Day 6 – Julian to Third Gate Cache, mile 91

Woke up at 6am, enjoyed a free breakfast burrito at Carmen’s.
After that the free apple pie at Mom’s.

Went to the Julian Post Office to lighten my backpack. Eric was already sitting there and helped with the shakedown. Thank you Eric! 👍 Eric is one of the guys who cut off the toothbrush handle to reduce weight. Sent clothes, ebook reader, maps, jacket to Steven. Got rid of some underwear, toilet paper…

Paulina, Eric and myself met to hitchhike back to trail around 10am.. we started the hiking around 12pm.

I felt super motivated with my lighter pack. Two hours later I had finished 7 miles! My fastest section so far, despite hiking uphill in the noon sun with no shade.

Soundtrack of today:

https://play.google.com/music/m/Bfh4keemd6jeru56x5cjxtg4os4?t=Billy_Idol_-_Billy_Idol

Arrived around 6.30pm at the water cache at mile 91 with Eric, Paulina followed shortly after. Dinner. Warm night with a bright moon.

Day 3 – Kitchen Creek to Mount Laguna, mile 41

A nice morning. The sounds of birds and frogs woke me up short before 6am, so I was on trail before 7am. Just before passing the bee hive, I met another hiker and we hurried by together. No problems this time, guess they were really sleepy as I was hoping.

I did not feel as refreshed as the previous day… The heat got me early. I took breaks at 5 miles, 7 miles and around 10 miles just before Mount Laguna, the destination for today.

Had a nice chat with Rotem in a long lunch break at mile 10, later on also Paulina joined.

We hiked together the last mile to Mount Laguna. We did some shopping at the general store, I picked up my package. I had ordered enough food for 4-5 days to take me to Warner Springs. With the food I had left, I am now carrying way too much food.

So at least for dinner I could eat my own food – the only restaurant in town is closed on Monday.

We had a nice dinner in a group with other PCT hikers. Later Rotem was playing Ukulele and singing at the fire – PCT life at its best.

A video will follow later.

A great day with nice company. Looking forward to tomorrow. It should be even or downhill for the next 30 miles.

Life is good

Taking a nap around mile 40, short before my first resupply stop at Mount Laguna.

Everything hurts a littlez but nothing is really painful. It looked yesterday like I might get a blister, but it disappeared…

Enough water, a chocolate Cliff bar in my hand, sunshine…

Will probably take a short day today and stay in Mount Laguna at a campground.

Day 2 – Hauser Creek to Kitchen Creek, mile 30

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.

Day 1 – Southern Terminus to Hauser Creek, mile 15

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).