8/16/20; mile: 1,751; elevation: 4,485 ft.
Last night I cowboy camped right near a spring. I just LOVE camping near water. The site wasn’t very flat for a tent, so going cowboy makes sense. You’d think that without having to deploy and take down a tent, I’d save time. I never save time cowboy camping. I never seem to be as organized as I am inside the tent.
I started strong this morning. First off, the emotional roller coaster yesterday wore my ass out. Secondly, it was cloudier and cooler this morning (even a few sprinkles), making walking a bit easier. And thirdly, it was a pretty flat day. All things in my favor to make miles. Though I did need to get off trail today to pick up my replacement hiking gloves.
So midway through my day I diverted off of the trail to walk about a mile to the Hyatt Lake Resort. It’s a small place that rents cabins and has access to guess what? Hyatt Lake! Duh. It’s not a common resupply spot since they don’t carry of lot of things to purchase, but they do accept hiker boxes (and drop shipped boxes). And they just so happen to have a restaurant. So while the walk to the resort is nothing to write to a blog about, getting a pizza (yes I ate the whole thing), some beers and even a milkshake IS something to mention to the world. And I got my replacement gloves, too. No more filthy hands from the trekking poles.
Walking back to the trail, I passed through the Hyatt Lake Campground. While not “really” open due to COVID, the PCT hiker site is open and free to hikers, and the water system is functional. If I’m going to finish this trek, I can’t stop for the day, as clean and tempting as this site is. As I get to the road crossing to get back on the PCT, I get this feeling of dread and loneliness. By now, my knee and hamstring start barking again. And I’m alone. No hikers to be seen. And the temps have risen. A couple of miles later, I parallel a road and the thoughts of getting off trail start to manifest themselves. I get so far as checking out Guthooks to look for nearby jumping off points, but nothing is THAT easy. So I commit to just stay another night on the trail.
I pick a campsite next to Grizzly Creek. I cowboy camp again and dress the blisters that are forming. Why are my “magic” shoes from the beginning of my hike not working for me now? I message Sarah to have her return my used Hoka’s to me and to see if a new pair can be sent a bit further up the trail. Logistics for this endeavor seems to take so much mental energy. So much that I didn’t take a single picture today. A sure sign that I’m not in a good mental space.