Shattered.
Wrecked.
Exhausted.
What a rough day. Error.
Does it make sense that such a wonderful day as yesterday needs to be followed by the brutal grind that befell me today?
Apparently so.
The good thing about hiking in a group again is that there’s a lot more motivation to get out of bed at a reasonable hour. We started hiking around 0730. After a quick stop at the road where there was a large water-cache stocked, we filled up our bottles for the 16 mile water-less stretch ahead.
I thought we were done with long water-carries…
Thinking back on the High Sierras, where we never carried more than 1 liter at a time, makes you really appreciate the given that there was water everywhere at that time. Now we’re back to long water hauls again.
Apparently…
As I arrived at the water-cache I saw Rocket hiking out.
In the wrong direction…!
She’d broken her phone a couple of days ago, and thus had no interactive maps to guide her. She was about to hike South-bound, back to Mexico. With a devilish grin on my face I called her out: “Eehhh Sweetheart, where are you going?”
– To the trail?
To Mexico? That way is South-Bound…
– What?! Are you serious?!
Pretty serious.
She was super relieved I had caught her, because if I hadn’t showed up in time to warn her, who knows how far she would have hiked in the wrong direction.. Knowing that bit of the trail from hiking it yesterday, it would have been possible she wouldn’t have seen anybody on the trail there either. Yesterday I had hiked the total of 17 miles without encountering a single soul on the official section of the PCT (since almost everybody hikes the rim-alternate along Crater Lake)…
The first 8 miles we had a fast pace going and around 1100 we took a break before launching into the woods again to tackle the next 8 miles to the next water-source. It was during this section that my feet started hurting real bad again. Grinding my teeth, I just pushed on. Rocket provided some entertainment in following up on the suggestion written on one of the many white blazes (trail-markers) with funny suggestions/anecdotes/riddles/questions on them.
The trail climbed to top out on a couple of ridges with pretty nice views. It was still slightly hazy today, but at times there were also lovely blue skies. The wind can change the situation rapidly.
With 16 miles in the bag, all of us gathered at the spring, the only reliable natural water source we would encounter today. At this stage my feet were properly shot, and I laid down my tyvek and crashed. Because I had a great desire to take a nap and soak my feet in the icy water, I was the last one to hike out after lunch. I did not expect to catch up with any of the others until we’d meet again at the agreed on campsite. It would be another 15 miles to the next water-source.
Another crazy long water carry?!
It would make for a 31 mile day. Better get at it.
I made slow progress for the next 9 miles. My feet kept hurting pretty much all day and the thought of having to do a 31 mile day made me dread the hiking. We climbed the highest point in Oregon today, so at least that obstacle is out of the way for the next 200 and something miles before getting into Washington…
Around 1900 I arrived at a junction which would leave me 6 miles from camp. I decided to eat half of my couscous with lentils dinner now, to get some extra energy and to save the rest for later. After filtering the last of my water it was time to book it. The last hours of the day usually tend to be my fastest miles. With the cool temperatures and light pack (little water left) I can make a good pace. Today was no different. Even though my feet were screaming for a rest, I started flying uphill. I pretty much hiked the last 6 miles without stopping, the last hour in the dark. Real pleased to finally see other headlamps peak through the woods, I dropped my pack on the ground to join the others.
Pffff, what a rough day.
Cut the skin to the bone,
fall asleep all alone,
hear your voice in the dark
Lose myself in your eyes,
choke my voice, say goodnight
as the world falls apart
Fuck I can’t let this kill me,
Let go
I need some more time to fix this
Here’s Your Letter – Blink 182
