Morning Start
We were up a little after six today, and back on the trail by seven. First, we had to backtrack a bit through the camp, which went pretty quickly. I set out layered up: shorts with rain pants over them, a Sunhoodie, a fleece, and a rain jacket. But the sun quickly started to shine, so came the first “shedding break” – rain gear off first, then I swapped my beanie for a baseball cap. Even though it was sunny, today’s weather was definitely not hot. What spoiled it a bit was the sometimes pretty strong and icy wind. That wasn’t pleasant at all.
Wades and Wet Boots
After about four miles, we hit our first creek crossing. The water wasn’t deep, but it was more than enough to cool our feet. But that wasn’t the last of it – another mile down the trail, we crossed another stream. And about two miles later, a much wider ford awaited us, with icy water up to our knees.
The rule with creek crossings is you shouldn’t go barefoot – you never know what’s on the bottom. Some people change shoes, but I’d already completely soaked one foot on the first crossing, so I stopped worrying about it and just waded through all of them in my boots. Even after 3 PM, my boots were still completely wet. 😂
Views, Wind, and Tentsite
The weather did have its good sides, though. Despite that icy wind, we enjoyed amazing views. The trail was nice and walkable, and we were making good time. After 3 PM, we arrived at a Tentsite – a spot where you can pitch a tent. There aren’t that many places like this on the trail because you usually just can’t find a suitable flat patch. The next Tentsite was another four miles further, and there was only room for two tents. We knew at least four people were ahead of us, so we stayed put. Even so, we’ve put 13.3 miles in our legs today!
Trailname
Oh, and by the way, I got my trailname! On the trail, that’s like an unofficial nickname that other hikers give you based on what you do, how you act, or what characterizes you. It’s a big moment – more than just a simple name, it’s part of trail culture. So, my new trailname? I’ll keep that to myself for now! 😂
Daily Summary
- Miles Today: 12 miles
- Total PCT Distance: Still 2,614 miles to go
- Day’s Highlight: First creek crossing and getting a trailname!
