It’s town day today, and that means a hectic blur of a day. Resupply, laundry, shower, and eating as much town food as physically possible. It’s hard to overstate how chaotic things can get on a town day. There’s many hikers from multiple familiar groups with different plans and nobody knows really where we are.

As we’re packing up camp, a photographer shows up and we get talking about our trip. He also tells us about a charity event on this morning for the Make A Wish Foundation. 100 participants started at 4 am to hike 28 miles, and our trailhead is the halfway point. The first guy is a Navy Seal and steams through our camp at a blistering pace.

Down at the road, we hitch into town, literally the third car driving past picks us up. On the way to town, we learn about another event happening this weekend called the Spartan Race. Participants run a 14 mile course filled with challenges and obstacles. Our driver is one of the participants and is heading to town for the race.

Once in town, I’m able to store my pack at the hostel, even though I’m too early for check in. I’m staying at ITH Big Bear Hostel, the same group I stayed with in San Diego and they have the cool vibe to match. Without my heavy pack, I’m able to roam, and I head to Grizzly Manor Cafe.

Grizzly Manor is a legendary spot. The breakfast portions are absolutely huge. I order the Polar Bear breakfast, which comes with two gigantic pancakes, each the size of a pizza. Along with the pancakes, there is a huge pile of fried potato hash, 2 eggs and rasher bacon. Coffee refills are free here too.

The huge breakfast fills me up all day, unfortunate really because I have so many places I want to try. After breakfast, I head out to start my resupply. All the buses here are free, which makes getting around so much easier, and I head about 10 minutes out to the grocery store.

I’m slowly getting better at recognizing the different foods and brands here, but it’s still a bit of a challenge. I manage to get 6-7 days worth of food, and then try to eat a burger from the place over the road. I’ve heard good things about the spot, Get The Burger, and so I give it a go. The burger is great, just what I need after a week’s hiking, but I’m still full from breakfast, and I just can’t get through the last two bites, despite trying for 20 minutes.

I practically roll out the door, and decide to get an Uber back to the hostel since the next bus is nearly half an hour away. On the way back, we’re talking about the PCT, and the driver asks if I’ve got a trail name. When I tell him they call me Skillet, he yells out loud and says he’s had hikers telling him about me. He’s especially happy when I show him the supplies I got to cook on my first proper night out of town – it’s not steak this time.

Once I’ve sorted my stuff at the hostel, the afternoon is getting on a bit, so I decide to check out a local bar. The AV Club in Big Bear caught my eye as I was walking through town and was also recommended to me by one of the people at the hostel, so I head over there. When I get inside I see that this is a real local spot, the bar staff are friendly and talkative, and before long I’m also chatting with a few locals too. I spend the evening here and get back to the hostel around 11 pm, quite late for a hiker.