Month: July 2023

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.

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.

Start: 303.9

Stop: 323.6

Today’s miles: 19.7

Total PCT miles: 511.4

I tossed and turned, a lot, but overall I think I slept well. I got up around 6:45 and felt guilty as hell as I started to pack and could hear Stache waking up because of me. Sorry, buddy!

Marquis and Margot left out around 7 and I was out at 7:15. My campsite had a gorgeous view of Mount Rainier, at that moment it wasn’t covered in clouds. I ended up brushing my teeth on trail, to leave Stache alone, but had to wait awhile before I could eat my breakfast.. I’m glad I switched from oatmeal to something quick, like poptarts or breakfast bars-I don’t like them all that much but they can be eaten while I walk.

The first 6 miles flew by. It was wooded and mossy and had simple climbs and soft descents. Around 9:45 I caught up to Margot in a burn zone. We sat and rested our feet a bit. Burn zones are sad and usually hot with no reprieve from the blaring sun. We ended up walking through several burn zones today, but that first one was the only tough one for me, with a bit more of a steady slow climb than before.

The water is also not as frequent, so trying to remember when and where the last water will be was irritating.. but not terrible. I didn’t need a whole lot today anyway. Marquis told us of a plane crash site and Margot and I decided to get there to eat lunch, too. When I made it, I laid my tent out to dry the condensation and then headed down to the site. It was anticlimactic. There was just the motor and very little scrap metal left, no body or wings.

We had lunch together, laying in the sun and resting our feet. Marquis had carried on before I even left to see the plane crash, he had already eaten, too. He’s fast.. eating and walking lol. When I got going again, it was back through a burn zone and then into a gorgeous meadow with the last water running through it. I filled up my 2 liters there and sat and talked to Annie and Riley (who had caught up to us at the crash site, saw the plane and carried on) until Margot came walking up minutes later.

I was mostly joking, but I wanted to camp right there. The sites were beautiful, the trees were lush and the meadow had so many wildflowers.. not to mention the water was there. Even still, after sitting a bit, I continued on. The trail climbed up to a ridge line and then followed the ridge around several mountains. It was the most beautiful part of the day, watching moody clouds roll in and over me, until I was actually inside the cloud itself.

I also had great cell service during all of this ridge line walking, so I called Mom and Aunt Kathy and Uncle Keith! I spent the last hour or so of my hike catching up with my three favorite people. It really perked me up, not that I wasn’t already happy.. I guess I was just that much happier now. When I finally got to where Marquis was, just past a junction, I was worried.

He said the comments on our app said there were good campsites down this side trail a little bit. The side trail looks like an animal trail, but ok. He waited before going down so that we wouldn’t miss him.. since I had finally made it to him (5:45pm), he went down to scope out the sites while I waited on the trail at the top to make sure Margot didn’t pass. When she got to me, we went down the steep mountainside, too. Both slipping a little but not completely falling.

The sites.. well.. they suck. We’re all 3 shoved in and around some trees and rocks. All of our sights are slanted and lopsided. It’s on par with the day of the thunderstorms and hail when we had to backtrack and bushwhack only to find slanted spots. There weren’t many options around this area though. We considered pushing 3.3 miles to a lake, but many people would already be there, and Margot has some serious blisters coming up on her feet, since her shoes are falling apart on her. She gets new ones on Saturday morning. I know she can’t wait.

I’m pretty excited for Saturday, too. I’m ready for my good meals Mom sent me (the last ones I had at home), a shower, and some real laundry-because that hand washing in the sink business is not enough for my socks. We still have tomorrow and Friday to get through, and then we’ll have all day Saturday to do our chores. Marquis may head into town on Friday instead, but I think we’re planning on being more cautious with the whole norovirus business going. Who knows, though? We’ll see what happens. Goodnight!