Day 59 - PCT 2024
Miles Hiked: 13
Total Ascent: 1,883.5 ft.
Total Descent: 1,956.4 ft.
I was able to get some sleep! So happy about that! But I woke up in the middle of the night feeling hot and drenched in sweat. I was definitely feverish. I changed out of my base layers to cool off but I went from cold to hot and back again until finally falling asleep. I woke up at 5am feeling dragged out but I decided to get up. Being sick is the worst, especially on trail. I quietly started packing up around 5:45am not wanting to wake the girls camping beside me. I wanted to start hiking early to avoid the heat.
I got on trail just before 6:30am. Packing up still takes me awhile and it’s my least favourite part of backpacking. I was still feeling a little feverish this morning but felt better as the day went on. I managed to conserve enough water yesterday to get me to the first water source this morning. I filled up 2 litres from the stream and kept hiking. I stopped briefly to eat a snack when I saw a memorial bench. It’s always a luxury to have proper seating out here, can’t pass that up! By 9:30am I had hiked 8 miles and stopped for a break just off the trail so I could stretch out. I was hoping to make it 10 miles to the fire station but I’m listening to my body. Nick and Pit Stop passed me but I caught up with them at the fire station a little while later.
The fire station is just off trail and provides chargers, garbage bins and water. Nick pulled out his collapsible tea pot and I instantly called him, “Boujee” which is now his trail name. He made a coffee while the 3 of us sat around the charging plugs charging all of our electronics. It’s wonderful when there are places to charge. I carry 2 10,000 watt battery banks but they tend to die on large stretches between towns.
Boujee convinced me to hitch hike with him into Green Valley, a tiny town with an incredible smokehouse. I was hesitant because I was hoping to hike 17 miles today but decided I’d cut my mileage and go for the food. Hard to pass up a hot meal, especially when you’re not feeling the greatest anyway. Pit Stop decided to continue hiking instead of coming into town with us. She’s trying to make it to Tehachapi by Sunday whereas I don’t plan to leave Hiker Town until at least Sunday. The Smokehouse was more than worth it! We were able to get a hitch from the second car passing by. A Correctional Officer at a nearby prison. He had some stories!
The Smokehouse had tons of delicious options and I chose a chicken mixed green salad. I could use more vegetables in my diet. It’s hard to eat vegetables on trail. It was delicious! The owners of the restaurant occasionally give rides back to trail but unfortunately they were unable to today due to being short staffed. I was nervous about having to walk the 3-4 miles back to trail but luckily the trail provides and Boujee was able to hitch down the first car to drive by. He gave us a ride back to the fire station. We were grateful. By this time the sun was beating down. Boujee decided to stay at the fire station for an hour or two to wait out the heat but I just wanted to get to camp. I already cut my mileage short for the day.
We spent quite awhile in town so by the time I hit trail, it was the hottest part of the day. There was no breeze and it was over 30 degree Celsius. All day the Air Force was spraying something in the mountains. But as I hiked up, the plane kept circling and spraying quite close to me. I’m not sure what they’re spraying for but it was interesting to watch the plane overhead. Of course the day had to end with a big climb. I hiked 3 miles to camp and was thrilled to find clear water in the cistern. A few of us tried to figure out how to collect water before realizing you just dump your bottle/CNOC into the water under the metal plate. You need to sort of get on the ground and force your way in. I’ve seen spigots but nothing like this. I gathered my water, filtered it and drank a litre while chatting with some fellow hikers. They decided to carry on another couple of miles and I decided to set up my tent. Terrible pitch on the tent tonight. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s not.
