BIG BEAR, Calif. – The Pacific Crest Trail runs from Mexico through the mountains and deserts of Southern California all the way up to Canada. The trail is becoming increasingly more popular to hike.

The incredibly long journey is made a bit easier for some hikers thanks to people called “trail angels.” Jim Lyon, 82, of Big Bear is one of the angels.  

“Everybody’s got a trail name and my trail name, since my last name is Lyon and I live in the mountains, they call me Mountain Lion,” said Lyon.

On a stretch of the PCT near Big Bear, Lyon carries water jugs each weighing about 8 pounds to a certain spot for the hikers. Somedays when the gate to the fire road isn’t open, he hikes with them for two miles. He does the hike no matter the weather or how he’s feeling, knowing it will help someone else.

“I hiked a portion of the trail back in 2005 and since that time we have had a pretty good drought up here so the little streams that people need to get water out of have dried up and so I decided I would bring water to them and I’ve done it ever since,” Lyon said.

Lyon has been providing water for thirsty hikers for 14 years.

According to the Pacific Crest Trail Association, up to one million people hike parts of the trail every year. The border-to-border through hike is 2,650 miles and takes about five months. Last year, about 5,000 people applied for permits to hike the entire trail.

Along the way, trail angels, like Lyon, offer complete strangers food or a place to stay for the night out of the goodness of their hearts. Mountain Lion has become somewhat of a legend along the PCT and so has his water cache.

“The word gets around… so they know where to look,” Lyon said.

Lyon has been a hiker all his life and though his steps are a little slower now, he will continue putting one foot in front of the other to re-fill the water as long as he is able. As an angel, Lyon is always watching out for the hikers that pass through.