Category: Long Distance Trails

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.

Start: 998.2

Stop: 1015.3

Today’s miles: 17.1

Total PCT miles: 1085.8

Whew, today was a tough one, but I sort of knew coming south out of Seiad Valley would be. Andrea and I got up around 7am. I slept so incredibly well in that cushy hotel bed. My feet would still wake me up, throbbing or sharp shooting pain through my soles.. but I’d change position and fall right back into sweet oblivion. The pillows were so plush I got lost in them a few times. I moved around so much, Andrea thought I slept bad.. I definitely had my best night of sleep since starting this thing, so, whoops. Sorry, buddy..

We left around 7:35 and swung through a McDonalds for breakfast on the way out to Seiad. It was an hour and a half drive, and it took us down the same two lane road along the Klamath River I hitched down back in early June. I showed Andrea some of the same things that sweet man, Bill I believe, showed me. I was and still am so incredibly grateful for her friendship. If she didn’t come to get me, I would still be at Fish Lake, not one step closer to getting to Mexico.

Along the way we saw a hiker walking that two lane road. We stopped to pick him up, he was literally going to road walk over 50 some miles. Yikes. He didn’t talk a whole lot, and I think that was just fine by both of us up front. Andrea dropped me off at the store parking lot around 9:30. We hugged and she started her 5 hour drive home. I went into the store, which was actually open although everything online said it wouldn’t be.. and got a Dr. Pepper.

I drank it in the parking lot, filled my water bottles, and began the 6 mile road walk to the trail. I would have asked Andrea to drop me off at the trailhead, but this 6 miles is part of the PCT, so it didn’t feel right to skip that whole section. Well. That’s what I thought when I told her where to drop me off, I changed that tune about 2 miles into that 6 mile road walk. It was HOT. It had hardly any shade, and I was breaking in my new shoes. Fun times.

When I made it to the campground at the top of the road walk, I used the pit toilet and then laid on a picnic table for a bit. I wasn’t hungry for lunch yet, but I was pouring sweat and couldn’t seem to get enough water. Thankfully there was water all along the trail today, every 2 miles for most of it. But this is where the climbing got tough. From the campground, to where I’m camped at now, it was 4,000 feet of elevation gain in 11 miles. It wasn’t an up and down situation, it was mostly just UP.

The trail followed along Grider Creek.. it was overgrown in many parts, there were huge blow downs that took some effort to get over and around.. I was praising God and Andrea for my new shoes almost the entire day. My legs got pretty scraped up from the overgrowth, and maybe a little rashy, too. They’re burning now. I also saw a snake in the overgrowth, which only made me more anxious pushing my way through the bushes.

I had my umbrella out for the majority of the climb. And I sat and soaked my feet in one of the creek crossings for a solid 35 minutes. I would also soak my bandana at every water crossing to put on the back of my neck to try to help me cool down. It helped, some, but my god it was brutal. Now that I’m thinking on it, I wonder if this is the heat wave everyone was mentioning? HipBone and MountainGoat were saying southern Oregon would be in the 100s.. this feels a lot like that..

I passed a man coming northbound later in the afternoon. He stopped to talk to me, and he’s apparently the guy that gives out the awards when you submit your claim for the triple crown. So, after you hike the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail, you submit a form to a committee saying you did all three and they congratulate you and give you a certificate saying you got your Triple Crown and I’m assuming your name goes down on record for doing so. He said you only either hike 1 of the 3, or all 3, so he’d be seeing my name soon enough, ha!

We talked a good 5-10 minutes.. he’s done 3 different caminos and gave me his email so I can get some info from him about the Porto Way. Andrea was just talking about that this morning, I think it’s a sign that we’re supposed to do it together. We took a selfie and then headed in our opposite directions.. me being very jealous of his continuous downhill to my continuous climb.

I filled up with water at the last water spot before 6-7 miles of more climbing to the next source. I was originally planning to just eat dinner at this campsite I’m at-but once I took my pack off, I decided to stay. I’ll still get to Etna on the same day whether I camp here or torture myself for 4 more miles. I also hope that maybe the rest of the 2,000 feet of elevation gain will be easier in the morning in the cool air, before the sun scorches the earth again. One can only pray.

