Last night felt better. Maybe the trick is not to cinch the quilt completely tight around the neck? Regardless, it was seriously cold this morning! The tent’s outer shell was frozen stiff, both inside and out.
The upside to double-wall tents is that 99.9% of the moisture stays on the outer shell, so it doesn’t drip into your face. That’s a win.
A Flat Start, But Climbs on the Horizon
We hit the trail just after nine, a little earlier than yesterday. This morning, I noticed a new tent that must have arrived overnight; its occupant was still sleeping. The day started flat, but soon enough, the climbing began. And it didn’t stop until the end of the day. 🤷🏻♂️
Around 1 PM, I finally caught up with Melody and Nicolas, and we shared lunch. It was brutally hot, so we lingered for about an hour.
Water Caches and Water Weight
We came across two water caches along the way, but I only took from one because I was already carrying five liters, which is a decent load. This time, I remembered to snap a photo of the cache.
A Frenchman was filling up his bottles right there. Melody and Nicolas got chatting with him in French while I slowly pushed on into the next climb. The landscape changed incredibly today, often carrying the scent of summer forest, which I really enjoyed.
Campsite with Perks
Today’s campsite is a good one. We’ve got water, and even a privy. We’re sleeping at 1907 meters, so I’m guessing it’ll be chilly again tonight.
Daily Summary
#PCT clocked 17 miles today. That leaves 2437 miles to go. This day was a grind of ascents, but the nature and the company helped me push through all the obstacles.
