Morning: A Cold Night, a Hot Day
Another chilly night behind me – classic, I was cold even though we’re not even in the Sierra mountains yet. But as soon as the sun came up, everything changed fast. By 7:45 AM, I was leaving camp in just shorts and a sun hoodie because it was already a nice, hot 8 AM. Beautiful, clear skies and heat.
The Trek to Paradise Valley Café (PVC)
Even though the app showed 14.8 miles, my watch clocked 16.3 miles on the same route. I don’t know how I made it there. It was like autopilot, but every mile felt like two. I’m wiped.
The Crisis: Why Am I Even Doing This?
I often ask myself: “Why am I even here? What am I proving to myself?” I miss my family – the kids, my wife, the dogs. Physically, it’s extremely demanding; I’m constantly either too hot or too cold, and the feeling of exhaustion just keeps deepening. But then I remind myself that just being here is a victory in itself. Every step on this trail is proof that I’m not giving up.
Pit Stop at PVC: Recharging the Batteries
I spent a few hours at Paradise Valley Café, trying to recharge all my batteries – both the physical ones and the electronic ones.
Lunch Menu:
- Water
- Burger
- Dr. Pepper
- Vanilla Milkshake
It was a little oasis. At the same time, I picked up my new tent. Unfortunately, the instructions for setting it up weren’t included, which, combined with the wind at my campsite tonight, is quite the challenge. But what can you do?
Daily Summary:
- On the Trail Today:
- 16.24 miles to Paradise Valley Café
- 2.18 miles to campsite
- Total: 18.42 miles
- Total PCT Distance: 2,484 miles to go
- Day’s Highlight: Burger and milkshake at PVC, picking up the new tent.
- Next Day’s Goal: Meet up with Charlie and the others, regain energy, improve my mood, and keep going.
