Deep Creek Hot Springs

We had four water crossings this morning and I found a way across all of them without getting my feet wet until I intentionally took off my shoes and crossed the last one. The water was frigid to say the least.

During our lunch break I of course ate a tortilla with my absolute favorite cinnamon-raisin peanut butter with extra raisins.

Mile 300 featuring my awkward hand.

Mile 287-312 (while in Big Bear I downloaded the PCT maps to my phone so now I can update mileage)

Today it was pretty chilly when I woke up but I tried my best to get ready in a timely manner. I was aiming to be ready to go by 630 but that didn’t happen. At 7 sharp K and I were on the trail. After 4 ish miles we stopped at a stream crossing and ate breakfast. I had chocolate-peanut butter oatmeal with dried banana chips sprinkled in.

Seven miles later we stopped at another water crossing and had lunch. We waded across the water, laid out our ground sheets and laid in the sun for about an hour. I am currently using every opportunity I get to try and lessen the contrast between my ankles and my calves. After the first day of hiking without sunscreen (16 days ago) it’s pretty much a lost cause. While we were resting a bunch of people passed over the bridge above us. One of which didn’t have any clothes on. Thankfully I only saw that from behind.

The next 9 miles were all along a ridge of a canyon. K has some nasty blisters so she was going slower today and I ended up quite a bit in front of her.

300 miles kind of just popped up out of nowhere. It wasn’t as exciting as 100 but it is still pretty cool. This 100 was a little slower than the last 2 hundreds but I can get that average back on track real quick… Right after my birthday break 

300 miles and still no rattlesnake sightings. Disappointment abounds. K even saw one today. Sigh.

We had invented to meet at the natural hot springs that was located on the trail. I got there around 445 and was kind of unsure of what to do when I got there. I knew a few of the hikers we ate dinner with yesterday were going to be there but I couldn’t see them from the trail so I had to go looking…. Oh I should mention that the hot springs is apparently a place where people like to smoke various plants and drink various poisonous substances. And apparently clothing is optional. Oh goodie. That explains the bare butt 9 miles ago. Anyways. I walked into the area where people were laying out and found DB (whom I had thought I would never see again) thankfully wearing clothes. I sat next to him and tried to look for the other hikers I knew without looking at any of the naked humans. My awkwardness was cranked up to a very high level. Finally I found Bone Daddy and he came over to talk to me. I also waved at one of the pairs of Swiss hikers I had met at dinner yesterday. Their German is so strange. After a half an hour K found her way into the park. We stayed there a little while she soaked in the natural hot tub and then we planned on hiking a couple more miles before camping.

While I was waiting for K to catch up I started to feel the attraction to hiking alone. You do not have to compromise on a schedule and can come and go as you please. While sitting amidst the semi-nudist beach goers this sounded very appealing. By the time K got there I was ready to go but of course I waited so she could rest as well.

When we got the the spot where we planned to camp we found it to be not at all like what we thought would be there (and this is when having a hiking buddy gives a peace of mind). So, we hiked a little further to find a better spot. We had to hike quite a bit further to find a spot. We ended up having to use our headlamps for a bit because it got dark before we were able to stop. We finally found a decent spot and quickly set up our tents. While I made my dinner I got ready for bed and blew up my mattress. I made the second recipe A send me in this resupply. It was delicious. Hands down better than I anything I have probably made. And this was dehydrated. While I ate I called my mom because this is the first time in about two weeks I’ve had cell reception while in camp.