PCT Day 68

Start: 658.3

Stop: 682.7

Today’s miles: 24.4

Total PCT miles: 870.4

Today was a long one, maybe not mileage wise, compared to other days.. but whew buddy. My feet are on fire!

We got up early and left Big Lake Youth Camp before 7am. The day started with a burn zone and cruisey flat terrain. Sometime late morning, we hit the lava rock. I saw it coming and decided to go take care of some business while I still had tree cover. I sat my pack at the trail and winded my way through the sporadic trees. I actually felt like I did a great job, a good 200 feet from trail-like I’m supposed to. I dug my hole, easily too.

Right as I was in a compromising position that couldn’t be corrected, if ya get my drift, I saw Marquis walk by. I somehow wound my way back to the part of the trail I had already covered. I was maybe 50 feet away. Holy head slap and eye roll. I prayed he couldn’t see me, because business had already started and there was no chance of pausing to move.

Then. To my complete horror, a couple we had leapfrogged around a bit with this morning also passed me, in that same compromising position. Shit. Literally. Oh well. Nothing to do now but pray they don’t notice me and finish up. No one said anything to me, so there was still hope. All of them could have been trying to keep my dignity intact by ignoring me.. if they only knew that went out the window awhile ago.

I made it back to my pack and hit the lava rock. It was intense. I put up my sun umbrella and pushed through. It looked like someone took all of the asphalt in the country and jackhammered it into pieces of all sizes-then dumped it all right here. It was hot, black rock, with rough sides. It made it so difficult to walk on. At times I wouldn’t even use my trekking poles for fear of one getting jammed and broken in the mess.

I passed the lady of the couple early on, and after what felt like a lifetime, I caught up to the man as well. He was sitting in the first shade from the first tree coverage offered in over an hour. I thought about plopping down next to him to eat my lunch, but there wasn’t much room. So, I continued on.. only to walk back into more lava rock for 15-20 more minutes.

The second I hit trees again, my pack was off and my food was out and my new shoes, who hurt like hell, were off. I don’t know if it’s the lava rock or just new shoes, but they are hurting something serious. They already have tears in the heels, I think I’m getting a blister on one of my heels, and they’re rubbing the tops of my toes funny. They DO NOT feel like my other shoes.

Anyway, complaining aside, I started to eat my lunch and wait for Margot. I got most of it down when I started to get swarmed by yellow jackets. I decided to mostly pack up, but keep my crocs on, and move down some into a different shady spot.. the trail appeared to stay in some trees for a little longer. As I was doing so, a couple passed me going NOBO and told me that there’s trail magic ahead at the next campsite! WHAT?! Say no more!

Crocs and half packed I threw my pack on like a teenager trying to be cool and “one armed” it all the way to the trail magic, where Marquis was! I had already eaten, but since they had drinks: I DRANK! Not to mention we were in the middle of a 14 mile stretch with no water and it was blisteringly hot out. I had a Dr Pepper or 2 and a beer or 2, too. I ate some fruit and pretzels and we chatted with other hikers, Margot (who got there soon after me), and the hosts.

The hosts had hiked the CDT in 2019 and the husband hiked the PCT in 2011. They had a little boy running around and a baby girl, only 11 days old, wrapped in a blanket being loved on by grandma. We asked CDT questions and talked all things trail. Margot naturally made everyone laugh. There were tons of NOBOs we didn’t know, a couple from Australia stayed and chatted the most. We just didn’t want to leave!

Eventually we realized we had stayed entirely too long and we forced ourselves to get moving. My feet physically seemed to recoil from my new shoes. I shoved them in anyway. More lava rock was on the way. The next several miles hurt. Not only because of the jackhammered asphalt on my sore feet, but also because I decided to step on a rock that rolled with my foot, sending me to the ground in a sliding kind of way.. you know, the kind of slide on actual asphalt that gives you road rash. My wounds looked exactly like that. My right calf up to my thigh, somehow my left calf and my wrists where I broke my fall. Y’all. I’m doing great over here.

I was slow going from there. Wincing with each step, wanting to whine but having no one around to listen to me. As the sun was dropping lower into the sky, I finally got out of the devil’s rock and made it into some wildflower meadows. The trail went through them and alongside a beautiful creek, the colors glinting in the sunset. There was a waterfall, and then around 8:30ish, I finally made it to camp.

I thought Marquis and Margot were ahead of me, but only Marquis was sitting there, making sure to claim as much space as possible.. so we’d all 3 fit our tents in this space. Margot was somehow behind me, and I immediately wondered if she caught my fall from a distance behind lol. Why am I like this? Haha. The two of us scoped out the area and I found a spot flat enough for my liking and got to work unpacking.

Margot got there closer to 9. Once everyone was set up, Margot and I ate dinner in our tents and then said our goodnights. It’s been dark for while now, my feet are throbbing, as are my new scrapes from the rocks. I’m really hoping tomorrow is smoother going. Maybe my shoes will feel better and I’ll be over that hump of breaking them in. I think that’s all I have for today. Time to pass out! Goodnight.