The plan today was to leave town in the afternoon and hike just a little way from the trailhead to camp. A great plan, because somehow I woke up slightly hungover from last night.

The morning was spent hanging out in the kitchen and eating free pancakes, an ITH Hostel breakfast staple. After breakfast, I hung out some more and chatted with other hostel guests, while also repacking my bag in the living room.

Just after lunchtime, a fantastic trail angel named Monica picked me up from the hostel, and also picked up a couple of others from a different place. She drove us out to the trailhead, and even stopped to pick up pizza from Red Baron Pizza on the way out (her recommendation, and a very good choice).

Once we got out there, we hiked just 2.5 miles, set up camp and ate a small dinner, I was still full from pizza and all the town food before. Tomorrow’s plan is to hike a full day, and I still have my special dinner packed too. Just before going to sleep another hiker arrived at camp, I can’t believe it but Ninja from the Cabazon wind farm had just caught up. When he arrived, he had a funny story to share, apparently he had an Uber driver in town telling him about some guy named Skillet…