Each day on the trail is so rewarding. Instead of counting days passed by date I can view miles that I have hiked, as I look out in the distance I can see mountains approaching that I will go over, and once there can look back from where I've come. I love the sense of accomplishment each and everyday. Simplicity in so many forms.
So my friend Dan joined Honey Bear and I on trail for 32 miles as we ventured to the deep creek hot springs. The second day when we had been watching dozens of some huge black flies swarming around and in a snag, we decided to sit down nearby under some cedars and the most beautiful small waterfall along the creek. Of course this meant that lunch had to be postponed until after we swam. As we were making our way to the creek Honey Bear thought it would be a fitting place for me to finally receive my trail name she had in mind. Oasis! I have been given this name for the crazy amounts of water I carry and drink. Absolutely love it! It is nice having a trail name especially since we are hiking in a different group now because we took three days off in Big Bear. While making our way to this secret oasis in Deep Creek, we were stopped by the sighting of three beavers. This was the first time Dan had seen beavers in this area even though he had been down there countless times. Honestly I can say if Honey Bear and I were there without Dan we probably would have passed by without even acknowledging the dams even being there. Dan really made us take the time to look around and appreciate the fine details while we hiked. It was wonderful having "Reverend Beav" (which we named him on the trail) and hopefully he can join us again after the summer.
There is this plant called poodle dog bush that exists in baja California and parts of southern California that germinates after a wildfire has burned an area. It has been all over the Pacific Crest Trail in many areas just before Wrightwood and a huge portion of the trail before Agua Dulce. We have been forced to take road walks that parallel the trail to avoid the bush because it causes a more severe allergic reaction to most like poison oak or ivy. The day we walked 15 miles on the road turned out to be none other than LADIES DAY! Six wonderful women: Corn Nut, Sniper, Honey Bear, Monkey, Heather and I walked with each other loving the estrogen filled conversation and interaction. Each one of those women has inspired me by the stories of adventures they have experienced or wish to accomplish in the near future. Sniper and Corn Nut traveled by kayak down to Louisiana from North Carolina then biked from Louisiana to California before starting the Pacific Crest Trail. Monkey has done the John Muir Trail with her mother Heather twice already and she is eight, yes I said eight, years old! She may be the youngest person on the trail and could be the youngest to complete such a long trail. I have been amazed by the people most on this trail thus far. The range in age is so drastic yet the commonalities of a similar goal, ambition and perseverance is amazing.
Honey Bear and I have made it to the Saufleys, an amazing host trail angel in Agua Dulce, CA and are prepping for the Mojave! We are 200 miles south of the Sierras and my palms are sweaty thinking about those high granite spires and long wilderness that are soon to come. Until then much love to all of you. I appreciate all of you in my life and love hearing from you periodically. Call me anytime and leave a message so I know to get back to you! I have learned lately that life is short and we cannot be thankful enough for the time we have.
Those who wander are not lost. I heard this saying once that your life can be depicted by a line from point A to point B starting with birth and ending with death. Most lines are straight connecting the two, but those who wander and wonder have a huge undulating line between the two. When you stretch out that line your life is much longer than lost who go straight from point A to point B. Go wander and wonder.
Much love,
Oasis
a fitting name...
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