PCT 2023: Day 6

Trail Miles: 30.5

Elevation +: 4974

Elevation -: 3779

Started hiking at 5:45am. The New Zealand guy was up and packing. I made it to the next water source (about 0.2 miles off trail) and met a few hikers there, Thor, Bounce, Taylor, Ryan, New Zealand guy & the other hiker that was camped with us.

I hiked on to Mike’s Place for the next water source. I wanted to do “10 by 10”, and actually did 12 miles by 10am. The black flies were so annoying I skipped my break there. I changed my socks, prepped my water, electrolytes and more snacks and kept hiking. Realized I could do a 30 mile day if I made it to Mary’s Place by end of day. Seemed like a good goal for the day.

Passed a slightly perturbed rattlesnake and then a section hiker named Kale. He had hiked Section A four years ago and had carved out five weeks this time to hike as much as he could or felt like doing. He gave me some good insight and perspective in our short conversation: He said anyone completing the PCT in a single lifetime is achieving something incredible. Anyone doing it in a single thru-hike is really an unbelievable task. I think this serendipitous perspective gave me some solace in my own feelings that this thru-hike attempt felt more like an interruption in my current life rather than the primary goal I thought it would be.

Caught up to a hiker, Red, (formerly named, Ohio) and he ended up hiking with me for the rest of the day. We shared some good conversation that got us both through the long afternoon. We talked about books, movies, philosophy and his plans to study psychology in the fall. His pack looked like it weighed 50 pounds and I was impressed with the long day he ended up completing.

Made it to Tule Spring for more water. Red said the water tasted like a penny. I masked it with flavored electrolytes and took his word for it. We watched a thunderstorm pass us. Kept hiking. It got hot the last section to get to Mary’s Place. 30.5 miles for me today, and Red did his first marathon day, 26 miles. Right ankle is fairly swollen. Took 2 ibuprofen, had dinner and got ready for bed. Ryan and Taylor hiked into camp around 8pm - I think it was a 28 mile day for them. Happy to be camped here with all of them. We were all pretty worn down but felt company in our misery as we quickly settled in for the night.

Can’t wait for breakfast at PVC tomorrow morning. I think tomorrow is my last day on trail.