Rebel Ridge

The one with the Goblin trail magic, half naked men and a beautiful camp site.

📍 Location: Big Bear to MM 286

🏔️ Elevation: 7687ft was the highest today
🥾 I actually walked: 15.4 miles
💰 Money: $20 on breakfast
⛑️ Health: I feel good today!

☀️ Weather: Perfect. We were walking mainly through the forest so we had lots of shade and a nice breeze as we are up high.

🍲 Food: A hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, toast and hashbrowns. I snacked throughout the day, then had a chicken stroganoff dehydrated meal. Oh, and a tangerine 🍊!!

💤 Sleep: I slept like a log last night at Motel6 which I shared with DinkyDi. I had purchased some sleep tablets from the supermarket (a bit like Nightnurse) and it seems to have worked. I’ll try it in my tent tonight.

😃 People update: Amber is staying in Big Bear for a few days and then getting a ride to Wrightwood to catch up with Harry. Her knee was double the size!

Remember the guy who left his shoes in Nitsy’s car, Jim? He turned up at our campsite tonight and was reunited with his footwear! He looks happy.

THE LONG WINDED VERSION:-

After an amazing few days rest in the wonderful Ski Resort of Big Bear Lake, it’s time to hit the trail. Goodbye Big Bear, it’s been a blast and probably my favourite town so far.

🍳 7.30am - First stop… coffee and breakfast at Lumberjacks Cafe! We enquire as to what a Sloppy Joe is, but decide to leave that for another day. Instead we indulge and “carb up” with eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, toast and an endless pot of coffee.

🥾 830am Breakfast done we’re on our way. We have around four miles of walking to do before we are back on to the PCT… going up! (Of course). It’s a dirt track so not too challenging.

🎒 DinkyDi is now much more comfortable with her new Osprey Pack. She has sent home her heavy Jetboil and replaced it with a lightweight stove. Her shoulders should soon recover and her body will thank her, but perhaps not her bank balance. Ouch!

🚙 9:12am We passed a man who was tinkering with his Jeep so I stopped to say hello and secretly wishing he’d offer us a lift up this hill to the trail. He didn’t offer a lift and was busy letting air out of his tyres so he could have done off-road fun.

🐸 1154am We are up high now and enjoying the beauty of this forest. We keep leapfrogging a guy called Peter, but he is very quiet and doesn’t say much. As we emerge onto the ridge we are gifted the most amazing view of Big Bear Lake and the snow capped mountains beyond. It was a real wow moment. The trail starts to descend and we are now bumping into many day hikers. I can see why people come up here, it’s stunning.

🏔️ 12.15pm - We reached a junction and to our left was Goblin. He had been to see Bertha Peak and said the 360 views were awesome. On a good day you can see Los Angeles apparently. He’s talkative but he tells us that he has not been well. He thinks it may be the water but he has been coughing, has a bad stomach and just no energy. He’s not really sure what it is but is convinced that it’s not Covid as he had the virus just before he started the PCT in late March. He walks with us and DinkyDi and I are mothering him a bit.

🎶 “Can you hear music?” Asked DinkyDi. “I sure can!”. We turn the corner to see two very nice strapping men with no tops on, with two women and two dogs (Frankie & Tuckey). They are bopping away to tunes and enjoying the sunshine. Di asks if she can photo the dogs, and all four people, plus the dogs pose for a snap. Di notes the dogs names and she’s happy!

👂 1212pm - Goblin is now way in front of us and DinkyDi and are are walking together. Today we have a similar pace. I stop to pick up an Apple AirPod which appears to have fallen out of someone’s ear. A couple coming towards us look as if they are looking for something so I stopped to ask if they have lost an airpod. Nope, it wasn’t them. I thank them and use the opportunity to check the map. “Bloody hell Di, we’ve missed the turning…. Again”. We turn around and head back up the hill for our bonus miles today. Bonus mikes suck! We found the turning, and then spot “Quiet Peter” who has done exactly the same as us. As he passes us he rolls his eyes. We are chatting to a young family when then next person to appear is Goblin! He also missed the turn! I took the lost AirPod out of my pocket and laid it back on the bench where I’d found it. Hopefully it will be reunited with its owner soon!

🥪 1pm - I’m tired and was pleased to see that DinkyDi and goblin had stopped for a break. Goblin always lays down with his legs in the air and Dinky lays out her a Tyvek. I’m happy with my little chair! We are here, in the shade for about 40 mins. The highlight of the break was Goblin sharing a tangerine with us. Pure heaven!

🥵 2:15 pm It’s getting hot now and the sun is zapping my energy. It’s another slow climb so I need a distraction. Garth Brooks, “Friends in Low Places” was the first song to pop up on shuffle. This song reminds me of Bubba on The Camino and I sing my heart out all the way down the mountain.

⛺️ 5pm We are now looking for a campsite. Our initial thoughts were Little Bear Camp Ground, but it was busy with weekend warriors and lots of PCT hikers, so we push on. Me, DinkyDi and Goblin arrived at camp for the night which is a beautiful spot by the creek. We have grass (a luxury!). We set up our dining room, spend way to much time watching a bug under a log and then eat dinner. We were just about to go to bed when Jim turns up! Jim is the guy who left his shoes in Nitsy’s car. He looks happy and was reunited with his footwear.

😴 I’m snuggled up in my quilt and take a sleeping aid tablet. They helped last night so I’m hoping for similar results… night night

Thanks for listening to my rambles. XxRead more