Day 13 - PCT 2024
Miles Hiked: 14.8
Total Ascent: 2,975.4 ft.
Total Descent: 4,512.1 ft.
Today was hard. Really hard.
The morning was okay! I awoke to a dry tent because it was windy overnight. I was still a bit cold so I put on my Lululemon hiking leggings over my thermal pants and that helped. I guess my thermals aren’t warm enough. I’d rather not sleep in the pants I hiked in, gross! When I get to Idyllwild, I’ll have to find a different solution. Hopefully two days away!
I hiked 5 miles in under two hours to get to Mike’s water cache. The terrain wasn’t too bad and since it was morning, it was cooler unlike yesterday. This gentleman has water tanks on his ranch to help PCT hikers. I donated a few bucks to help keep this active for future hikers. If this cache wasn’t here, it would be another 10 miles to an active water source. Water is becoming more difficult to find now. Water carries are definitely a thing and it’s heavy. Each litre of water weighs 2.2lbs. It adds up.
Leaving Mike’s place is when things started to get worse. The weather turned cold and windy. It was great to hike in but not so great to break in. As I climbed the mountain, the dark clouds rolled in and the sky opened. The rain started to pour before I had a chance to get my rain jacket on so I was soaked even before I layered. Impulse had checked the weather report on his Garmin this morning and it said no rain. Lies! Don’t trust the weather report.
The trail became narrower and rockier. The shrubs were overgrown and blocked the trail in many parts. It was difficult to navigate the trail in this part. Trees were down. My legs, face, arms and my already scraped knees, were all targets to scratching branches. The rain added another level of difficulty. Every time I pushed through bushes, I’d get even wetter. The wind was strong and made me cold, so so cold. I don’t have merino gloves so I wore my fingerless sun gloves which did little to protect my hands.
I arrived at our designated lunch spot another 5 miles in, 10 total at this point, and I was in tears. First trail meltdown. My socks and shoes were soaked and my bandaids came off my blisters so they were rubbing raw in my wet socks. My knee started to bleed. The cut on my finger was stinging and kept opening. It was bad. I debated even stopping for “lunch” but I needed to try to do first aid on at least one blister and it’s important to check in with the group. Getting a wet sock off and back on is a talent. Snax showed up as I was finished nursing my blister and trying to gain composure and gave me a big hug. Failure to Launch arrived shortly after. We quickly ate some snacks in the rain and continued on. We tried to reach Impulse but he didn’t reply.
The last 5 miles were rainy, sunny, rain mixed with sun and downpour. It was mostly downhill during this section and the trail was slightly more groomed. Still not great but a bit better. Shortly after I passed through a pipe gate, I ran into Freddie who has been hiking with Sasha, (our groups have passed each other the last few days so we’re all aware of each other), she was in a panic as Sasha was supposed to meet her 3 hours prior at their designated meet spot. The last time she was seen was near the pipe gate. She tried calling her and it rang but no answer. Cell reception is really hit or miss in here so I suggested she try her Garmin but unfortunately Freddie didn’t have Sasha’s Garmin information. It was only yesterday that I ensured I had my groups Garmin info so I can understand why it’s often overlooked by hikers hiking together. Freddie came back through and told me she had no luck finding her. Failure to Launch suggested calling the local Rangers. My initial thought was that Sasha somehow got ahead but it wouldn’t make sense for her to not check in, especially if her phone is ringing. We were all on high alert and concern for Sasha’s safety.
I stopped at Tule Spring to get water. It’s the last water source until Paradise Valley Cafe in 15 miles. It was a ¼ mile down an old beat up road to a fresh marsh plant. Pretty neat to observe. Thankfully the rain had stopped and I quickly filled up, I Garmined Snax to come down for water since he bypassed the spring and I started hiking back up the dirt road with 5 litres of water. Enough to cook with and have a drink tonight with 4 litres for a big hike tomorrow.
The sun came out long enough for me to set up camp back on trail and to start to dry my leggings and sun hoodie. They didn’t fully dry before the sun set but it was a start. My shoes are still soaked though.
Tonight around 11pm, I had a total tent collapse. I was actually asleep which for me is pretty rare as I don’t sleep well on trail, especially under such stressful circumstances. The wind was so strong and pulled out my tent stakes. The rain at least held off until I managed to find big rocks to hold down my tent pegs. Now it’s pouring again and the wind is in full force. My tent walls are blowing around like crazy. I couldn’t add additional guylines because of a lack of rocks. I’m just hoping the ones I do have on the corners hold up.
Update 2:18am: Riverside Mountain Rescue just stopped by our camp looking for Sasha. They have two crews out but are unable to get a helicopter until morning due to the weather. It’s still raining heavily and the wind is intense. It’s cold. They’ve spanned the area between here and the pipe gate where she was last seen and didn’t come across her. They were hoping for more detailed information about trail conditions, etc. We offered to assist but they said it’s safer for us here. Now I can’t sleep. I’m really hoping she’s okay.
