PCT Day 40

Start: 195.8

Stop: 212.8

Today’s miles: 17

Total PCT miles: 400.6

I’ve hiked 400 miles! That 10 mile a day average isn’t going to get me to Mexico on time. But that’s a problem to worry with later. Washington is said to be the most remote and have the most difficult sections (and we’ve already done the *most* difficult section..) so I’m excited to see how well I’m able to pick up the pace here in the next few weeks. And maybe if I skip a few zeroes I’ll stay on track. I’m really wanting to be done before my sister Michele gets married in October, but that may be too difficult to come by. I really hope I can work it out though, that way when I get off trail for the wedding I don’t have to come back, either afterwards or the following spring. I should definitely be somewhere in the desert of Southern California by then.

I was up and on trail quick this morning. I slept until 6:30 and then packed fast since I couldn’t eat my breakfast until 7:30 since I didn’t take my medicine during one of my watch snoozes. That was alright, it was warmer this morning, I’m getting sick of oatmeal, I have some caffeinated Nuun tablets so I could skip coffee, AND the ever favorite mosquitoes were excited we were up and were desperately trying to have their breakfast, too.

Our day started with a climb, as always. I huffed and puffed a lot and the higher I got the better the views got. We didn’t have as incredible views as we have had in the previous section, but I loved it anyway. There were also several people out with dogs-which was nice-but also.. WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?! Lol I mean, there were a ton of junctions and obviously they go down to remote trailhead parking lots, but still.

There was a section with a tiny bit of snow to cross surrounded by huge boulders and mountain peaks with sporadic snow on them.. every switchback I expected to have to cross even more snow, but it was only that once. I was so happy that I didn’t care that the rocks were actively trying to destroy my feet. At the top of that climb I could finally see the lake that was off to the side in the deep woods earlier in the morning. It was lovely from above, the blues and greens of the water reflecting back the sky and trees.

At what I thought was the top I ate my lunch, cursing the bugs the entire time. Marquis got there and did the same, but shared his Picardin with me-they really don’t seem to like that stuff. *adds another thing to the list of items to find in town* It (and some deet I had already applied) allowed me to eat my lunch without completely losing my mind.

Margot caught up to us but wasn’t ready to eat, so we all continued on. I quickly realized the trail only seemed to be at the top-there was quite a bit more uphill switchbacks to conquer. Boy, did they kick my butt. A full stomach, steep trail, bugs, sun, oh my. When I made it to the real top my legs were on fire. But, the good news was, from there, the rest of the day minus the last mile and a half were all downhill. And it wasn’t steep, and there weren’t many blowdowns. It was calm and twisting, and covered in mosquitoes but they weren’t as aggressive with all the different bug sprays all over me.

I sat at a stream and got water around 3.. and rested my feet. Shockingly, in this spot, the bugs weren’t all that bad. Margot caught up to me again (Marquis was long gone), and joined me for a break. We had roughly 3 miles left until we would hit a water crossing that was fast flowing and potentially dangerous. Marquis knew about it, too, so he would wait for us there so we could cross with him. Margot is only 5’2” and fast water really scares her.. I’m at 5’5” and it scares the shit out of me, so I can only imagine how much more difficult it is on her shorter legs.

We cruised, talking off and on, and then I startled Marquis by tickling his foot with my trekking pole. The water was so fast moving that it roared like a train, so he didn’t hear me calling his name. He had been there for an hour and decided to take a little cat nap waiting on us. He really is such a sweetheart.

The three of us walked up and then down the side of the creek until we finally found the safest way to cross. We had to do a little AT rock scrambling to get down to the safe spot, which meant poor Marquis had to deal with catching both of us and keeping us from slipping. He went across the water first.. side stepping, facing the current, hip and chest straps unclipped-that way if you go down you can hopefully get out of your pack and get your head above water.

It was moving so fast and was freezing cold. I took small side steps and made it across just fine, but Margot got half way and panicked a bit. When she’d lift her foot to get it over a rock in the water, the rush of the current felt like it was going to sweep her feet out from under her. Marquis went back out to her and helped guide her the rest of the way. We’re seriously lucky to have him.

We rock scrambled up to the trail and then royally got our asses kicked climbing uphill the last mile and a half to camp. The area we’re in looks like it was either in a landslide or an avalanche. The trees are just snapped in half and all over the place.. but there’s 3 places for our tents and there’s a beautiful little creek next to my site-so, it’s home for tonight. I am a little sad that I’m a bit farther down from them because there wasn’t enough space to get our three tents together, and mine being the only 2 person tent needed more space to set up. It’s peaceful though. And they aren’t far. The mosquitoes are out for blood, so we all retreated quickly.

I’ve already set everything up and I’ve eaten dinner. It’s not even 8pm yet. I may read.. I may crunch numbers.. I may just go to sleep. Love y’all, goodnight!