After I got my camp set up and cooked my dinner, a couple came by and decided to camp here, too. They’re German, Rudy and Rebecca, and they follow Drake and A-Train’s YouTube channel! They were so excited to know I met them and hung out with them for a few days! Such a small world. Their trail names are R&R. They came and ate their dinner at a log close to my tent (since I was eating in my tent-because bugs), and we “had dinner” together and talked. They’re super friendly and I’m happy they’re camping close by.

Since I got to camp at 6, I had planned to catch up on my writing and get a few things planned and organized for the days to come-but yall. I’m exhausted. It’s 8:40, the sun is gone but the sky still has just a little light left in it-and I think I’m going to have to close my eyes and get some sleep. The heat today completely zapped me. So, off to dreamland I go. Im already missing that hotel bed, and my west coast bestie. Sweet dreams!

Start: 880.7

Stop: 881

Today’s miles: 0.3

Total PCT miles: 1068.7

Croc Miles: 181.3

What a day. Margot and I left camp together, only to hug and say our farewells 0.3 miles later at the junction to Fish Lake Resort. She carried on hiking southbound, and I walked two miles to Fish Lake. I got there by 7:30, before their little store and restaurant was open. So, I used their bathrooms and washed my face.

Once they opened at 8am, I ordered a coffee and hung out inside working on figuring out my next move. They don’t serve breakfast until 9am, so I wasn’t going anywhere in a hurry either way. I topped off my resupply, so I’d have enough food from Seiad Valley until Etna.. assuming I’d some how get to Seiad Valley to begin with.

I checked the Facebook post Mark had made for me. Nada. I made my own in the Oregon group. And waited. I ate breakfast. I talked with the ladies at Fish Lake-the owner, Sarah, said that maybe one of her folks could drive me into Medford when they got off work today.. but otherwise there was no one. She also said I’d probably get a hitch easy enough, and that she’d talk with customers checking out and see if she could find me someone headed that way.

Then. The real kicker. My shoes never showed up! OH MY GOD. I have been walking in damn crocs for so long, I almost cried. I called mom. She had paid so much money for expedited shipping, they were supposed to arrive two whole days before me. She was upset too. That box also has my new watch, my birth control, some cash, candy, and other little surprises from Mom. NO. Just. Why?!

I checked the tracking, it said it won’t be delivered until Monday. You have got to be kidding me. I start to wrap my mind around the fact that I’ll be sitting at Fish Lake through the weekend and then have to repeat the song and dance of begging for rides when Andrea text me to check in on me. I told her everything, so close to completely melting down.. and then we realized she had a pair of my shoes in my suitcase.

Y’all. Andrea DROVE FIVE HOURS from Reno to get me from Fish Lake, with my shoes, and take me to Medford! She’s staying in a hotel with me tonight and then we will go to Seiad Valley tomorrow, before she makes the over 5 hour drive back home. She’s spending her entire weekend completely saving my ass! HOW ON EARTH am I lucky enough to be loved by her?! My goodness, please know it’s mutual, I am so very very blessed to have her in my life.

While she was getting ready and driving all the way to me, I tried to relax a bit-calm down from the panic I had surging all morning-and work on updating the blog. Thank God I write daily, because it’s taking so long to upload pictures and the day itself that I can’t keep up. I got a few days posted before the WiFi got overwhelmed with all the people on it that it wouldn’t even upload a single picture.. so I gave up.

Andrea arrived before 5pm and then after squeals and hugs (mostly from me, jacked up on Mountain Dew), we got in her truck and headed the hour west to Medford. We checked into our hotel, a Hilton Garden Inn, and I marveled at the luxury after all these days on the ground or in subpar motels. Don’t get me wrong, they get the job done-but this was JUST what I needed.

We ate dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.. I had pesto and mushroom ravioli with steak-and we split a bottle of wine or two. Afterwards, I took the world’s longest shower, washing everything a minimum of twice. Then we laid around in our cushy beds with four fluffy pillows each watching TV.

It’s been such a turn of events today. Getting to see my Andrea now, instead of in another 3 weeks or so, has really boosted my mood. Her willingness to drop everything and show up for me has me so humbled by her love. She truly is the very best. And now, I have to make sure I get to that Mexican border on time-we have an Egypt trip to get to! Haha

Ok, I can’t write another word, I’m exhausted! Time for lights out and some sweet sweet dreams in this incredibly comfortable bed! Goodnight y’all!