My day is ending in Idyllwild in a motel room with three other hikers who I just met earlier today on the trail. That is one of the magical parts of the Pacific Crest Trail. You meet people from multiple walks of life at different places in their lives who have all found themselves hiking 2650 miles from Mexico to Canada. You automatically have a new lifestyle in common. The planning. The gear. The daily grind. The beautiful highs and frustrating lows.

Coming into town after twenty four miles yesterday (including a rolled ankle less than two miles from camp) and then a hard, rugged climb today, it was almost relaxing to come into town and instantly have rapport with the dozen or so hikers in the pizza parlor.

Which is how I find myself sharing a motel room (two beds, a stove, fridge, and couch for less than $20 each) with Thread, Done-so (a play on Denzel) Washington, and Travis. All of which I met today. Pretty darn cool.