5/7/2022

I woke up way less hungover than I anticipated. Toby and I grabbed bagels and coffee as he contacted his trail angel, Debra. I met a nice lady named Hoops and we chatted until the car came. She, like many others on the trail, was taking a few days in Idyllwild to let small injuries heal, usually blisters or shin splints.
At the trailhead Toby realized he forgot his trekking poles in Debra’s car. His mistake and subsequent adventure back down to town to find service, find her and get the poles gave me time to summit Mt. San Jacinto.
The beauty of being hungover and having a headache was that I didn’t feel any head pain from the altitude! I found confidence and momentum, my legs feeling strong from the town food, and passed many a day hiker on the way up.
I do not have any pictures of myself at the top of San Jacinto. When I arrived there was a guy at the summit sign having his gf take pictures of him flexing with his shirt off. That wasn’t enough for him and he started recruiting other guys to pop top and pose with him. He ended up getting 3 others, he should get into recruiting. Now, I’m usually always down to pop top and strike poses. But, not on a summit with lots people on it. Summits are sacred places. On a peak I feel most connected to the universe. Powers beyond my comprehension created this earth, these continental plates and pushed this rock over 10,000 ft into the air.
I was gonna take a picture next to the trail sign when I left but at that time another guy had set up a bluetooth activated selfie tripod stand and was having his own photoshoot that lasted well over 5 minutes. I left the summit.

I had no idea where Toby was. So I went to the next watering hole and waited. A few minutes later he arrived. A few minutes after him Asaf arrived. We decided to hike together to Big Bear as a trio hailing from Denmark (Toby), Israel (Asaf) and the United States. We descended and slept in the shadow of San Jacinto.

(From Journal)
In the shadow on Mt. San Jacinto I rest. A coffee, bagel & lift from Debra got me and Toby to the trail. He forgot his poles in her car. So I had to to summit Mt. San Jacinto as Toby ran back down the hill to get his poles.
Asaf met us at water and lunch. Solid boys, happy to have them. Sapporo Ramen and instant mashed potatoes for dinner. In the middle of a 20 mile water carry.
Stayed in Idyllwild last night at campsite. Lunch @ Lumber Mill w/ Toby. Modelos. Ran into Andrew & Steve on road. Right back to Lumber Mill for beers, dinner and karaoke. Steve and I sang Ocean Avenue (his first time ever doing karaoke). 3 shots for table. 2 with our server Jesus.