Day 82 - PCT 2024
PCT trail miles: 10.4
Ascent: 2,256.7 ft.
Descent: 1,086 ft.
No condensation this morning! Total win! We got packed up and hit the trail around 7:30am. Seems to be our new normal. I was awake at 5:30 and couldn’t drift back to sleep so I picked up my bear can and started sorting today’s snacks. I find it is easier to get the days food out of the bear can so it can stay packed away until arriving at camp.
Today was another big climb and being sick yesterday and not sleeping well overnight had me concerned but it went fairly well! The view up was stunning. It’s easy to distract yourself on a climb by taking pictures every 5 minutes. I’ve also started listening to music. I enjoy my hiking companions but a tough climb requires tunes!
But honestly I’m finding the terrain steeper than SoCal. It’s a lot more straight up verses switch backs, at least so far. We’re taking it slowly. Really slow. It’s what I need to prevent my IT band from acting up but it’s frustrating. I feel as if I’ve lost a lot of progress. And I suppose I have being off trail for six weeks while recovering but I’m looking forward to getting my trail legs back! I was hoping Oregon would help with that but I wasn’t there long enough really and then I had 8 days off in between Oregon and the Sierras. I know I’ll get there. Slow and steady.
We took a couple of breaks with amazing views! Krista would see a great view up ahead and go running toward it so I always knew something magnificent was ahead. The Sierras do not disappoint. This afternoon smoke blew in from a new forest fire that started down at Kern River. So glad we got past there in time! I’m worried for the other hikers in that section as I know John and Wei, that I met in KMS, were supposed to be hiking in that vicinity today. Hopefully they’re safe! The air quality up here at 9000-10,000 feet got pretty bad and haze blocked our stunning views.
The boulders and rocks at the top of our climb today were impressive. I felt tiny in comparison!
We were all excited to make it to camp to find out we had to walk about another quarter mile down to the spring to collect water. Tina wasn’t feeling good all day (bug going around maybe? I’m still not feeling great) and struggled hiking back up from the hill. I think we were all just ready to sit down, eat and relax. It wasn’t a long extra bit but after a full day of hiking, you just hope your water source is a bit closer. The stream was flowing strong with clear cold water and that’s all I needed in that moment. I’m having trouble with my water filter and it’s filtering rather slowly. It’s almost as if it’s not screwing onto my Cnoc bladder correctly but the thread looks fine. Krista let me borrow hers for now. I’m going to need to either fix it in town or get yet another water filter. If you could only see my eye roll. 🙄 What is it with me with shoes and water filters? Aieeee.
We met a southbound hiker from Belgium who decided to camp with us tonight. We’re not very good company though as it’s 6:30pm and the three of us are already tucked in our tents for the evening. We ate dinner early and I struggled to finish mine. But being out in bear country, you eat it all or carry it out with you and I’m not carrying it out. Banana oatmeal is no longer appetizing which is strange as that’s all I could stomach for months when I was hiking in SoCal. It’s fascinating how much your pallet changes while on trail. Foods I love at home aren’t appetizing out here and vice versa.
My feet are sore tonight. I could use a hot soak for them. My big toe is still sore from my fall the other day but it’s improving. The bandaid has remained over my knee scrape which is lovely because everything is dirty out here and I don’t have soap to wash it with. Town tomorrow and I’m looking forward to a shower! It’s astounding how gross you get from being out here a few days.
I’m hoping an early bed will be what the doctor ordered.
