Hiking is great. I love seeing all of the sights, pushing over a mountain ridge and learning how to live in the back country.
That being said, zero days are absolutely necessary. My feet are trashed and in bad need of repair. We found a loose group of fellow hikers with whom we've bonded nicely. Now we sit back and relax for a day or two before getting back out on the trail. I couldn't be more thankful for this period of rehabbing my feet and spending time with fellow hikers. I even slept in a bed last night!
To top it all off, Idyllwild is the most adorably quaint town. I'm not usually the biggest fan of tiny towns, but this one has treated us well (read: BOGO ice cream cones).
Cheers,
Jonathan