Monday, May 14th   Mile 352-369 (17 miles)

Woke up early this morning and set off to finish the remainder of the climb up the ridge line.  Once I crested the ridge I noticed that there was an enormous field of Poodledog Bush, a poisonous plant related to poison oak, growing right on the trail for about a quarter mile.  I tiptoed my way through the field, trying to avoid any contact with my skin and my gear.  Later into the day I met a hiker named Monk who is carrying a collapsible didgeridoo with him and was treated to a back country didgeridoo concert.  Eventually I made my way down to the small mountain town of Wrightwood where I spotted a bunch of other hikers scurrying around town.  Spotting a thruhiker in towns is very easy: look for sweaty guys with beards and inappropriately worn rain gear.  Most of us are carrying no spare clothes, so we disrobe and walk around in rain gear while our laundry is being washed.  It is miserably hot in the Californian sun wearing rain gear, so we are all pouring sweat.  In town, I stop into the post office where I received a fantastic care package from a lovely day hiker named Melissa that I met in the San Jacintos.  Dried fruit.  Kale chips.  Tons of great things.  It was unbelievably kind of her to send me, a relative stranger, the package, and I am very much indebted to her for it. Thanks again, Melissa!

I split a room with a fellow hiker, enjoy a huge amount of town food and go to bed.