desert was super hot. The trail became loose sand and just added to how tiring the day was.
Four miles later we crossed under the I-10 and took a few minute rest before the last mile push to Ziggy and the Bear. I all but tried running to their house. It was so hot that I couldn’t think straight.
Finally we made it to Ziggy and the Bear. We did our check in and then the Bear took our picture/mugshot while holding a whiteboard with our name and what hiker number we are. I was number 673. They expect almost 2,000 hikers this year.
For the next couple hours we sat around under their porch relaxing and figuring out what we are going to do to get to Big Bear since a fire last year closed a large section. We had originally planned to do a road walk around to the west but we were advised that the are we would be walking through is very dangerous. So reluctantly we signed up for the shuttle to get us to Big Bear. It’s about a 2.5 hour bus ride. I wanted to say I walked to Canada but not getting shanked or mugged is probably a better call.
As the hours rolled by more and more and more hikers rolled in. Way too many hikers. By 7:30 there were close to 35 hikers.
At 6 Ziggy took a Little Ceasers order and we patiently waited for the pizza to show up. Finally around 8 the pizzas showed up. $7 bought you a 14″ pizza. Almost ate the whole thing. Saved the last couple slices for breakfast.
30 minutes later we all started to get ready for lights out at 9 pm. Everyone spreadout as best they could and cowboy camped in the backyard which had carpet everywhere to sleep on. I initially set up with my head against a wall but I noticed there were ants crawling along on the wall. So I moved up to this little platform wall. Sorry for the crappy phone picture.
Tomorrow morning a volunteer is driving us to to the San Bernardino transit station at 7 am to catch a bus up to Big Bear.
May 4, 2016 at 8:04 am
“I wanted to say I walked to Canada but not getting shanked or mugged is probably a better call.” Wuss. Jk…yeah definitely best to not get shanked. Especially since there’s dudes skinning snakes or worse. I love Ziggy’s rules board. Remember to smile!
May 4, 2016 at 8:56 am
Ziggy is strict with those rules too.
May 4, 2016 at 8:23 am
What darn hippie made a peace sign out of pinecones? I take it it wasn’t Rattlesnake. Ziggy rules! Keep on truckin’ dude.
May 4, 2016 at 8:54 am
He might have made one out of snake heads. Dude was strange.
May 4, 2016 at 8:52 am
A non-shank day is a good day! I know you’re bummed about having to take a shuttle, but it’s better to be safe. Looking forward to seeing a selfie in your new replacement shades WITH A CORD attached in tomorrow’s post. Gotta lose the white shades (at least bury them way down in your pack as a backup).
May 4, 2016 at 8:55 am
They are in the hiker box at Ziggy and the Bears. Maybe someone will need them. I hope they make their way to Canada some how.
May 4, 2016 at 9:34 am
Definitely belongs to a desperate hiker! “Pay it forward!”
May 4, 2016 at 10:26 am
Should have kept the white shades. Cobain would make a good trail name.
You’re doing great Jason. I wonder when you are done if you’ll need some transition time to want to sleep in a house with a bed again. Is there such a thing as trail PTSD?
May 4, 2016 at 12:38 pm
There is post trail depression that is quite common. People finish the trail and are unsure of what to do with their life now that they are back in society.
May 4, 2016 at 11:39 am
🙂
May 4, 2016 at 11:59 am
Safe is good — always knew we had a smart grandson.
May 4, 2016 at 4:05 pm
Yes! and a smart nephew, too! So how DO you get home once you get to the end? Do you want us to come pick you up? 🙂
May 4, 2016 at 4:15 pm
I end up 8 miles into Canada in Manning Park. Then I take a couple hour bus ride to Vancouver. Then I have the option of flying straight from Vancouver to Phoenix or taking the train to Seattle and flying out there. I’m finishing the trail with a friend and he will be taking the train to Seattle to see his brother. I have a feeling that I’ll want to get home as soon as possible but that is still 4 months away so I’ll have plenty of time to figure out what I’m going to do.
May 4, 2016 at 4:43 pm
The offer stands if you need it 🙂
May 4, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Thanks!
May 4, 2016 at 9:08 pm
210 miles in 12 days, now that’s Crazzyyy!!