Mile 393 to 404 (plus 7 mile endangered species alternate). 18 total
“It’s not about the miles, it’s about the smiles!” is a common phrase thrown out there by Animal Style. We’ve found that in order to try and have both, you have to wake up early. Fey kissed my cheek at 5:35, and we began our morning routine of changing into hiking clothes, deflating sleeping pads, stuffing it all in the right stuff sack, shaking out and packing our tent and then throwing the whole mess on our back and start walking with organic pop tarts in our mouths.
This special morning started out with a climb (starting to notice a pattern?), and while we were up early, as soon as the sun crests over the nearest mountain things start to heat up. We took our time going up, stopping for pictures and snacks and water along the way. At the top we were joined by Camel and Centerfold (who weren’t even out of their tents when we left camp) and enjoyed getting to know each other at the top of the saddle.
Camel has biked from the east coast to the west, worked in the park service and generally done his 20s right, but is struggling with many of the same issues we are as we start to think about the future. Where to live, whether to “settle down,” what type of career to have (or not have). It was very refreshing to find someone in a very similar situation to us.
[Good morning!; Fey climbing climbing; Resting at the top with Camel and CenterFold; Fey being Fey; and again; really cool flower in a pine forest!]
The walk down from the saddle was slightly less taxing, however downhill is what aggravates my knee the most, so I have to take it slow which adds a little kink in the typical downhill flow. We were greeted by an ice cold mountain stream as the alternate trail rejoined the PCT. We rinsed socks, soaked feet, stocked up on water, and tried Camel’s pineapple smoothie (Gatorade and powdered milk); it was delicious.
As we were milling around next to the stream, I looked up and the light caught hundreds of lady bugs pouring down on top of us. The wind coming through the canyon was like a ladybug highway and we were two pedestrians standing in the median. The ladybugs drifting by in all directions, avoiding us and continuing in the current to lower elevations.
Much more climbing lay ahead of us, and after our morning of exertion it took its toll. Eventually we decided to take a break under a nice tree with an awesome mountainside view and cook some lunch while watching passers by. We were hoping to meet back up with our gang, Slow Magic, but surprisingly didn't see them chugging up the mountain.
We hiked a couple more miles and were feeling about done for the day as Chuckles and Little Spoon strode by proclaiming they were walking 4 more miles to meet up with their crew. We decided to tag along for a bit, but the added energy from the four of us all moving down the trail, learning about each other's lives and the best city in the world (Portsmouth, NH if you were wondering) carried us the four miles into camp.
We got in quite late by our standards, 7:30 or so, and watched the sunset while eating string cheese rolled in a tortilla. Dinner of champions! We certainly felt like it as we drifted off under a clear sky full of bright stars.
[Soaking the leg in an ice cold stream; views; 400 indeed; Selfie with Chuckles (chuckling) and Little Spoon; Campsite with a bunch of other hikers; not a great sunset shot]
