We woke up this morning to clear skies and cool temperatures, but things warmed up very quickly!  All day long the trail grade was very gentle (except for the climb up from Hwy. 3), and normally I’d be able to hike really fast.  But the trail was also mostly very rocky, and after my bad fall yesterday, I was kinda spooked about falling again.  My gashed knee is pretty sore but I can walk on it OK.  The bruised ribs hurt every time I take a deep breath, so that’s actually more of a problem.  And my “hiker hunger” has totally vanished.  I make myself eat out of duty.  Weird.  But hooray, another whole day of NO pain in the back of my hip! 

We leapfrogged all day with various other hikers, especially Croatian Sensation, Not a Chance, and Tangent.  We even met Billy Goat, hiking SOBO.  He told us that only 3 hikers over 69 years old are “left standing” on the PCT this year–himself, Bill, and Yeahbut.  I hope all three of them get to finish!  Billy Goat has been talking to the Israeli hikers, and they persuaded him to come do the Israel National Trail next spring! 

Along the PCT, it’s mostly pretty dry except where there is a spring running across the trail and when that happens, the mountainside is intensely deep green with thick grass and wildflowers– very pretty. Since we never know if a spring will be running or dry, we tried to stay stocked up on water all day.  The trees up here are usually not too big–I think it’s pretty tough to be a tree on these high ridges.  We could hear cowbells and mooing down below, but no “sign of cow” up on the PCT.

Finally we came around a ridge and there, right across from us, were the Trinity Alps!  We cheered and were so glad–we feel like the Trinities are “home turf”, since we’ve camped there before among their beautiful rocky peaks and shining lakes.  The PCT never actually GOES to the Trinities, but does have a lot of nice views of them as you hike along.  We could still see SNOW on the peaks!  Very pretty to look at, but I am sure glad we are not hiking in it!

By afternoon, though, I was really having trouble with stomach pain.  It got so bad that I had to ask Bill to stop a couple of times so I could rest.  And uphills just about did me in.  I felt as if I had no reserves of strength left, either physical or emotional.  Whenever I stumbled on a rock (which I did many times) I had to choke back tears and fear.  And Section P is SO BEAUTIFUL–normally I would be enjoying every minute of it, but instead I’m hiking in “survival mode.”  Not fun. The climb out of Hwy. 3 just about did me in, and at the top I plain ‘ol collapsed for awhile before I could eat any supper. 

At camping time, the sky was clear, so we just rigged the net tent (yes, there were mossies!) and before we went to sleep, I asked Bill to please pray for me.  I hope all goes better tomorrow.  And I will say one good thing about my fall on the rocks yesterday–it “fixed” my glasses!  Back in the Sierras, I’d accidentally stepped on them, and they were bent in a way that made them very uncomfortable.  But when they hit the rock yesterday, it bent them back into a much more comfortable line, so now it doesn’t hurt to wear them!  That is one plus!

Walk with Aragorn to Isengard: In the plains of Rohan under the moon

Tags: HWY 3, spring, Trinity Alps