PCT 9/17 Day 25 Wednesday 15 miles. Crummy night of sleep. I think I woke up once an hour. I must be more anxious than I think about crossing the river. Packed up gear in waterproof ziplocks etc just in case I slip crossing the river. Get there and spend about 15 minutes trying to find the shortest distance to the other side. I found what I thought was a good place, but there was no way to easily get up the bank on the other side. And so I plunged in - wow the water was moving fast. I face upstream and slide my feet along the bottom; lifting up gets my foot yanked downstream by the sheer force if the water. I check each step with my pile first. Water is icy cold and comes to the top of my calves. At one point, I step onto a shallow area and pause to take a few pics. Im doing this! I proclaim to no one on particular. Finish crossing without incident and beat feet back into the trail. I have never done a river crossing - kinda obvious by now, right? And being alone made it even more nerve-wracking. I stopped about 1/3 mile later, took off my pack then walked down a short steep trail to get water to make coffee and oatmeal. I slipped and fell, landing on an exposed root that tore across my left hip and butt cheek. Glad I didnt tear my sorts or indies, but I have two parallel scratches that started bleeding right away. Dang thats going to be painful, I think. Got water, climbed back up, took off my shoes and socks, made coffee and ate breakfast. As I rinsed out the tons of tiny pebbles my socks, I realized that I should have not worn socks...good to know for next time. I sat around for half an hour, then put on my favorite Keen wool socks, put some antibiotic on my new wound, and hiked on. Two miles later, I come to the Muddy River but cannot find where the trail continues to a hiker bridge to cross. I backtrack, pull out my maps plus check my PCT app and it shows a trail, but Ill be darned if I can find it. So this river has two large fallen trees that span it. A rope is tied along the length of the upper tree. Ok. I can do this, too. I shorten my trekking poles and as Im attaching them to my pack, another hiker shows up. She couldnt find the bridge, either, but said shes done logs before and hops right up. She crosses with no problem, so I gamely start across and besides my natural nerves, all is fine. We swap contact information on the other side as we took pics of each other and I give her a few starburst. Saint started in Mexico and is determined to finish in Canada this year. She had to take a few weeks off for shin splints. Now the trail starts a 1400 elevation gain over the next two miles. I tell her to take off as I turn onto a sloth here. Shes out of sight in less than five minutes. Im envious. As Im huffing and puffing hiking around what must be the 800th switchback, I see Saint sitting down, massaging her foot. She cramped up on the switchbacks, she said. We chat a bit more and again, she is out of sight in no time at all. Im still envious. The smoke is still encompassing the area, making it hot and humid. Im sweating buckets, even under the shade of the trees. Come into what must be huckleberry heaven in prime season. But now the leaves are turning and falling off most of the bushes. I find a few with viable berries and quickly stain my hands plucking them. Yum! Stop at a trail junction for lunch and sadly realized I still have 10 miles to go. And its 1pm. Ugh. I need to make the miles today as tomorrows forecast is for rain and Id rather not have to hike too far in unpredictable weather. So I trudge on. I bet there are amazing views as Im putting on the mikes today, but all I really see is a hazy landscape. I can barely make out Lost Lake as I pass it. I noted there was water around mile 2130, but I only come across dried up seasonal springs, like five of them. Crud. I barely have any water left and I know theres none at my campsite 2 miles away. The weather gets really windy and chilly- I hike faster to stay warm but finally have to stop to put on a long sleeve wool shirt. And my left shoulder gives it up the last mile. Numbness. Constant aching that nothing I do alleviates the pain. Thank goodness I arrive at the campsite and can take my pack off. The site sucks. Its on a saddle and pretty windy. But Im not going any further. Two river crossings, 1400 elev in 2 miles and a total of 17 miles has done me in. Set up camp and guy out my tent tight in anticipation of a windy night. I look at my water supply and I have about 8 to 10 gulps left. I use one gulp to take a naproxen and another to wash down the pumpkin seeds, zucchini chips and energy chews that comprise dinner. The next water source is in six miles. Mostly downhill, so Ill be okay. I wake at 11:30pm to the sound of hooves clomping away. Its the first time that I can recall bring visited by deer at night. Besides, I tell myself, a bear or coyote would be, as a predator, much more quiet. But still, I have a hard time falling back asleep. Zzzzz
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 02:57:54 +0000