April 29, 2007

I was driven to the trailhead at Highway 18 by Debbie, the owner of Nature's Inn.  Ed, Fireman, and Big Daddy D joined me.  The first seven miles involved a short climb but the tread was gentle on the feet.  At one point a few miles in I said to Ed,

"Uh...I think there's a wolf following me".

Ed laughed until he realized there really was something 110 pounds coming up the trail.  It was a wolf hybrid dog.  We stopped to chat with the dog's owner and I pet the wolf hybrid puppy whose paws were huge!

Shortly after that meeting, Ed and I concurred that one final lunch in Big Bear would be worth the time it takes to get off the trail.  At Van Dusen Canyon Road, we met up with Fireman and Big Daddy D who were enjoying a relaxing lunch break.  Ed and I stashed our packs and began to walk the four miles into Big Bear City when two fellows on quad runners offered us a ride.  We happily accepted.  My hat flew off so we backed up to retrieve it off the ground.  My driver decided to play catch up and we sped up on the dirt and rocky road.  It was an exhilarating hitch but I was scared, too.

When the quads could go no further, a couple in a Trailrunner gave us a ride into Big Bear Lake Village.  The couple offered to take us back to the trailhead and gave us two hours to have lunch and wander.  Ed and I had huge meals before wobbling into the liquor store to purchase two gallons of water.  I had a photo opportunity with the Bear before being driven back to the trailhead.  We found our packs intact and finished our day's hike covering between 13 and 14 miles.  Chuck Wagon, a hiker from the Mt. Shasta area, hiked by our campsite.  I took in the beautiful night sky before settling into my sleeping bag for a cozy night's sleep.