Started: Penny Pines (48.7)
Ended: Camp Site (64.0)
Total: 15.3 miles

Our day today starts with a 25 mile no water carry. I’m not strong enough to do that in a day, and my biggest weakness so far has been the heat. I know that it isn’t even hot yet! I proposed trying to do a ten-by-ten. That is ten miles by ten in the morning. By starting our hike in the early morning, our water needs will be less.

Fishtank and I got up at 4 a.m. and we were on the trail by 4:30. We moved quickly in the cool dark morning air. Unfortunately, we crossed the 50 mile point, but we didn’t see it. When the sun rose, we stopped for breakfast.

We reached our last water point and loaded up with eight liters. The plan was to stop around 11 a.m. for lunch.

I hiked alone for most of the morning. The views were incredible. The views were the reason I chose the PCT over the AT. This is what I dreamed about when I fantasized about hiking this holy ground. I even reached the point of the photo I use for my webpage!

Despite my best efforts, I could only muster eight miles by 10 a.m., so I still have some work to do. I was feeling great, but I found a comfortable shady stop. Jamie from Wisconsin joined me. After a rest and a snack, I started again, but I was exposed to the sun and it sucked all my energy. I went from a full tank to an empty tank in short order.

Fishtank caught up to me, but I still needed to rest. I sat for a while longer. Eventually, I garnered enough strength to meet up at where we agreed to eat like lunch.

Fishtank rigged some Tyvek with bungy cords to make some shade. So, we baked under some makeshift shade. I huddled next to a bunch of people I just met a couple of days ago. We all stink like hell, but I am happy.

We were back up about three in the afternoon and went back to hiking. Candice, the sweet person who helped me the first day caught up with the rest of us. I hiked with her for a while.

We reached a campsite for five, so we stopped there. I could have continued once the sun started to go down, but this this is where we are at.

Tomorrow we will hitch into Julian. We’ll probably zero.