Start: 1100 - Idyllwild Inn
End: 1930 - near San Jacinto River
Miles (today) - 12 (5 alternate, 7 PCT)
Miles (cumulative) - 194

Perhaps the reason I'm anxious to get back to the trail is because life is simpler here.  Out here, on the trail, I have the wisdom to know the difference between what I can change and what I can't.  I don't dwell on our house closure getting delayed (if it sells it will be a miracle) or our health insurance potentially getting cancelled because Nick is in the Illinois guard yet we have a Texas address.  I don't worry about how I look (mostly).  My biggest concerns are food, water, staying warm, and finding a private place to squat.  Everything I need I carry with me - there is no room for superfluous stuff.  The simplicity is nice. 

(All that being said, it is a lot more convenient to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night when you aren't out here on the trail.  It's such a production - muster the courage to get out of the warm sleeping bag, take off your clean sleeping socks, put on flip flops, crawl out of the tent, do your business, get back to the tent, try not to get your sleeping bag dirty as you re-clean your feet, put your sleeping socks back on...)

Anyway.  We started the day late.  The post office didn't open until 0900 and after we got all the food sorted (thanks for the awesome healthy cookies and dried sweet potato, Mary!) it was close to 1000.  Since the library opened at 1000 we figured we might as well stop in to get an updated water report and a printout of the alternate route (for that possible closure coming up).  By the time we got out of Idyllwild it was 1100. 

On the way to the trail we met Jazzman, who we also saw a few times throughout the day. We also ran into a wonderful couple who wanted to know all about what we're doing. The wife was very kind and said I was pretty (I don't feel very pretty out here and I know she was being nice but it made me smile nonetheless). 

On the trail we ran into Scout (he and his wife, Frodo, were the ones who hosted us and fed us breakfast the morning we started the trail).  Scout was with Tumbler and Spinner and we walked with them for a while - it felt like we were walking with someone famous.  We also ran into Cyclops again!  I love chatting with him and seeing him always makes me smile - he is such an inspiration.

The most interesting part of the day was seeing some Tibetan Monks doing a dance to honor the spirit of the mountain and to ensure safe passage for hikers.  I tried to take a video but it didn't turn out too well.  It was pretty cool to watch, though.  :)

We also saw some snow flowers, which Scout says are pretty rare because of the conditions they need to grow. 
 

The trail was mostly uphill today - we hiked up above 9,000 feet - so it wasn't easy (although I still prefer going up to going down).  However, the views we had at the end of the day were incredible.  I love being above the clouds.

We met some new faces today - Lucy, Phil, and Adam.  We all camped in the same area and, even though we needed to set up tents and make dinner, Lucy and I encouraged Phil and Nick to watch the amazing sunset with us instead.  It was time well-spent - the sunset was fantastic.

Good news: my feet didn't give me too much trouble today.  I think the blisters have all turned to calluses.  :)

Aaahh! There is a mouse in our tent area!