Day 15-16: Idyllwild
April 19-20; Mile 146-151
Day 15
I woke up to a beautiful day. I hiked along in the shade and the miles came easily. Christine and I decided to walk the mile to Paradise Valley Cafe instead of trying to hitch, and when I walked inside I was greeted by a chorus of cheers and calls of “Happy Birthday!” Everyone I’d met at Mary’s Place the night before was gathered around eating and chatting. It was barely after 9, but what the heck I ordered a peanut butter chocolate stout to go with my breakfast burrito. And then one of the other hikers paid for my beer!
The alcohol did not help with finding my package, and it took two tries of scouring before my microspikes and other supplies were in my hands.
Next up was a hitch to Idyllwild where I’d reunite with my group of friends for two nights at an Airbnb. I got a ride from a trail angel named Grumpy, and soon I was eating pizza with my friends again. They’d hiked down from the San Jacintos via the Devil’s Slide trail, about 30 trail miles north of me.
After pizza we got ice cream at the center of town and got to meet the mayor of Idyllwild. Town chores could wait for tomorrow; today was for fun.
Day 16
I spent most of the day in town buying food, visiting the gear shop, mailing stuff, and eating. Although in the morning Stevie and I tried to use the hot tub. It was stuck at a temperature way above comfortable, and so I had the brilliant idea to pour ice into it. We were able to dip our feet in for about 5-10 seconds at a time in a cloud of rapidly melting ice.
He and Freda left early to summit Mt San Jacinto before a forecasted snowstorm, and the rest of the group went to meet the mayor again and grab dinner.
I met a few more people – Carly, Qwerty, and Tinder – before we returned to the Airbnb for the night. I had a bed to myself since Freda was off in the mountains somewhere, and I enjoyed the luxury. It was the most comfortable I’d be for the next few days.
9 Comments
Dov
That sounds like such a wonderful birthday! No wonder other people were so happy to see you and pay for your drinks 😀 I like how genuinely you’re smiling in all the photos.
kate
Do you also have a “trail handle”? I am fairly sure the parents of Qwerty did not give their child that name. Ditto Tinder.
These are truly joyous photos. Lovely birthday celebration. How shall you top it next year?
chasingalpenglow
Trail name info coming soon 😉
Dianne Wilburn
Well, I guess we all now can contemplate – what would you’re trail handle be?
Dov
My vote is “Shallot” 😀
Therese
Sounds like you had a nice birthday celebration! That sure is a lot of supply boxes. It appears the veterans of the trail know to mark the sides of their boxes with bright colors. Will have to give that a try in the future. That town has an awfully cute mayor!
chasingalpenglow
Yes I learned quite a bit seeing differently decorated boxes
Ray
Great times . . . what a memorable birthday? (Mmmm . . . what was the Golden Retriever’s trail name?)
chasingalpenglow
Mayor Max 🙂