Day 14th- May 3rd

Today was such a good day! We woke up semi-early, went down to the Rangers check-in station and got $5 in shower tokens. 1 token = a 5 minute "hot" shower, not too bad! 

We then headed just down the road to do some laundry. They were so nice there; free soap to PCT hikers, and even random clean clothes to wear so you can wash everything! 

Stylin' 

During laundry we ran into Daniel ("Forgetpole"), and "Guac", (one of two of the Chips and Guac duo; we started with "Chips" (Russ)). After we were finished we were starving and headed to The Red Kettle for lunch. 

We had huuuuuge burgers (the biggest burger Claire has ever eaten) and sweet potato fries, yum!!

We then headed to the post office to pick up the new stove that Laguna Dave had sent. When I told the lady my name, she came back with two packages for me, one from my sister Sarah and one from my mom Ki'i (both are still in Hawaii)

Awesome care packages and cards guys! I have the best family ever! :) (The brownies disappeared first...) 

We hit the local grocery story since it was right next door, and resupplied with a few more items. Then it was off to the outfitter!

I know this all might sound kinda boring, but when you're out on the trail for days at a time, a morning in town is so exciting! I can imagine that it can get quite exhausting walking around a huge town, but so far, all the towns (including Idylwild), have been very walkable..

If you've read any of my previous blogs, you must be fully aware of Claire and I's blister problems. The day had finally come for new shoes! 

Out with the old :(

And in with the new!!

Yes, they may look like clown shoes, but they have a nice wide toe box, the bottom of the show is wider than your foot, (giving more stability), and they have "zero drop", which means the heels aren't any higher than the toe. 

This sounds weird but for loooong hiking, all day everyday, these shoes are te way to go.

Finally we were all done in town. As we were leaving, I had to save Claire from this dragon:

We packed up nice and quick, and hit the road! (To hitchhike). We got suuuuuper lucky with rides and got three connecting hitches in a row, making the 18 mile hitch out of town in about a 30 minute process!! (Verrrrrry good for hitching)

We hit the trail at about 5pm, and walked 5.5 miles through some of the most BEAUTIFUL terrain and trail we've seen so far! 

The trail was stunning, the shoes AMAZING, and the blister pain non-existent! We set up camp in the twilight, what an awesome view:

Well, that's about it! Tomorrow we walk about 5 more miles of the PCT, and then start our 25 mile fire closure detour that skips 10 miles of the PCT. That will land is back in Idyllwild in a couple days, just in time to wait out a snow storm in the mountains above! (All theoretically of course.)

Thanks for reading!