Day 106, Learning to Fly

Part 4, Oregon, Day 106

Learning to Fly

Miles: 14.38

Total Miles: 1729.5

It was 10am and I was lying under the covers of my motel room bed. The air conditioner was cranked up and I could almost see the heat coming through my curtains from the sun outside. I'd slept poorly again, even though I was very comfortable. I'm not used to comfort anymore, I guess. It wasn't the heatwave that was foremost in my thoughts, but my quad muscle on my right leg. I feared tearing that muscle in the middle of the wilderness. This fear caused a brief debate of whether not I should rest it for another day. I shoved theses thoughts aside and knew what I had to do. I had to hike. As I always say, the PCT isn't going to hike itself. I was on the street by 10:30am. 

I made this sign to distinguish myself from a non hiker. 

The sign worked wonders. The good people of Ashland stopped frequently to give me a ride, but the first 4 cars were headed North. After 10 minutes, a small car pulled up that was full of stuff. Even though there was no room, the young couple squeezed me and my pack inside and we were off. They had been listening to the audio book of "Wild," so it was exciting for them to pick up a hiker, and I told them stories about the trail. They dropped me off at Callahan's on Highway 99 and I walked a mile up the road to the trail. 

My plan was to take it easy today and ease my leg back into action. The temps were over 100 degrees by noon, so taking it easy was...well...easy. I got the trail head and saw a familiar pine stick near a pack, and I was happy to find Pine Stick resting in the shade. 

I also saw Nominal Toast, a very popular hiker on the trail. We all caught up and filed out one by one. The heat caused everyone to slow down today. I was enjoying the slow hiking today; it felt good, as always, to be back home on the trail.

I was surprised to find that Southern Oregon on this early stage reminded me of the desert. Hot, exposed, and dry. I was hiking toward this giant rock:

I soon found out that it was named Pilot Rock.

There were some moments of forest hiking that provided merciful and much needed shade.

I came upon a view of the backside of Mount Shasta:

I entered the Soda Mountain Wilderness:

I didn't find any sodas though; I guess I'll find all the sodas further down trail.

The day moved from hot to downright sultry.

Just as in the desert, I was bombarded by flies from every direction. 

I arrived at the first water source and met 4 new hikers. I only remember Chicken Fat and Cardboard's names. This happens all the time when I take zeros in town. I get back on trail, and it's like a hiker shift change has taken place. We all hung out and talked while we got water. The source had a slow flow, and something told me to filter the water. 

After a long break, I slowly walked on as the afternoon wound down.

I came upon the last water for 13 miles, so I filled up 4 liters to camp with. The spring was easy to find thanks to somebody:

I walked by a gross pond and found a pipe that had lovely, clean, and ice cold water flowing out of it.

I set out with a very heavy pack. Since is planned to take it easy today, I was under no pressure to hike far, and it was nice taking my time.

Flat camp spots are still as hard as ever to find, but I found a decent spot.

I waited until the sun started setting to make camp. As I right this, I'm hearing an animal near me that I've never heard before. It's loud. It sounds like a mix of a turkey and a big cat. I don't have to tell you that the last thing I need tonight is to be surrounded by wild turkey-cats who are out for blood...

Tomorrow I'll resume my normal miles, and the heat wave will continue. I just hope I sleep well tonight. I'm being treated to a symphony of animal noises right now from all directions. I'll leave you with the sun setting over Ashland.

Night friends!