Warner Springs to Idyllwild

In Warner Springs, a hiker complained about her various aches, pains, and poison ivy rash, so I gave her a cocktail of OTC meds and a sample packet of calmoseptine from my pack, apparently earning myself the trail name, "Drug Store."

Everyone who sent their resupplu had a priority mail box, usually not the large size, for them and maybe another person. A lot of hikers just resupplied from the small shop and gas station with Ramen and instant rice. Then there's Nolan and I with three large boxes filled with dehydrated fruits and veggies, hot choco, protein powder, and all kinds of amazing stuff in ridiculous quantities. We supplied our own food to Idyllwild while supplementing at least six other hikers. Our overly anxious planning at least made us popular hikers for a day.

Nolan's ankle swelling improved from the rest, but it was still hurting him a lot. We called his ankle surgeon's doctor's office. We were told excessive swelling can cause damage to the work done on it, so we have to be careful.

We found out pepperoni, instant mash potato, and cheese wraps are pretty bomb on the trail, but it's nothing in compy to the diner breakfast we had before hiking off. It really makes me reflect on how pampered and lucky I am in my normal life!

We found Mike's Place and Mary's Place on the trail. It is incredible to see people go out of their way for hikers and the trail. Mary makes literary themed cutouts of people and quotes, like John Muir, and provides a water cache and an outhouse. It's strange how excited we get to go to the bathroom on an actual toilet.

One night Nolan was kept up by the sounds of a coyote howling. He heard the squealing sounds of some prey it must have stalked and attacked. I slept soundly right through it.

Paradise Cafe was a huge motivation. The cool, small town diner was filled with French and American bikers, friendly locals, and hikers. We ordered a burger each and a plate of nachos to share, but we should have just split one burger. Our burgers were so massive that I struggled to fit my mouth around it to take a bite. The nachos could have made a meal for four people. It was so delicious and greasy, but our stomachs ached after.

The sky was ominous and the forecast reported rain and thunderstorms. Most hikers hitch hiked to Idyllwild because summiting along San Jacinto in the high elevations would be wet, cold, snowy, and possibly dangerous. We got a ride from Grumpy the Trail Angel. He even helped arranged which hotel room we should stay at when websites said Idyllwild was all full. He could recall exact dates and times off the top of his head for every story he hold us, gave us an in depth tour of the town, and stopped to let us meet the Mayor of Idyllwild. Apparently Idyllwild doesn't believe in human politicians because Mayor Max is the cutest, sweetest doggo!

We stayed at a lodge where they were helpful and washed our laundry for us. Clean clothes, even if they still reek of our b.o., are so nice. Idyllwild is a fun, hiker-friendly town in the desert with lots of little shops and restaurants. I highly recommend a visit, but my opinion might be a biased because we got to sleep on a mattress with a pillow for the first time in two weeks!

Cheers

This app isn't very user friendly when adding photos from my phone, so click the link below to check out our photos(:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pEgxi37XzdYR4qD57