Miles today: 15.6
Trail miles: 418.6
Elevation: 4915
Spinning on the turntable: Lizzie: Back to forever
With mutual assurances that we wouldn’t get ourselves killed today, Noelle and I split up after breakfast.
I had a nice relaxing five mile downhill hike.
I really enjoyed the relaxing start to the day. I plugged in the earbuds and enjoyed the sights. Good times.
After five miles of easy downhill it was five miles of uphill. The hiking was easier today than it was yesterday, I’m glad that my hiker legs didn’t abandon me during our week off trail! I was a bit nervous.
Gravelly trail
Trail sections like this make me smile. No matter how alone we think we are out here, this is a well traveled path. We can walk for hours and not see a soul, but when we stop for a few minutes lots of hikers will pass by us. Not always, but often.
PCT sign
And these posts! Who hauled out these beasts and buried them? Kudos to whomever that was, my hats off to you!
Snag Hazard
The snag hazard sign was a first! There may have been others previously on the trail, but this was the first one that I saw. I didn’t find the area to be any more dangerous than other sections we’ve hiked through.
Flower in the mist
As I was headed towards camp, after being caught in the snow and rain, I really liked how this flower (or whatever it is) stood out in the fog. The picture doesn’t do it justice. I found it fascinating. Scale wise this plant was about seven feet tall.
It was really nice knowing that even though I was cold, a nice warm van was awaiting at the end of today’s trail. I could get accustomed to this lifestyle…
Tomorrow I’ll head out for a 18 mile jaunt. I’m curious how I’ll feel at the end of the day. We looked at our maps and Noelle can’t make it to my destination in the van. I’ll be trying out the new tent and stove.
A wise man would have set up the tent ahead of time but I’m not that wise man. I did test the stove and it seemed to work ok. We’ll see!
Good day, I’ve been following your and Noelle’s adventure. Sorry to hear she had to abandon the trial, but happy for you both that you found a way she can still participate. Noted your question about who installs the signs on the trail. Much of the work is performed by volunteers from the Pacific Trail Association where you got your through permit. You can support these volunteers by donating to the trial maintenance fund. Happy trails, look forward to more posts.
It’s also called “Our Lord’s Candle”. Mormons named it that. The flowers are eatable. The roots I believe are also and the dried stalks are used to make baskets and rope.
Down load E-Trails. It has lots of useful trail info
Have a great hike. I’m reading every blog that comes up on the PCT website while I’m still in town waiting to go back on a long trail Makes me feel more connected to my real home
See you at the Gathering hopefully.
Marmot
Maybe a dozen followers have told you that tall sturdy stem with the whitish yellowish flowers is a yucca. The yuccas are blooming all over the hill sides around the desert and on the desert floor .