I'm on my way to Big Bear! And for the first time, I'm going to do what I always planned to do (but which was made difficult by the lack of water and the uncertainty about Shyla's fitness for the trail). So far, I've been riding light and switching off horses in order to get through this water-challenged southern part of the trail and to spare the horses as much as possible. Sometimes one has a long day and the other a shorter day (when Mom meets me to swap horses somewhere) and sometimes it is just one on the trail while the other rests. But today I'm actually packing for the first time. I'm riding Shyla and Takoka is carrying the pack with food and equipment, and we're planning to stay at Mission Springs Trail Camp in the San Bernardino mountains. I'm counting on there being water there (and the PCT water report has assured me there is), but Takoda is carrying 20 liters for the long, hot climb up the mountainside. It's going to be my first night actually camping out on my own . . . but hopefully not my last!

#2014PCT