Days Five to Seven

DAY FIVE

• 6.2 PCT miles
• Total miles: 47.7

I woke up feeling much better today, and I finally got my new pack when the post office opened. Because of the late start, I only managed to get 6.2 miles in before we thought it was a good idea to stop - at this point I was with two fellow hikers who had also stayed at Scout and Frodo’s, Smokey and Meg. It was a beautiful 6 miles with some lookouts to the desert below, surrounded by mountains in the distance.

It was extremely windy, and even with a slightly sheltered campsite, it took a loooong while to set up the tent! I reinforced all the stakes with rocks and was so happy that the tent stayed up the whole night. The view at our windy spot was really beautiful (nicest view I’ve ever had while going to the bathroom)! 

The pack felt okay today, my hip is still a bit numb but it isn’t getting worse. I’m happy I switched out my old one because it does have a lot more support. And yay for Hyperlite Mountain Gear who are going to give me a full refund for my used pack!!  As an added bonus, Smokey gave me a tenacious tape patch for my hoody, and I have since been given the trail name “Patches”. (It’s a thru-hiker tradition to get names on trail). 

Being forced to take the zero yesterday and then leave so late today has left me feeling a bit stressed and rushed, wanting to make up miles I missed and catch up to people who left ahead of me. I keep trying to remind myself that I have plenty of time and I’m going just the right pace that I need to be going. It’s good practice for me to let go of my plans and expectations and let things happen just as they are supposed to. 

DAY SIX

• 15.9 PCT miles
• Total miles: 63.6
• Elevation: 3871 ft

Today I had my longest day so far, walking with Smokey, all day along a series of very windy ridges (also meeting various other hikers along the way). The view to the side of us was spectacular but constant ridge after ridge did start to get a bit tiring by the end. We took only a few short breaks for snacks and resting, and to adjust my pack, which has left my back feeling tender and bruised in places. The wind was incessant all day, and although I tried to liberally apply sunscreen regularly, I started to run out, and got a bit of a sun/wind burn on my legs and face.

There were some really cool points where we were right in the clouds which were zooming through the mountains and down into the desert below (where they promptly disappeared) - I felt like I was really a part of the typical mountain-desert weather cycle (though also felt worried about getting rained on which luckily didn’t happen).

The last couple miles finally dipped down into a valley which had some pretty wildflowers and blissful silence as the wind died down. It was a huge relief to get out of the wind, although the steep downhill was definitely hard on my joints, especially at the end of the day with very tired and sore feet. 

I camped in a big open site at the bottom of the valley with 8 others hikers. It was still a windy night, but so much more peaceful compared to the night before!! Tomorrow we push on to Julian, for my next resupply!

DAY SEVEN

• 13.5 PCT miles
• Total: 77.1
• Stayed in Julian, a small town a short hitch from the trail

Today I walked with Smokey again all day, and we really barrelled through the 13.5 miles to Julian, while having some awesome chats the whole time. The walk was extremely hot and sunny, since we lost a lot of elevation the conditions got less windy and more HOT. I also ran out of sunscreen and got very burnt on my legs - I had to hike the last few hours in my black merino wool long johns, which was not fun! 

I loved seeing the desert landscape, despite the heat. The last couple miles to Scissors Crossing (popular hitching spot to Julian) was straight across the desert I had been looking down on from above for two days, so it was pretty cool to see, even if it was sweltering. 

When we got to the highway underpass I encountered my first trail angels! A water cache, cold pop, quesadillas, and a ride to Julian from some previous PCT hikers. 

In Julian I got some free pie at Mom’s, free hugs, beer, and laundry at Carmen’s, and then a realllllly nice shower (and some liberal aloe application) and a sleep in a cozy motel room with some fellow hikers. Soooo nice to sleep in a bed!