PCT Day 50 - Blazing

With the temperatures on the rise we know it will make the mornings easier; easier to wake up, easier to get out of the sleeping bag, easier to even unzip the tent. All this in mind we decided to set the alarm early, make a minor adjustment to our breakfast routine and leave camp before 6:30am. At 6:22 we were on our way and started with a steep incline which felt good as we were still a bit foggy from the night before. The trail today was great, the weather, sights and breaks which came on time and with plenty of shade. Even the multiple lizards doing the nasty was a sight to see. With no major mileage goal and no town full of temptations (food, beer, resupply and entertainment) in our sights we can simply hike and enjoy every moment and all the trail has to offer.

The wilderness is all around us constantly but its easy to look beyond it when were too focused on getting miles behind us. At 3:45pm and 18 miles in we stopped for the day and relaxed before setting up the tent. In a few days we will break and see family, something that excites me but I know I'll be missing the wilderness and of course this state which has it all.

-Joe


Today was a big day! I told Joe last night I wanted to wake up early and do breakfast a tad later; after all our 'chores' are done. Chores meaning changing clothes, rolling up our bags, putting on shoes. I feel like so much time is spent awake in the tent in the mornings, so we're going to try to get up earlier and pack up then do breakfast. It went pretty well. I think its thanks to the mild weather.

We were on trail by 6:30, the sun by this point was already blazing, but it wasn't blazing hot, just blazing bright with the threat of warm temps. Our hike was on desert ridges full of sage, chaparral and Joshua Trees, and lots of giant boulders. We climbed slightly in the beginning, the few miles until our first minor decline offered us Northern and Eastern views of the desert floor below. We've been in elevation the whole morning. We never went down though, we always stayed high. Then came the morning climb, 2,600ft. It was hot now, bright and the trail was loose sand.

Since we dry camped last night (not near a water source), we had 12.9 miles until the water cache. We knocked out 9.8 by 10am and we were at the cache by 12pm. We made lunch, chatted with Blue Ox and Anchor. Bob a Trail Angel made an appearance, brought us pizza and Gatorade!

At 1:45pm we hit the trail again. We have a big 1,600ft climb with a few switchbacks, but mostly long uphill stretches. The views on the way were gorgeous.

At the top of the climb we had new views- Northern, and a mass of white snow peaked mountains; the High Sierra's.

The very ones were supposed to hike to, but the snow may prevent out thru hike. Another 2 miles later we found our home for the evening. We settled there and slowly made camp, and then enjoyed our well deserved spam and potatoes for dinner.
-Madelyn