Tonight was rough. Barely slept, kept waking up. And those were long hours awake. Still, I dragged myself up at 6 AM for breakfast and was out of the campsite by 8:30, heading for the southern terminus.
Southern Terminus: The Mandatory Photo Op and Back on Trail
Arrived at the southern terminus – the iconic start of the Pacific Crest Trail. The mandatory photo by the sign, and then it’s time to actually start. Is this really happening? I still can’t quite believe it. Backtracked the same way to the actual trailhead, and now, for real, I’m stepping onto the trail.
First Miles and First Thoughts
Just knocked out the first mile.
A bit later, I’m past mile three.
The trail’s moving along okay so far. It’s hot, but manageable. Still, I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit down. Starting to question what I’m even doing out here and why I signed up for this. Apparently, though, these feelings are normal.
Water Woes: The Filter That Confused Me
At the first water source, I wanted to filter some water, but I wasn’t sure which way the dirty water went into the filter. Ended up messing it up somehow and swapped the bottles. Hope I don’t get sick from it. I’ll be more careful next time.
Ran into a few people I recognized by face, but didn’t chat much. My English isn’t quite up to longer conversations yet.
Scouting for a Campsite
Around mile eight, I started looking for a place to crash for the night. No need to go crazy on the first day, and my pack is seriously heavy with all the food I’m carrying.
The path reminds me of the mountains in Croatia, as seen from a car window.
Finally made it to the spot I’d planned to reach. Hoped there’d be a free tent site. Supposedly, there’s room for three tents. Total people? We ended up sleeping eight here. 🙂
Daily Summary
- Miles Today: 13.6 (including a 0.6-mile detour).
- Total PCT Distance: 2,637 miles to go.
- Highlight of the Day: Mixed feelings – from the joy of the first steps to questioning why I’m here. First experiences with water filtering and finding a spot at an overcrowded campsite.
