PCT: Day 23 I-10 Oasis

PCT's I-10 Oasis

Here’s our tent site with our sleeping bags drying out on top of the tent. In an effort to keep my feet warm last night, I had put my large trash compactor plastic bag inside my sleeping bag, outside my liner. The goal was to eliminate the draft at my feet from outside the tent. At 6’3″ my head almost touches one wall and my feet the other wall. It’s drafty. In any case, my idea failed and my sleeping bag was damp from my bright idea, so I needed to dry it out.

Gear drying
Gear drying

We spent the night at the campsite to the right of the water symbol. Below is a screenshot from the Guthook app we use on our phones. When we activate the GPS option there’s a little symbol that will show our current position. It’s quite handy! There were four or five other tents and or campers in our location.

Guthooks map
Guthooks map

Guthooks lets us preview the route, so we knew we were heading downhill the next day.

Guthooks mileage preview
Guthooks mileage preview

Feeling quite proud to be running early we exited our tent at 7AM, just in time to see the last hikers leaving the tent site! We were the slow pokes after all.

We realized quickly during the morning hike that our decent was one hundred percent exposed to direct sunshine. It was so very warm. We “camel”-ed up at a water source and continued our descent to the valley floor.

I was super excited to finally see cactus in bloom. I’ve been watching for several weeks so it was great to finally be at the right place at the right time.

Pink Cactus Flower
Pink Cactus Flower
White blooms in the desert
White blooms in the desert

Noelle really wilted in the heat today. The first part of the mornings hike was direct sunlight and no shade as we descended the mountain.

Strangely enough, though, there was a water fountain at the base of the mountain.

Relaxing in the shade
Relaxing in the shade

We hid in the shade of a big rock and rehydrated and called one of our daughters to wish her a happy birthday. It was great and unexpected to have cell phone reception!

After leaving the water oasis we hiked four miles through a blazing hot, flat, windless, sandy section. Noelle melted. After a very rough couple of hours we made it to the I-10 freeway underpass.

Other hikers were also suffering from the heat and were splayed out in the shade like melted Crayons. One kind German hiker eyeballed Noelle, and after asking permission, dumped her water over Noelle’s head. It did a great job of reviving Noelle.

It’s crazy difficult to hike from freezing conditions to heat stroke conditions within a 24 hour window.

4 Comments

  1. Mom n Dad

    It sounds/looks like today was a thermal challenge! From freezing to boiling in a few hours! Doesn’t quite compare to going from the outside sweaty from working into the ac of the house. You guys are going to be as tough as nails by the end of this adventure. Eventually you stop sweating, Si? Anyway, keep on trekking and stay hydrated so you can keep on sweating. When the desert heroes think it’s going to get hot they cover up to retain the sweat-Who knows, it works for them! Love, Mom n Dad

    Reply
    • mcgarveysan

      The contrasts are slaying me! Hopefully we get a little acclimated to this soon! Love you guys. Noelle

      Reply
  2. matt Denham

    That’s quite the temp swing. Probably 60-70 degrees in one day. The body has no time to acclimate. No wonder you were feeling a little warm.

    Reply
    • mcgarveysan

      Oh my goodness. We are traveling through climates so quickly. I’m shivering in my jacket while I’m covered in sweat, every time we stop for a break! 🥶🥵 Noelle

      Reply

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