Day 40, The Walking Dead

Part 1, The Desert, Day 40

The Walking Dead

Miles: 25.11

PCT Mile: 689.00

Today was the most grueling hiking I've done so far. These last 6 days have kicked my ass, and it seems the desert wants to give me a good bye kiss. 

I slept like a log last night, and when I woke up at 5am, I forgot where I was. I quickly realized I was on the PCT. I woke up to a beautiful dawn and took off at 6. 

I passed this marker, which caused me to stop and do the math:

I had completed a quarter of the trail. Some hikers I talked to were happy about this, others couldn't believe there is still three quarters left. Personally, I think it went by really fast, and I'm thrilled there's a lot of trail left. (Close to two thousand miles)

I love hiking in the early morning, and I'm always alone. Other hikers are always ragging on me for getting up so early and not sleeping in. 

After crossing over a saddle, the landscape was covered in trees.

It was hard to take pics cause the sun was right in front of me.

I stopped at Spanish Needle Creek to filter some water.

The first of two big climbs today started here. I hiked uphill a couple thousand feet and I was winded. I was listless and sucking air.

The day was gorgeous and hot, and I think this section has worn me down. I also have been on food rationing mode and have been eating very little, so these things led to my struggle today.

I stopped at 10am after only 8 miles to fuel up and eat lunch. (What little food I had)

It was such a nice day to hike, but I was lifeless. My goal was to get close enough to Kennedy Meadows to have an easier day tomorrow, but that was proving difficult. The miles were trickling by at a slow rate. 

I badly miscalculated on my water needs, so I was low on this very hot day. I was trying to get to a spigot a mile off trail, and it seemed like I'd never make it. I listened to music, hoping that would distract me, but my eyes could barely stay open. 

Right when my feet could go no further, I hit the dirt road, not excited about the extra mile walk. I needed water, my last big carry of this desert section, to get me up the next climb and to camp with. Fortunately, I saw a note that read " H20" with an arrow pointing towards the bushes. It was a flowing spring with crystal clear water! This wasn't even on the water report, so it was a welcome surprise, and I didn't need to go off trail.

I filled up 6 liters, probably too much, but it was symbolic of my time in the desert. Besides, having lots of water gives me options. I filtered the water and laid down in the shade, exhausted. I looked at my gross callous on my heel and wondered why it aches so much. 

Warning: foot pic!

At least I never got blisters. You should see some of the hikers' feet out here. It's like a horror movie. I relaxed for 30 minutes and knew I had to start on the climb. My second climb if the day would go up another couple thousand feet over 7 miles. I just wanted to get it done, so I started to go up. 

This part was very difficult for me. I had already hiked 17 miles today, before this last uphill, and everything hurt. My shoulders, back, feet, legs; they were all on fire. Hiking over 20 miles a day for the last week with big water carries has destroyed my body. I kept to myself to ignore the pain and hike on, so I did. I'm also starting to become heavily suspicious about my backpack. Is it hurting me? 

I knew that every step today would be one less tomorrow. I entered a burn zone, which didn't help my mood. There were no flat spots to rest or camp, and I felt stuck again.

I needed to rest and sort of rally, and I laid down on the only semi-flat spot; the trail:

It was dead silent and I almost fell asleep right here. I decided to walk until I found anywhere kind of flat and camp. 

There are some big mountains in the distance!

I chose a rocky, bumpy spot l, but I don't care. Since I'm resupplying tomorrow, I cooked all my food, there wasn't much left anyways. It was the same potato deal I had the last two nights. It tasted like victory. Also, chocolate can do no wrong out here. 

In the end, it was a big day; 25 miles. I will also end up spending 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. Didn't Jesus do that? I guess that makes me pretty biblical. I have 14 miles to get to Kennedy Meadows tomorrow and then I'm done with SoCal. I'm really excited to zero, even though it's only a store and a campground. I'm even more excited for what's coming up next! I need to rest though.