I slept pretty well on my first night. I got up around 6am, quickly packed my tent and had a small breakfast with coffee and a Cliff bar. Due to only two liters water remaining for the climb to Lake Morena with the next water source in 5 miles, I skipped the planned warm breakfast. The climb was not too much – about 1000 feet – and I was happy to enjoy the relatively cool morning. Only on top of the ridge I had sun on my face again. I was in good spirits, feeling that my feet, legs and shoulders had funny recovered during the sleep.

Coming into Lake Morena campground, I meet two other German PCT hikers. I filled my water and even made a (failing) attempt to get a shower. Around 1030am I walked to a nearby small store and restaurant where I found Johanna from Switzerland already buying supplies. We both enjoyed a warm meal and discussed the next water sources.

Boulder Campground was just another 6 miles away. So I took off with just 4 liters of water.

The Boulder Campground is really small with no shops, but I was happy to refill water there. By now I had decided to roughly head for 15 miles again today and according to the water report, there was a tent site at mile 30 with water. I discussed this plan with a few other hikers, but I ended up in that beautiful spot pitching my tent alone. So the second night in trail will be the first night camping alone. I will sleep without rain fly again to enjoy the view with stars at night time. The frogs from the creek are providing a nice background noise to fall asleep.

Tomorrow I plan to start early again. In just half a mile, another agressive bee hive was reported. I hope they will still be sleepy when I sneak by before 7am.

April 21. Big day. First day on the PCT.

Slept quite ok at S&F’s place, considering the excitement about the start. Around 3am, I woke up the first time and kept turning around. Finally got up at 5am. All the six of us in the tent were scheduled for the 6am shuttle to the terminus. Packing up, quick breakfast, then about one hour drive to the terminus.

We took the mandatory photos at the monument, then the hikers took off around 8am in small groups heading North to Canada. I ended up walking more or less in a group of four – a Canadian, Danish, Austrian and myself.

The first miles were easy – it wasn’t hot yet. Around mile 8, Eric the Canadian spotted a bee hive just at the trail. We just stood there, maybe 5 meters away, and I got stung the first time in my hand. Those bees were aggressive! We ran back some meters, some bees were following. With no way around the bee hive in the terrain, we decided to run by. I caught another bee in my hat… Twenty meters after the bee hive, I got stung the second time, this time above the ear. What a start. But now I know for sure I am not allergic to bees. 😉

We took a longer lunch break at mile 10 to wait out some of the heat. Didn’t help too much… The next miles got tougher in the heat and limited shade. Around 4pm in the afternoon we got to the planned tentsite at Hauser Creek mile 15, I had about 2,5 liters water left, so I consumed 6 liters today.

Tonight Eric performed surgery on Paulina’s blister. A needle from the free sewing kit from S&F, held over the fire to desinfect, was used to open her blisters.

Later in the evening, Paulina realized that the blister were filling up again, so she inserted a thread into both of them.

Here is a video of the procedure on YouTube!

I will sleep in my tent but without rain fly – hoping to see some meteorites (Lyrids).