Yep, as expected, the night was a chilly one. My tent sported a layer of frost in the morning, though not as thick as the day before. This time, the tent was wetter, especially underneath. But the real surprise came when I found a note on my trekking poles – Melody wrote that they were staying put today, or maybe pushing just 5 miles to the next campsite with water, because Nicolas is having some leg trouble.
So, I decided to press on solo and hit the trail at 7:35 AM.
A Grueling Day Under the Sun
For the first five miles, water was practically everywhere. Then, though, came over 10 miles with absolutely no water. This stretch was particularly draining thanks to the exposed terrain and relentless sun all day long.
Today’s trail wasn’t just a climb-fest; it was also a full-on obstacle course. We had to scramble over or detour around fallen trees constantly. Many of them had sharp, branch-stub remnants that were a real hazard.
Water at Last, But at What Cost
After about 18 miles, I finally reached a water source. Unfortunately, this meant a mile-long descent down a rocky trail, losing 400 meters of elevation. I took a long drink, filtered 2 liters into my bottles, and another 2 liters into my CNOC bag. Burdened with four kilograms of water, I then had to hike back up to where I’d left my pack and poles.
When I got back, my pack was literally covered in ants. I could barely see it! I spent a good chunk of time picking them off before I could move on.
Ending the Day Alone
After a day that felt like it would never end, I started looking for a place to camp. I ended up finding a spot not listed on any app. It was barely big enough for one tent, so I was sleeping solo. The wind was really picking up, but I was so wiped out that I just pitched the tent, laid out my sleeping pad and quilt, and crashed.
I camped at an elevation of 1590 meters. All told, I spent 10 hours and 25 minutes on the trail today.
Daily Summary
#PCT today covered 22.77 miles. That leaves 2414 miles to go. This day once again showed me how crucial perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles really are.
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