Southern Terminus

I started walking the PCT today! What??? It’s crazy to think about!

Before we headed to the trail head Scout and Frodo fed us breakfast and it included PINEAPPLE!! That made me so happy. Almost made me forget how nervous I was about my upcoming undertaking… On the way to the terminus I thought I was going to be sick. I actually thought I would forget how to walk the moment I got there. Needless to say my legs still worked after the pictures were taken next to the monument.

At around 0730 me and a few other hikers started on our way. MG had already hiked the PCT in 2014 until Mammoth but had to get off because he broke his ankle. K is starting grad school in August so she is trying to get as much done as she can before then. Another hiker, G, later caught up to us and we all hiked together for a while. At some point K and I pushed ahead of the others and made it to the Lake Mareno campground after some brutally hot and exposed hill climbs. Prepared dinner and hung around the campground for a rest before we hiked another couple miles to find a place to set up camp a bit farther away from the lake (so it wouldn’t be as cold).

I actually made my dinner tonight. I was just going to make the breakfast that I didn’t eat this morning (because we were fed at the house) because it is much easier to do and doesn’t require a stove. But I ended up pulling out the stove and rehydrated my harmony house veggies and added mashed potatoes to the left over water and it was worth it. And of course my daily protein bar was delicious.

Tonight I didn’t sleep with my rain fly on and was able to see a few stars before the almost full moon made it hard to see. It was nice watching the moon travel across the sky though. Even if that just proves how poorly I slept.