Mile 0-110!
Starting early Sunday morning the trip to the PCT began. I had frantically packed everything on Saturday night after arriving home from college for the final time. Sunday morning came early, as my plane was supposed to depart by 6am. However, an hour delay pushed everything back for me about six hours. I ended up missing my flight to San Diego because of the delay, however it was all okay when my ride in San Diego said she could still drop me off at the trailhead.
The trail started with nerves and excitement. I ended up camping about a mile in on Sunday night because I was so tired from travel the day before.
I woke up the next day (5/9) and started hiking. I ended up covering 26 miles this day and ended at boulder oaks campground. Upon arriving I was told there was trail magic in the form of Steve. He brought PB&J sandwiches as well as coke and some great chocholately marshmallow thing. That first day was pretty mild and I was feeling great.
The next day came (5/10) and I was destined to get up over MT Laguna. It started with a 16 mile climb which wasn't bad until about mile 12 where you can't possibly think it will go on any further. When I finally got to Mt. Laguna, I bought an ice cream and a bandana, took a break and went on my way. It was this afternoon where I actually saw what the desert was like. I ended up camping at the picnic mall (mi 53).
The next day (5/11) I headed out by 6:45. This was probably the hottest day so far. I ended up taking a long siesta at a spicket before continuing on. When we made it to scissors crossing one of the guys I met on trail suggested we hitch to Julian and grab a room for the night to get free pie from the bakery in the morning. We ended up not catching a hitch, trekked about a half mile to find water and ended up calling it a night.
Yesterday, I started early making it to a water cache by 11:30. From there I got the idea to night hike so I ended up leaving at 7 for a 10 mile hike into the valley to boiling springs. It was on this hike down that I saw my first rattlesnake, and my first scorpion! I made it into camp by ten and called it a day at mile 101.
Today, (5/13) I started out pretty well heading into warner springs. The last two miles into town though my blisters really acted up. I think I'm going to rest a day here and then head out early in the morning.
My legs are doing really well with the miles. My feet only started blistering up yesterday, but alas they are pretty bad now. I also got sick in my travels on Sunday and have been dealing with a rough cold and sore throat all week. Hopefully, I'll find medicine in warner springs and get some rest to shake this. Random Thoughts: I don't know how people stay clean out here. I miss rivers and lakes.. And clouds. The desert is insanely hot. If my parents didn't get me an umbrella I would be a puddle right now.
Thank you to everyone for all of the support! It keeps me going!