Mile 275.1 - 293.3

   This morning we called trail angel "Papa Smurf".  He drove to our motel with two other hikers and bought us up the Van Dusen  Canyon dirt road to the PCT trailhead. We left off there yesterday, but had to walk the 2.6 mile dirt road with no traffic until we could hitch a ride on Hwy 38.

   We spent our second night in Big Bear City. That and needing a ride to the trailhead this morning means a late start. Later than we are used to anyway. Despite the later start we still managed an 18 mile day in the high desert. A lot of today's trail was graded downward, so that helped. We found a nice camp spot by Holcombe Creek at around 5,000 feet. 

   We are low enough to avoid another freezing cold night. We hope.

Trail angel "Papa Smurf" in the middle. The two hikers on the right are from the Middle East. Papa Smurf drove us all up the 2.6 miles of very rough unpaved road. He sent us off with a prayer.

Y-Knot in the middle of a giant Y of a tree.

Big Bear Lake from high above on the PCT.

Balance hiking the trail.

Y-Knot's 4th sun hat. Again I found this one in the hiker box. I needed a wider brim to keep the sun off my face. This hat  has a neck protector so my neck won't burn. I think I'll keep this one.

Beautiful lupines blooming.