Start: 285.3
Stop: 303.9
Today’s miles: 18.6
Total PCT miles: 491.7
I wish I could say I slept well, but I didn’t.. soo.. that would be a lie. I woke up around midnight to rain pattering on my tent, and had to go out into the light drizzle to pee. In doing so, rain droplets got onto the mesh of my tent and almost came inside onto my stuff, but luckily everything stayed dry.
I didn’t get up and get going until almost 8am. I was cold outside of my quilt and couldn’t make myself get out of it after tossing and turning all night. Margot left a good 15 minutes before me, but I felt good once I was hiking. The trail was overall calm today. No grand views, really, until the afternoon and getting to finally spot Mount Rainier in the close distance, but otherwise the ups and downs were surrounded by forest. It was still beautiful.
There were a few climbs but they were shorter than days before and while they still took my breath away, they weren’t horrible. At some point I caught up to Margot and we chatted a bit before continuing on. We met up with Marquis at the last water source for the next 12 miles. Annie and Riley were there, some hikers we haven’t met before appeared, and then so did Stache. We talked and got our water.. and talked some more.
About an hour later, I came to a nice open sunny spot and could see Margot just ahead. She waved to me, and I yelled back that I was going to eat lunch and dry my tent out here. She came back and joined me. We lounged on our ground cloths, shoes off, eating and relaxing and sunning for at least an hour. When she finally looked to see how far we still had to go, it was over 12 miles. Whoops.
I had been feeling real good all day, but apparently I hadn’t been moving all that quick.
I was still listening to my audiobook, so when I got going again I pressed play and was transported back to England during World War II. I didn’t care how long it did or didn’t take me to get anywhere today, I was enjoying myself tremendously. The sun was shining, the skies were blue, and it was just a touch chilly-making it perfect hiking conditions.
My book finished when I got to the water source and where Margot and I had originally planned to camp until Marquis talked us into pushing. I got my water and the campsites were all taken by people I’ve never seen before. One man sort of rudely told me all the sites were taken already, which, technically we could have gotten cozy and fit. But, I didn’t want to camp close to these people I didn’t know. I talked to another hiker up a bit, and she basically hinted that I could hike back 2 miles for a good spot. Ummm. Ma’am. Why the hell would I go backwards TWO WHOLE MILES? Weird.
Either way, I let her know that Margot was coming and asked her to tell her I that I was going to continue the 3 miles to where Marquis mentioned, and that if her feet hurt, she could stay here and I’d see her in the morning. The girl was nicer now, and promised me she’d let her know. From there, I hit the first chunk of blowdowns all day. I was getting irritated and my feet were sore, but once I got through this burn zone and those fallen trees it was real quick going.
I made it to Marquis just before 7pm. He had cleared out 2 spots for smaller tents in the woods and showed me where more space he cleared out by the road, and where Stache was setting up. I literally had to set up right next to him, guy-lines almost touching, because everywhere else was too rocky or slanted or an actual fire pit. As I was trying to figure out my best layout, Margot appeared! She made it! And not long after me at all!
The girl had told her the info for me, and even offered to let her set up right between her and her friend, but she said she felt good and continued on. It’s a good thing her tent is small, because she just perfectly fits in that little area Marquis had cleared. When she and I were all set up, we sat practically in the trail and ate our dinner together.
Originally I wasn’t cold, but once I got back into my tent I had to put my warm leggings on and close my vestibule. It’s windy here, too, but nothing like last night. My feet keep getting sharp stabbing pains running through them, that make me jerk and jump like I have restless leg syndrome.. but it’s just the feet. Nothing else is sore or tender. You’d think these things would be used to the endless torture I force them to endure, but they still complain every chance they get.
So, with that, I’m going to try to let them rest and let me get some much needed sleep. Here’s to hoping I don’t toss and turn all night and drive Stache crazy, since I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have earplugs. I definitely will have mine in tonight. I don’t really like being so close to someone else’s tent. He’s done the AT though, too, so I’m sure he’s used to rolling around and mattress racket. Sweet dreams, y’all.