PCT: Day 116

Today started off easy with a nearly 7.5 mile descent on relatively rock free trail. The trail stayed in the trees for most of this so there weren’t many views to stop to admire. I had started with the plan to do at least 25 miles and then see if I felt good enough to do more. The easy trail helped and the miles flew by. I ran into trail magic at Baxter Pass and had already done over 11 miles by 10am.

I was hoping to stop for lunch a few miles after Baxter Pass, but the trail turned to follow a ridge line with little room to stop along the trail. I pushed on until I found a corner with space to sit. I ate lunch and then continued along the ridge for the next couple miles before descending to a creek. It was only 2pm at this point so I topped off on water and climbed back up on the other side of the creek. This was less fun as the trail threw another 1500ft of climb at me with full afternoon sun beating down. I luckily had decent cell service and talked (or maybe panted) to Blue Lizard while I suffered up a hill that would never seem to end.

But the hill ended and I was at the top by 5pm. I had a choice to make. Camp here, 25 miles in, or keep going. I like to hike until about 6:30 so decided to push on a bit. I forgot to mention it yesterday, but this stretch for some reason only has a fraction of the PCT hikers on it that the stretch leading into Tahoe had. I was bit surprised on the way down to see another hiker moving the same direction and at a similar speed. I passed initially, but then, glad to be talking to another human slowed down a bit, and we hiked the next hour or so together. Her trail name was Epic, and similar to me she had started hiking her spouse, but was on her own now being supported by her husband. She was going a couple miles further than me so continued on once I got to camp.

Looking at my watch when I get to camp reveals the longest distance I have ever covered on nothing but my feet, 30.7 miles. My feet definitely let me know I’ve abused them but it’s nothing a good night’s rest can’t solve. The long day also put me a little closer to my next stop, Donner Ski Ranch. I’m only 8.5 miles away from a free beer and a cooked meal and that’s something to be happy about.