PCT Day 45

Start: 268.2

Stop: 285.3

Today’s miles: 17.1

Total PCT miles: 473.1

I had another good night of sleep, even if I didn’t actually fall asleep until after 11pm. I didn’t want to wake up, either.. but I did, finally, at 6:45. And, happily, my tent was dry as a bone. Wahoo!

The other two were already up with tents packed. I packed and was ready to go by the time Margot finished her coffee. It was a beautiful day-albeit somewhat chilly and definitely overcast for the entire day. Most of the time I was walking into a sea of white clouds with no idea what views I was missing.

The trail was kind and soft, even if my feet still ached by the end of the day. It would gently climb up and down, then suddenly have a steep climb I wouldn’t be expecting.. only to go down again just by the time I was about to start complaining about the burn in my quads. Basically, it was perfect.

I finished an audiobook (The Family Remains) and started another (The Rose Code) and was completely entranced all day. I’d walk up to Marquis or Margot and not even realize they were stopped for water. I actually only drank 2 liters today, because I’d get chilly every time I’d drink any. Margot and I carried water to dry camp at a beautiful spot with supposed views of Mount Rainier. We toted extra water 3.5 miles.

When I got there, Marquis was already there and said he thought he wanted to keep going down to the valley, because it’s cold up on the mountain top and he doesn’t like dry camping. We waited a few minutes for Margot to get there and I let her decide before I said either way. My feet did hurt, and I did tote extra water, so I was happy to stay, but I could have also continued on.. the only issue for me about continuing is the one site ahead in a mile would be where another hiker ahead of us was going.. so, that site is gone, and the other 2 within 2.3 miles were along this old abandoned dirt road and not very flat or even or appealing to me. Plus, the idea of any kind of climb in the afternoon sucks.

Margot’s feet were hurting and she said she didn’t think she’d make it another few miles, and that she preferred to stay where we were. I decided to stay with her and Marquis pushed on to find another spot lower in elevation and hopefully near water. I’m a little sad he pushed, but I also understand his reasoning. We’ll hopefully meet back up in the morning.

Margot and I set up our tents and belongings in one hell of a wind burst. The ground is hard so I had to reinforce my tent stakes with big rocks, hoping none come loose. We ate our dinner together, and figured out the plan for tomorrow.

We will only go 15 miles, because in 20 miles there’s a stream and a cabin that have reports already this year of people getting norovirus from. It happened last year too, so we’re thinking it’s probably the cabin and probably the stream by it.. and obviously we want to avoid it at all costs. So, we’ll camp 5 miles before it, pass it during the following day and skip that water source all together. If we had pushed more today, then we’d have even a shorter day tomorrow, because there isn’t a whole lot just after the cabin to camp at.

It is cold here tonight. It’s not even 8 and I’m bundled up and ready for bed. I was considering listening to my audiobook a bit longer, maybe pause at a clean chapter break, while I wait for my phone to finish charging.. but I also feel like I could close my eyes and drift off to sleep right this second. I know I should wait for my phone to charge, to not forget and fall asleep with my battery bank running all night, but I don’t know if I can hold out. So, with that, goodnight y’all.