DATE: May 12
START: Mission Creek
FINISH: Big Bear/Van Dusen Canyon
DISTANCE: 42 miles (67.6 km)
TOTAL DISTANCE: 274 miles (440.9 km)
Steady 3,500 ft climb out of Mission Creek. Felt strong. Ran into Beardo, a former AT hiker who is good friends with Carnivore and Purple (SWH trail angels). The hiking community is a relatively small and close knit one, and it is not uncommon to run into old friends, or at least friends of friends, on a regular basis.
Later that day I also met a guy by the name of Ryan Choi. I recognized his name due to the fact that he is one of only a handful of people to have hiked the Hayduke Trail, which was part of the recently completed Southwestern Horseshoe. I owed him a debt of gratitude, as he was the guy who documented the premier water source of the entire Hayduke, the Hole-in-the-wall spring on the Paria River.
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Whoa! You are absolutely right about the hiking community being small. I met Beardo, Sweet P, Carnivore and Purple on September 27th, 2011 when I was in PA doing a section hike. That is just crazy. They are all very good people.
As an explanation on why I’m commenting on a post that is months old. You were mentioned on a Facebook site and I started reading your journals. You are doing something that most of us only dream of. I wish you the best as you finish up your 12th long walk.
Keep on hiking. Maybe I will meet you on the trail too when you make your way down to the MD area.
Take care,
Jefe
Hey Jefe
Thanks for your well wishes. The long distance hiking community is definitely a small one, but it is filled with some of the best people you are ever likely to meet.
Cheers
Cam