PCT Day 75

Start: 815

Stop: 833.3

Today’s miles: 18.3

Total PCT miles: 1021

Croc Miles: 131.6

I woke up at 9:30pm last night and had to pee. It was so dark out but I could see a few more tents than there were before falling asleep at 6:30. I tried to sneak out quietly, but I doubt I actually was. I fell back to sleep pretty fast, and didn’t wake again until I had to get up for our sunrise hike.

The three of us packed quietly and were walking out of camp by 3:40am. Margot was in front, followed by me and then Marquis. Once we passed the camping junction, Margot and I put on our bright light and got to it. I turned once, saw the glow of Marquis’ red light and kept moving. The next time I turned around to look for him, I was deciding maybe he should go in front of me.. since he was hurting pretty bad, limping even. This way, if anything happened, he wouldn’t be behind us.

The problem? I didn’t see his light. I stopped and waited.. as I was waiting for him to catch up to me, I could see the glow of Margot’s headlamp disappearing ahead of me into the dark. Crap. I waited some, then kept going, trying to get her attention. When she turned to make sure I was there, realized I was back a good ways, I stopped. She stopped. Marquis didn’t appear, so I got to her and told her as much.

We waited a bit, and then she went back to look for him while I waited where we were-my feet weren’t feeling all that hot in my crocs this morning. I stood in the dark, after she went back and it dawned on me just how dark it actually is out there with no light pollution. I didn’t let my light wander too far, for fear of noticing eyes or something. No thank you. The less I know about what’s out there to potentially kill me, the better.

Then, I got nervous, standing there alone in the dark. I started walking back, too. We met, Margot and I, and 2 other guys, both not Marquis. She said she went all the way back to camp and didn’t see him anywhere. We both agreed that he probably went to the water cache to wait for sunrise to hitch to town. Undoubtedly, that foot is really hurting this morning.

We decided to keep moving, knowing he is smart and capable, and not in any danger since we would have crossed paths or heard him if that were the case. I was certain he just didn’t want us to miss the sunrise. As we hiked through the dark, cold morning, pretty quickly, I turned on my garmin thinking maybe he’d message me there.
As I did, I got a message from him. Margot also just got service and had a message, too. We were right. He was hurting too bad and only realized how bad after we started hiking. We got too far ahead of him for him to tell us he needed to turn back, so he sent the messages and did what he had to do. He would rest until sunrise and then meet us in Mazama Village.

This was heartbreaking, simply because the beauty of this morning was unbelievable, and my kind and thoughtful friend was hurting and missing it. I was hoping he wasn’t too stressed. There’s something about any injury or illness or any little thing really while hiking that immediately makes your brain go, “welp, this is it. You’ve ruined it. Your hike is over now. You failed.” And I did not want those thoughts to reach him, though I was sure they already were.

Margot and I got to the Crater at 5am and sat in a wind protected bush for awhile, to warm up. It was COLD. Yesterday we were swimming and this morning it was in the 40s. Sheesh, we’re definitely not in Georgia. Once we decided we were warm enough, we kept hiking to a better vantage point. The sun came up just after 6am. I FaceTimed Meredith and my mom, so they could see this beauty, too.

It was magical. Epic. Extraordinary. Spectacular.Unbelievable. You pick the adjective.. I’m sure if it’s a positive one, it would fit perfectly. It was EVERYTHING. I didn’t even think of doing this, so I am eternally grateful that this specific thing was on Margot’s bucketlist and I got to go along for the ride.

After the sun was up, we continued hiking. We went up the side trail to watchman’s tower for some more gorgeous views. Then back along the rim until we hit the Rim Village. I ate two awful sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits (the cheese wasn’t even melted. It wasn’t even hot at all actually), and had a soda-all for the low low price of $23. Since this wasn’t the breakfast we thought it would be, we kept pushing down trail to get to Mazama Village-where Marquis texted and said he successfully hitched to, although it took awhile that early in the morning.

I got there around 11am. We did some chores, charged things, did laundry and showered. We had lunch at an actual restaurant connected to a gift shop. It wasn’t fantastic, but it was a hell of a lot better than the place that served me my “breakfast” earlier this morning. Marquis and I ate the pulled pork sandwich and Margot got soup (she’s a self proclaimed ‘soup slut’ hahaha).

More and more hikers appeared throughout the day. Keith was there, CEO and Bluebs, and out of no where, someone goes, “is that PBS?!” I turn: ITS CRUISER!! From my first day on trail without Andrea, day 5, right before I hit that crazy snow! How awesome is this?! We caught up and laughed about the way this trail can be so unpredictable. She came in NOBO and will get to the rim trail tomorrow!

Everyone was in different states of chores, we all headed to the free PCT hiker camp and claimed our spots for the night. CEO and Bluebs talked us three and Keith into all going back to the restaurant for dinner. We did, and the 6 of us split pizzas and had a fantastic time sharing stories and cracking up with each other.

Afterwards, they all got ice cream and then we sat up at picnic tables by camp talking until after the sun had set. It has been a seriously perfect day. I’m pooped. I can’t believe I was awake at 3am and it’s already after 10pm and I’m still up-but not for long. My eyes are trying to shut on me while typing mid thought.. haha

Goodnight, y’all. Pray for marquis’ leg for me (and him, obviously). We need our guy back to feeling his best. Sweet dreams!