Day 41 PCT Mile Marker 1486.92 – 1498.70 Miles Hiked 11.78 The underwear and socks that I’d washed near the river yesterday were dry, so I wriggled into them and combed my hair. Thus dressed in my Sunday Best, I was ready to head into town. It was going to be my first hitchhiking experience, and I didn’t know what to expect. The Castle Crags were the main visual attraction on my descent to I-5. Read more…
Day 40 PCT Mile Marker 1470.98 – 1486.92 Miles Hiked 15.94 My favorite is the soft paths along long-forgotten roads. Trees grow there, the grade is smooth and wide, and I don’t feel like I’m going to fall off of the mountain. Pine needles and soft earth keep the pain in my feet from getting any worse. The quiet peace in these places calm my being in ways only spiritual terms could describe. Light drips Read more…
Day 39 PCT Mile Marker 1455.64 – 1470.98 Miles Hiked 15.34 The trail clung to the side of a cliff. Appreciate…1…2…3… Walk. The views were more than I could bear. They were so beautiful, it was impossible to take it all in. I could’ve stared for hours and never looked at the same thing twice. And about the time I really didn’t want to be on a cliff anymore, the trail found its way back Read more…
Day 38 PCT Mile Marker 1437.96 – 1455.64 Miles Hiked 17.68 I heard a noise and opened my eyes. That’s when I realized that it was my own snoring. Oh crap. And I had neighbors too. I could hear one kind of sighing and mumbling. Oh no. I must’ve woken them up. I looked at my watch. It still didn’t have the correct time, but it was sort of in the ballpark. It said Read more…
Day 37 PCT Mile Marker 1419.00 – 1437.96 Miles Hiked 18.96 I sat by the creek and swirled my Aqua Mira drops around in my water to purify it. A millipede was crawling around on the ground. I watched in wonder as his bazillion feet worked together to get him somewhere. A while later, a paper sign posted by a road read that a trail angel was offering free beer and shots “until they’re gone” Read more…
Day 36PCT Mile Marker 1416.50 – 1419.00 Miles Hiked 2.5 We slept in and packed up. Natalie led a super long yoga session that was really helpful for my poor aching body. She said it was so fun, she forgot just how dirty and hot it was in camp. All the friends left to go find clear alpine lakes to swim and kayak in before they headed home. I sure appreciated that so many Read more…
Day 35 Miles Hiked 0 Today was the day for tubing and kayaking. The water was really reedy and had some old cow patties around the edges, but it looked like it might be clear and cold out in the middle of the reservoir. Some of us decided to go for it. We created a flotilla with the tubes and headed out on our adventure. Pretty quick, the wind blew us all the wrong way Read more…
Day 34 Miles Hiked 0 My feet hurt all night, so I was awake for most of it. I wish I would just get up and take Advil when that happens. I cannot imagine why I don’t. So after a long and miserable night, I finally got up and took Advil at about 7am. I was fine by 7:20. Ben cooked breakfast over the fire, and we watched the bald eagle couple fly back to Read more…
Day 33 PCT Mile Marker 1398.35 – 1416.50 Miles Hiked 18.15 I went ahead and cleared all the morning cobwebs out of the trail with my face. That was pretty nice of me. Then I started walking with my arms straight out in front of me, holding my trekking poles. The cobwebs would mostly get caught on my poles, but threads would stream back and land on my shoulders and arms. But at least it Read more…
Day 32 PCT Mile Marker 1382.13 – 1398.35 Miles Hiked 16.22 I left before the sun was a sparkle in his Momma’s eye. When it did start to live, the sky turned into layers of colors. A pretty cake. Happy Birthday, Sun. The trail told me stories of who’d been there. This hiker, that hiker. With their big old feet. A momma raccoon. A baby raccoon. A bird hop-hop-hopping down the trail looking for Read more…