I am sure this comes as surprise to no one who has ever done any manner of outdoor activity with me, but I am both rather speedy and impatient. Prone to hours of intensive activity with single minded determinism. The distance from Idyllwild (Saddle Junction) to Big Bear (Highway 18) is 89.2 miles when you tack on the hike up the Devil's Slide trail from Idyllwild. Originally I had planned to do it in a bit over 5 days because of the elevation profile. Took me less than 4 days.

Works out to a little over 22 miles a day. One of those days was a 25 miler. That day started with a good plan of only doing 19 miles, but I reached that point around 2:30 in the afternoon. What do you do with yourself when your normal trail bed time is not for another 6.5 hours? So, I made a meal, got water, relaxed a bit, and then did six more miles to the Coon Creek Cabin Group Campground, where I spent a rather chilly night with a group of 10 other hikers in an open cabin. The next day was only 20 miles to the Highway 18 hitch into Big Bear, so even with a late start because of the 15 degree temperatures, I made it there by 2:30 p.m. again.

Think about that. You are out on a trail and you can do 20 miles irregardless of 5000-7000 foot climbs or descents before it is even 3pm. And you can easily go a day without seeing another soul, which does not help. One can only read so many books and admire so many beautiful clouds or gallant peaks before you simply want to keep on going. The trail is not getting any shorter. Keep hiking.

Of course, the consequence is that while you can pull off 25 mile days, you are still in your first few weeks and could easily push too hard. Also, you are leaving behind all those you started with or met along the way. I greatly enjoyed and bonded well with the group I met at Scout and Frodo's. Naturally, I would not mind seeing Amelia too. Even for an introvert like myself, it is really helpful to socialize a bit, have an unobtrusive conversation, even if it is just about the next day's challenge or how long to stop at a Trail Angel's rest area.

So, I reached Big Bear two days ahead of schedule. If I keep this pace up, I will reach Kennedy Meadows by the end of May, despite not really planning on being there until June 5th at the earliest. There is really no reason to rush. Despite the low snow year, there is still snow up in those high passes. My pace is my pace though. I have always had a hard time reining myself in without someone around to give me a reason.

Currently, I am taking my second zero mileage day in Big Bear and just had a second breakfast with three people I started with who just arrived in town. I suspect Amelia will reach the hostel this afternoon. Town days are expensive though. The Big Bear Lake hostel gives discounts for consecutive night stays but once you throw in food, it is costing me around $35 -$40 a day to stay in town.

::imagine Paul using his hands to indicate balancing scales::

A great balance exists between mileage, exhaustion, boredom, loneliness, socializing, productivity, and costs with the Pacific Crest Trail. Still working it all out. The trail is hard on your mind as well as your body, and while I had my suspicions about how strongly the contents of my own mind would weigh me down and cause struggle, it is hard to prepare for.