7/28/20; mile: 1,399; elevation: 3,950 ft.
I stayed up WAY too late last night celebrating my big day with the group. I’m so happy I decided to spend the extra time and energy to set up my tent with the rainfly instead of just crawling into the bag and passing out. The thunderstorm that passed through overnight would have soaked everything. As it was, the rainfly and tent were wet enough for me to try to dry them out before departing on the infamous Hat Creek Rim. The extra time allowed me to hit the store for some refreshments (chocolate milk and Powerade) to dry to re-hydrate before heading out.
This stretch is exposed, almost no shade due to the lack of trees. And it’s dry. There is a creek about 8 miles into this stretch, but you also have to walk down a narrow and steep path to get to it. The next source is a water tank about 17 miles after Old Station. I decided to fill all my bottles and just bang this out. Hangover be damned. Due to drying things out, I got a late start. Which means its already warm. After crossing the highway, it’s a bit of a climb to the actual rim, and then the slope is pretty consistent.
I got a phone call which was kind of rare for me while hiking. I got word that the boss that was my motivation for this little getaway of mine was finally retiring. I felt kind of vindicated that he was leaving and couldn’t continue to be a de-motivator in that organization. I also felt irritated that it didn’t happen sooner. His behaviors and actions were long running and well known and quite a few people left before me. How bad bosses can stay in these positions for so long baffles me. Where I was angry before, I’m now more pragmatic about that time in my life. It sucked at the time for sure, impacting my mental and physical health as well as my relationships. I managed to survive; I made a plan to get away from it and I executed said plan. Here I am, walking the PCT. So, in a weird way, thank you Greg. If it wasn’t for you, I never would have had the balls to take on this life-changing journey of heart, body and mind.
Meanwhile, back on the Hat Creek Rim. At the drop to the first water source, I found Nectar sitting in the shade waiting for Pits to get back from the creek. We chatted a bit and then I continued onwards. The rest of the day was a matter of walking in the sun, taking short breaks in the shade when you can find it, and managing my water. I leap-frogged with many of the hikers from last night as well as catching up to Polar Bear and Bambi. In the late afternoon, the slinky compresses at the Cache 22 water tank.
This spot is a God-send in this dry terrain. I camel up on water and decide to cook here instead of carrying water for cooking at camp later. I’ll just eat dry food for “dinner”. I have some nice chats with a couple of the hikers, and then learn that at least one has already walked further down the road in order to hitch to town. I’m kind of baffled by some who claim to be thru-hiking when they’re obviously skipping pieces of the trail. Oh well, it’s not my conscience.
Along my evening hike, smoke is visible to the north from the Alturas complex of fires. My son Bryce is a seasonal fire fighter out of Georgetown, currently dispatched to that fire. Thankfully for me and fellow hikers, the smoke is being blown to the northeast, away from the trail. I normally don’t like hiking late into the day, but with this dry section, I just want to get closer to water and get this over with. The advantage of this section of trail is that I get great views of the sunset. Even better is my campsite which has a cliff-side view to the west, if not perfectly level. Oh and there’s ants. I set myself up for cowboy camping again as I hang my tent and rainfly in the tree to complete drying overnight. Early tomorrow I’ll leave the rim and hit the flats where water is more readily available finally. I won’t miss the heat and the exposure up here, but I do feel proud that I did it. Twenty-three miles closer to Canada.
Savior out.
It still a remarkable journey.