PCT Day 80

Start: 1015.3

Stop: 1040.1

Today’s miles: 24.8

Total PCT miles: 1110

I didn’t sleep too bad, on my first night on trail without my friends, my one complaint was that I was hot, all night, frequently kicking off my quilt completely, then missing it, covering back up only to kick it off again. I didn’t want to get up, and didn’t until 6:30. I knew today would be a hot one again, in this head wave, but I couldn’t make myself get up a second earlier.

As I was packing up my tent, a deer walked over followed by her baby. The mama started licking where I had gone to pee earlier, yikes, sorry girl. Then, another deer and baby came walking up and the two mamas got into a boxing and kicking match over my pee. For a minute I thought I was still asleep and dreaming because it was so comical and all less than 20 feet from where I was packing up.

The climb from camp was another 2000 feet of elevation gain, and I was glad I waited to do this today and not last night. It was much cooler in the shade of the mountain than it would have been last night, even though I was still pouring sweat at 7am. I felt slow and shocked that this is how horribly I’m doing after 1100 miles of hiking. This climb is kicking my ass!

At the top there was a side trail to water, and I desperately needed more. I left my pack and then realized more deer were around and one was creeping awfully close to my pack-probably to lick the salt from my sweat on the straps. I rushed with the water and scared them all away when I yelled at the one getting close.

The day only got hotter as I walked. After that first climb was finally over, it was up and down, across ridge lines and over rocks. It got more beautiful, scenery wise-being able to see far out into the distance, mountains upon mountains. Quite a bit of the trail was through burn zones, so even when there should have been shade, there wasn’t. I loved the views but I felt very slow and my sense of accomplishment was diminished every time I checked my phone and realized I hadn’t gone very far at all from the last time I looked.

I basically stayed under my sun umbrella for the majority of the day. When I decided I was hungry enough for lunch, I just flopped on the side of the trail, barely out of the way for the few northbound hikers that passed by. It was so hot and I was so frustrated. I tried to pep myself up, but the heat was just too draining.

Within the last 4 miles of trail, the wind started blowing and clouds covered the sun. The relief given to me from that temporary shade was immense. I was getting nervous though, high on ridge lines and burn zones with storm clouds rolling in. It was starting to get dark when I passed the first of two little lakes a quarter mile apart. No one was at this one, and I knew at least the two couples I met yesterday would be at the next one if not here.. since after the lakes, camping options were slim.

It was dusky dark and I didn’t know how many more people may be at the next lake, I quickly set up camp at this one. It wasn’t as high as I had been, but after I was set up, I worried that I made the wrong call-because of the wind and clouds rolling in. But, as I was having these thoughts it was already dark. So, too bad. I’m staying put.
I unpacked inside my tent and actually had the vestibules closed tight, expecting rain but also hoping to limit some of the wind gushing through.

I ate my dinner in the dark, forcing myself to finish everything because I’m just so dang exhausted. And now, as I’m laying here typing this, there’s a ton of lightening going across the sky, but no thunder and no rain-yet. I feel like it’s coming and I’m a bit worried up here, this high by myself. I think I’ll put my earplugs in and try to sleep, that way I won’t know what all is going on out there. Just like an ostrich with its head in the sand! Ha! So, sweet dreams, y’all.