Day 3

The desert is quite cold in the morning and evening.  The temperatures are close to freezing on some nights.  This makes it great for a good early start, a break mid day, then a nice few miles in the evening.  

I spent most of the morning, hiking alone.  Then I managed to make it to Mt. Laguna with a group of hikers.  There we had lunch.  It was my first hot meal since the day before I left.  I never thought a bowl of chilling would taste so good.

After lunch, I stopped off at the local store.  The prices are gouged so I didn't buy much. 

I hiked with Tennessee and a fellow from Puerto Rico.  Then we saw this.

It was the first time I had a breathtaking view on the trail.  We stayed at the Mt. Laguna camp grounds where I had my first shower.  A four minute shower never felt so good.  

  

Day 2

The day began with a rough hike up a mountain which slowly decended into lake Morano.  I wanted to make it here my first day but obviously wasn't able to make it. 

The weather this day was much hotter than the previous day.  

I managed to make it to mile 32.  The last bit was breathtaking but my photos didn't turn out. 

I camped in an area known as Fred's Canyon.  This evening, I decided to try cowboy camping.  That's where you sleep without a tent.  Another hiker from Tennessee saw my set up and decided to do the same.

This was the most terrifying experience thus far in the PCT.  Laying on the ground without a tent is un-nerving.

I was "in bed" by about seven.  Over the course of an hour, thesky slowly went black but my attention to the noise around me wouldn't shut off.  When I was about to fall asleep, I felt something tug on my clothes bag (I was using it as a pillow). I freaked out and yelled.  The Tennessee guy shot up from his cowboy camp and asked what was wrong.  I told him what happened.  After a few minutes we laid back down, then I saw this in the shadows. 

I scared it away.  It was some kind of wombat like rodent.  Others have told me there are foxes in the area and it might have that.  

Well, me and Tennessee were done with that experience and we both set up our tents.  He was also laying there in complete terror for two hours, hoping I'd tap out first, which I did.  

Day 1

The weather was cloudy and it sprinkled a bit when I was about to leave in Campo.  I had eight liters of water.  Everything I had been hearing was to carry more than you need.  With the weather being fair, I poured out two liters.  This helped drop the weight a few pounds.  

My pack was HEAVY despite all of this.  I hiked with a yoga instructor from Seattle but she left in the dust after seven miles.  

HYOH: hike your own hike

It's something you begin to learn on the trail.  Everyone has a different pace and plans for the trail.  I was ok with that.  

I made it 14.4 miles until I decided to call it quits.  I set up my tent for the first time and ended up sleeping for twelve hours until 5:30 the next morning. 

Bye

Off to the boarder!

Less than twelve hours...

My sister and I made it from Bakersfield to Santee (a suburb of San Diego) today. The trip from north of Sacramento to Bakersfield went with little issues.  Once in Bakersfield, we got some In AND Out. 

 

Animal Style.  

We switched and I had the luxury of driving over the grapevine and through LA.  

It was the worst and I never want to experience driving there ever again.  

Before making it to San Diego, we made a few wrong turns.  I got to see some expensive houses and then back into traffic.  My sister called ahead for the hotel and now here we are. 

Now here I am decompressing with some of the best Mexican food I've ever had.  It's strange, Mexican food is almost always exclusively made by Mexicans.  This goes for all types of food, too!  But forwhatever reason, the closer to the boarder you get, the better it gets.  I had the same experience in Texas! 

Anyhow, I better get to bed soon as I want to begin my hike before the sun comes up!  Wish me luck!  

Halfway to Campo

My sister and I almost made it all the way to Sacramento today.  We left at 4am this morning and made it to Medford around 8:45.  There we had breakfast with some family.  

The original plan was to get south of Sacramento at five.  After pulling into a McDonalds for the free wi-fi and unsuccessful attempts to find a hotel, we just settled for where we're at.  So, we're in some Motel 6 about an hour or so north of Sacramento. 

I felt too tired to continue driving and I think my sister felt the same way.  I can't imagine driving for another hour.  I could barely park the car.  

Anyway, tomorrow we'll be further South.  I'm still anxious but can't wait to start.

Tomorrow I roll...

Just about everything is ready for my big hike.  Today, I'll be picking up a rental car with my sister.  Then I'll make the last minute checks to make sure I have everything.  Then, sometime in the early morning hours, we'll leave for Campo.

We have family to visit in Southern Oregon and hopefully we can make it a bit south of Sacremento by tomorrow afternoon.  The following day, all the we down, squeezed up besides Mexico.  And on Thursday, I begin.

I have my only scheduled mail drop ready to mail.  It's for Kennedy Meadows.  I guess the rest, I'll wing it.  I've usually ended out fine doing things that way.  

I'll see if I can get another post out sometime tomorrow.  See y'all soon!