5/8/2022

Damn. It’s hard to write about Day 14. This day was memorable for me. I received my first trail magic. Trail Magic is when Trail Angels bring gifts to hikers. It’s usually, and hopefully, food. All hikers want food. Delicious Food that we don’t have to carry.
On this day, I received my first AND second trail magic. Holy Christmas. On this day I realized I cared about the trail; And, the trail cared about me.

My second angel of the day, Mama Bear (Trail Angel) had a 5 star set up at the I-10 underpass. Chairs. Fruit. Sodas. HOTDOGS. Resupply items. A sign that said “Happy Mothers Day” so I could take a picture with it and send it to my Mom, because it was mothers day.
I had service so I got to FaceTime Gran EB and Dad. It was my last ever mothers day phone call to her. I turned the camera to show her the trail magic set up, and hide the tears filling my eyes.

Mama Bear gave me a necklace with two charms. The first was a bear, because mama bear. She took care of her cubs out here at the I-1-underpass. The second was a silver circle with the inscription “never never give up”. Her husband attempted and was unsuccessful on the PCT 3 times. After his third attempt on trail, he committed suicide.
Mama Bear gave me enough food that I could skip my next resupply. Mama Bear gave me a hug. Mama Bear told me to never give up.

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Above is the story I wanted to capture from this day. This day was epic. There are so many core memories from trail that fell on this day. Below my brain threw up with words. I don’t want to edit it. Enjoy.

Morning miles. A chance to greet the sun with feet in the ground. A chance to pop off the top and let the pits breathe. A chance to get out of camp first so I’m superior to everyone. A chance to get caught later in the day and feel bad about myself.
On this morning I realized I’m kinda a weather nerd.
I witnessed the clouds being squeezed between the Peninsular Mt Range (Mt. San Jacinto) and the Transverse Range (that holds Mt. San Gorgonio) and as they passed the gates they sped up and dispered into the desert. It was an illustration of the natural blockages that determine weather systems ie, why the desert is the desert. The small amount of moisture that gets through quickly spreads out and can not precipitate on the land.
As I was gazing upon this holy migration of moisture a burst of wind and sound of an engine came up from behind me. Not a plane but my friend Toby absolutely charging down the mountain. The wind was strong and it would hit him, he would jog a few steps and spread his arms out for balance. He looked like a plane. And that is how Asaf and I decided to name him Pilot.

At the bottom of the descent was piped water. There Toby and I met Blue. Blue is a legend. He’d done the PCT and then the CDT a few years ago and was running back the PCT, solo this time and with a time crunch.

I got my first trail magic from Jim “Mudmile” & “Billie Jean”.
Second from Mama bear.
Asaf, Pilot and I cruised through the afternoon to the animal sanctuary where we slept with a squad under ancient trees blowing in the wind.

6:15 am start.
Clouds came thru gap between San Jacinto mountains and Big Bear range. They dispersed heading into palm springs with the sun rising behind.
12 miles down from camp to water. We met Blue for the first time at this water spigot!
2 miles later TRAIL MAGIC with Jim “Mudmile” & Billie Jean. Then walked like I was in Dune to I-10. Under I-10 more TRAIL MAGIC! Mama Bear and Annie had the whole 9 yards with a “Happy Mothers Day” sign. I called Mom and Facetime’d Gran EB.
9 more miles to Whitewater Reserve. Camping at a picnic area. Squad is here. Big uphill tomorrow.
Oh! Got more food from Mama Bear so I don’t need to hit big bear!