PCT Day 63

Start: 569.8

Stop: 597.9

Today’s miles: 27.7

Total PCT miles: 785.4

I slept pretty dang good.. I mean, I still tossed and turned, but the in between sleep was solid. I didn’t want to get up, when I opened my eyes I peaked across at Margot, saw she was still sleeping, or at least pretending to sleep.. so I let myself fall back to sleep, too. We both didn’t get up and start packing until just after 7am.

We filtered some water and headed out, saying bye to Pamela and Henry, the only ones still in camp. We cruised along pretty quick, until I had to make a pit stop to dig a cat hole. By the time I saw Margot again, she was coming back from the little side trip to see “Little Crater Lake.” I still went down the side trail to see it for myself.

It was small and very very deep. Our app says it’s 45 feet deep and always 34 degrees cold.. I didn’t verify, but I can say that the water was extremely clear and you can see that it does go down for a LONG way.. whole fallen trees were in there.. I found it spooky, almost like waiting for a spirit to come floating up or something. Anywho, I said hi to Stache and his two friends that he was chatting with-his first time seeing them since they were all hiking in the desert.

I didn’t stay long, mainly because the “lake” freaked me out. I headed back to the main trail and coasted through the rest of the morning. It was mostly downhill or completely flat, all pine needles, soft dirt and duff. Everything felt good and easy and completely perfect. It wasn’t too hot or too cold.. there was a stunning huge lake that I walked around for several miles. It was simply a fantastic day.

Margot and I leap frogged again throughout the day.. and we ate both meals together. However, we never caught up to Marquis. That part is the only part keeping today from being perfect. We both missed him. I’m sure we’ll find him at Ollallie Lake Resort tomorrow. Or, we better! I think we’d both be pretty sad if we didn’t. Plus-I’m still wearing his shorts! Hahaha Andrea mailed me my other pair from her house and I’ll get them in Bend in a few more days. I hope they’re more comfortable than my other ones have been.. or I may have to pay Marquis off and keep his.

Anywho. We ate lunch sitting in the shade on my ground sheet. Afterwards, I hiked 7 miles with only a sip of water left-because I’m ridiculous and couldn’t stop myself from chugging it at last minute-when I knew there wouldn’t be any more for a while. After lunch, the only thing I thought about was getting to the river for more water. I moved pretty fast, passed 7 women on horses (several were trotting instead of walking, it was weird), and finally came to the river.

I tossed my bag down, got water to filter, and sat on a log next to two guys hiking NOBO, here doing the same thing. As we sat, filtering and then chugging, then filtering again, several more hikers appeared and then Margot did too. We were all chatting about nothing in particular, some people carried on.. then one of the original guys randomly asks me if I’m a nurse. I had said nothing about anything related to my career, so it was quite odd.. even Margot seemed shocked! He said he had been wanting to ask me since I showed up, because he had a feeling..

Once pressed, he said he knows a lot of nurses and my vibrant personality seemed to fit, but he also usually just has a knack for these things and with me he had a gut feeling. I almost asked him if he could see my aura and if so-what color it was.. lol.. seems strange, but the people that are intuitive like this always amaze me.. there’s really something “extra” they see or sense and honestly, I wish I had that ability, too. It was a pretty neat interaction. I might have a trail crush now-too bad he’s hiking the wrong way! Haha

From there, Margot and I climbed to the “top” of a mountain.. the only real ascent of the day and it was pretty easy going for the most part. At the top we ate dinner, then carried on downhill to the campsite we’re currently at. We passed through a big burn zone, then back into forest.. there were blueberries too. Yum.

We’re crammed into this site with 8 other tents besides our two. The two girls that are camped up front were super nice when I showed up, asking how big my tent was and saying if we needed to, I could set up closer to her to make room. We worked it out though and I actually do have some space. Stache is next to me, too.

The only thing I don’t like is that I can hear dead trees swaying a bit, and those two girls talking quite loud.. hopefully none of the trees fall tonight and the girls hush soon.. And with that, I think I’ll pop in my earplugs and get some sleep. Fingers crossed I don’t hear the sway once they’re in! Goodnight 🙂