Start point
Little Bear Springs Camp, mile 285.6
End point
Splinter Camp, mile 298.5
Miles hiked
12.9
Wilderness area
San Bernardino National Forest
People I met
Myrna
Francesco
The day on trail
I spent a really nice, easy morning talking with Sky High. He gave me a lot of great information about the trip ahead of me, since he’s southbound (SOBO) and I’m northbound (NOBO). He also gave me the great idea to keep my olive oil in a plastic coke bottle, as that won’t accidentally unscrew in my food bag.
He also told be about a malt shop and burger spot ahead of me on the trail and told me how to get to it. This would be some of the greatest information I’ve gotten yet.
He had to go, and I was being a little slow this morning (like every morning). I spent entirely too long watching this winged raccoon known as a Stellar’s Jay.
But I was off! It was 13 miles to the point where I got off trail for the burger and malt, then an additional 1.7 miles each way. So there was no time to waste.
There’s nothing like town food to motivate you to go go go.
The day was gorgeous though. It was super easy terrain and mostly downhill. All I had to do was cruise along. And cruising leads to thinking.
There are lots of areas on this trail that drop off. They have trail missing or crumbly dirt that falls off to a steep drop. There might be a tree blown down that you have to go over or under, or take areas off steep trail to ascend or descend around it.
I was a scared child. And I was a scared young adult. I would not have been able to do so much of this trail even seven years ago. Stretches of it that I encounter every day would have given past Eddie panic attacks. But Minstrel — this Eddie — takes them without hesitation. I enjoy them.
I don’t know why I was such a scared child. I think it was anxieties my mother gave me. She made me think I couldn’t do anything and really reinforced me being too conservative with risk and peril. I didn’t grow up trusting my feet or my balance. Sure, trekking poles really help, but I’ve now learned to trust my body, my feet, and my balance.
It’s really amazing to see what I can do. I didn’t know I had it it me, and now it’s a daily part of my existence. I can push myself and I love doing it. Plus, those things they used to scare me don’t anymore. I’m great with that crumbling trail or high bridges. I love it now!
Speaking of blowdowns, there was this massive tree blocking the trail. There was a small footpath going up and around it.
I saw this cute LBM (little brown mushroom) growing under a rock step.
Lots of great signs.
And another multiverse step! I wonder what the Minstrel that splits off this timeline does.
This blowdown required me to take off my pack, throw my poles over it, climb under, then pull my pack through. It was too slick to safely climb over!
This moss was gorgeous and I loved it.
Finally I got to Splinter Cabin and set up camp.
I hiked my 1.7 miles down three road gates and the Cedar Glen Malt Shop picked me up for some much needed town food.
I charged some devices then came back and fell asleep hard. It was such a perfect day. I’m excited for my trip to the hot springs tomorrow.
Looove a good malt. And a good burger. Burger AND malt. You’d have to roll me to my campsite afterward! Speaking of, yours here looked so peaceful. It made me wanna be there. Facing your fears is tough. So is exposing yourself to those fears in a way that releases the power they have over you. It’s gradual. It takes a lot of patience and grace (toward you, your inner kid). Shadow work is a struggle, but the payoff for all that work is so rewarding. Now look: you can trust your own body (and your mind) and what it’s capable of. That’s something many people don’t do in a lifetime.
As a mother it makes me cringe when I hear that someone has riddled her child with anxieties and self-doubt. These things hide in our brains just waiting for some event (or trigger) to make them bubble to the surface. I applaud you for overcoming so many of those fears and insecurities! As always, I love the photos you include in your commentary. It’s one thing to say I had a malt or I set up camp under the pines. It’s another thing to see them in vivid color.