PCT Day 42

Start: 232.6

Stop: 252.2

Today’s miles: 19.6

Total PCT miles: 440

Before I drifted off last night, I could hear a helicopter flying overhead and it felt close. It was dark, and after 10pm, so I found that strange. It made me wonder if they were out on a rescue mission. I prayed everyone was ok.. and then drifted off quickly afterwards. I slept so dang great, I do remember waking up once or twice just to verify I wasn’t cuddling with the marmot from last night, but easily fell right back to sleep.

I got on trail by 6:30, a bit behind Marquis but before Margot. I didn’t see where Annie and Riley camped, they came and set up not too long before nightfall. The trail was immediate switchbacks downhill for several miles. Not too long after I got going, I saw and heard another helicopter flying over.. what in the world is going on?? As I got lower in elevation, into the valley floor, more and more blow downs were everywhere. I got a bit frustrated, because there was also a ton of water crossings and I didn’t keep my feet dry.

Not that it mattered, because around 9:45 I ran into Marquis sitting on a log before a creek crossing with no bridge. Like, there used to be one and now it was all gone, except for the bases on either side of the bank. There would be no dry crossing on this thing. I went first while he ate is either second breakfast or first lunch. The water was cold and fast but it was easy to cross. It came up to my knees in one spot but that was it.

I got to the other side and sat on the wooden base of the “bridge” to filter water. I decided I’d wait for Margot either way, even though I knew she’d be fine. Marquis crossed and just as he was getting into the water, she was coming down the hill. Perfect timing. We all sat on the base for a rest after they made it over.. none of us really excited about the climb to come.

From there, the trail climbed 2100 feet of elevation in 3.5 miles. It started in a burn zone, in hot blaring sun with no shade. I had my umbrella out for protection and literally was sweating through all of my clothes. It was brutal. (I found out days later from Marquis that is was 88 degrees on this day.. definitely can confirm that it felt like 88 degrees!)

When I finally came to a bunch of blowdown trees in a small chunk of other trees creating some shade, I tossed off my pack and decided 11am was going to be lunchtime today because I was too miserable to continue climbing right this second. And I wasn’t even half way up this beast of a climb.. and even when I made it up this climb, there was still a lot more to come before this day was over.

As I flopped down and started to pull out my food, Margot appeared and decided to do the same. We ate lunch together, both dreading our near future, and slowly started hiking again after close to 45 minutes of not moving. We made it to a big creek and refilled our water not long after we left our lunch spot.. and maybe 10-15 minutes after that, we passed an incredible waterfall all in the shade with a bridge and everything. If only we had pushed to here to eat lunch! Oh well, hindsight and all that.

The switchbacks continued climbing and eventually we made it to the top, where we found Marquis taking a break. From there we had a small descent and then came up to a circus around a huge range of mountains. We’d climb along the sides, easing higher until we’d cross over a pass, to then come down some before traversing across another mountain.. I could see the trail, way across the valley on the opposite side of where we were.. so it was like hiking in a “U” shape around this mountain range. Parts were seriously breathtaking!

What wasn’t so lovely was the rocks all over the place. There were rocks that reminded me of Pennsylvania, there were some that sounding like walking across hundreds of broken dishes and then some that sounded like walking over thousands of pennies. All of them hurt my feet, causing them to twist and turn and become extremely tender. There was some snow, too.. all of which we just walked around, or climbed down and across-none of it was scary or sketchy-which it definitely would have been if we couldn’t have maneuvered around it.

We passed some gorgeous lakes, some large, some small.. all beautiful. I got service on a ridge line and called Mom for a minute. My feet were on fire by then and she said I sounded sad-I wasn’t, I was quite thrilled with the beauty of the day-my feet were just ready to have my ass off of them.

The last mile or so ended up being uphill, after Marquis had said, “it’s all downhill from here!” And I had a minor meltdown. I was walking tenderly, at a snail’s pace, with the two of them behind me-laughing constantly at my rant of the climb after I thought we were done climbing for the day. They claim I was entertaining, really I was just hangry and tired.. but I’m glad I made them laugh.

We found the lake we were to camp at and scoped out a site. We ended up all three cramming into a small spot right beside the water. It’s tight, but it works, although Marquis has a pretty large rock in his vestibule.. haha whoops.

Margot and I soaked our feet when we got water to filter and I took forever to do anything else. Now, dinner has been eaten, finally, and I just finished actually blowing up my air mattress. It’s almost 9:45 already. I’m a little cold, but comfortable with my quilt (best purchase, seriously). As I’m writing this, there are people walking through our campsite with their bright ass headlamps on, shocked that we’re here.. and mostly blocking their access to the water. They’re being quiet now though.. since they realized we’re in bed. Hopefully they stay that way.

My feet are throbbing and every now and then a sharp pain shoots through them. I think I need some ibuprofen and to prop them up on my pack. So, that’s what I’m about to do.. all of that and to try to get some sleep. We get to town tomorrow and I can’t wait for that. Hopefully my feet relax a bit so I can get some rest before all the town chores. Goodnight, y’all.