I cleared all my stuff out of the hostel dorm, fit all my food inside my bear-canister and was ready to move. I joined Jukebox and Pops for coffee at an amazing coffee place called Black Velvet after which we went out to grab some breakfast. I had contacted Photo-op, who was staying at an Airbnb with a bunch of other hikers about what time they planned on moving out. I received a message saying that they were thinking of changing their minds; the idea of taking a zero in Mammoth was starting to take shape. That’s what I’d wanted all along, but because I wanted to get in on the application of a group-permit for a specific hike in Yosemite we wanted to do, I had been keen on tagging along with the others…
Now it looked like I had an extra free day in Mammoth, however with no place to stay; the hostel was booked to full capacity for tonight. I decided to stay for the day, and head up to the trail-head tonight, this way I’d save a few bucks and I could tag alongas the others hiked out tomorrow. After breakfast Pops and Jukebox went to sort out their groceries, and I went back to Black Velvet. I spend my time downloading some podcasts and an audiobook and I’m pretty excited about the next stretch; listening to something else but music should make for a welcome change after 2 months. 
After my second brew I wandered around the town, got some pastries at a bakery and took the trolley (there’s a free trolley that rides around Mammoth all day) to the other side of town to get a hamburger. During the second half of the afternoon Pops and Jukebox had finished their chores and were getting another coffee, so I joined them again. They were selling figs at a local farmers market, got some of those too. Delicious!
I’d eaten way too much already so when Jukebox and Pops went for Mexican food I finally had to pass. All day as I was walking around the town I kept running into familiar hikers, and I stopped several times to catch up with a bunch of them. Its quite funny to be in a strange country, in a strange city, but to meet so many people on the streets that you know. Felt good. The Canadian family had made it into town today too, so we swapped some stories before they went on their way to find a place to stay for the night. It was about time I started heading out to the trail-head, the last bus would leave around 1900. I hopped on the trolley and saw a hiker getting in who looked strangely familiar. I looked again and saw to my surprise that it was John! John had been hiking with us for the first week of the trail, but unfortunately had to quit his PCT-hike because of severe knee-injuries. Later after he’d gotten off trail, we learned that he intended to hike the JMT later this summer, so we would possibly be able to catch up with him. Now I ran into him here in Mammoth (which is not the official starting point of the JMT), so I was happily surprised! It was great to see him out here, and I was psyched for him to have recovered enough to attempt another long hike again! In that moment I also knew that there was no way I was going to get out on the trail tonight; we had to catch up! I knew where Pops and Jukebox were getting drinks, so I took him over there and we surprised them, it was a great reunion!
Since John and I both still needed a place to stay, we opted for one of the local walk-up campsites (you leave your money in the mailbox, and pick any free site you can find). This was a great option, because all the hostels in town seemed to be booked up. After getting set-up, we went to Johns Pizza Works, where Photo-op, Dr Strange, Jukebox, Pops, John and I had a great night, playing a game of cards against humanity. Tomorrow John will make way for Toulumne Meadows, and will start hiking South-bound on the JMT. So within the next to days we should catch him on the trail again. It turned out to be a real relaxed and fun zero, and I am not at all sorry I got pulled back into the town-vortex once more. Tomorrow it’s time to get back into the wilderness again. And I’m looking forward to it!
My brother and I
Built dens at night
Out in the pines grew thicker over time
We took our turns
And we learnt to love our little minds
We walked into the wilderness
Bearing the courage of the Wilderman
They hide in the night in the trees
With silhouette figures
Shapes and shadows they start to surround
We shine our torches
And make monsters with our hands
We weren’t afraid because
We taught them how to dance
You’re so blind to our way of life
Oh carry on your heavy load
Oh is life a burden on your backbones
If so take control
Of the heel beneath your home
Where the gravity is weaker
And the stars give you hope
If the lines upon your hands
Predict this soul
Why are we waiting?
Why are we wasting time?
Wilderman – Toby Johnson
