PCT Day 7-12

Checking in from the town of Idyllwild! Today is my first real "Zero" day, no hiking at all. After 12 days of hiking this is super refreshing! We have been able to shower, wash clothes (twice), cook real food and relax for a day. Idyllwild is a small mountain town near the San Jacinto mountains in Southern California. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and other civilized tourist activities that we have been partaking in. The pizza, burgers, and beer have all been some of the best I've had due to only eating dehydrated food for almost 2 weeks ha! There are plenty of other hikers who have stopped here so it is nice to see some new faces.

Not only am I seeing new faces, but I have run into some people who I started trail with and it was so great to be reunited with them! When you are on trail, the people you hike with become your friends and family, or as we call it your "tramily" (trail family).

Another important aspect of the trail is your trail name. This is a name given to you by other hikers usually as a result of doing something silly or having something happen to you. I am happy to say I finally have a trail name! Here is the story:

One day some other hikers and myself were sitting in the shade during the middle of the day to wait out the heat. We were talking about all the things we wished we had. The other hikers mentioned ice cream, soda, beer, or watermelon. I turned to them and said, " I wish I had a big, cold, juicy PICKLE!" (This was something I always ate on RAGBRAI to keep my sodium up and keep me cool) The other hikers just looked at me and laughed and said from now on I would be named Pickle. Later on they ended up fulfilling my wish. Thank you Porkchops and Free Rider!!

That is all for now! Once again I can't express how fortunate I am to be out here experiencing so many things for the first time and meeting so many people.

-Pickle

P.S. Did I mention the mayor of Idyllwild is a dog named Max?!?!? Picture below!