Friday, April 17, 2015

Day 2 - Up 3,000 feet - Oh My

Friday, April 17

As I mentioned yesterday, today I had to climb 3000 feet. The PCT kicked my rear!

I started packing up at 5 AM, and was on the trail by 6:15. It's taking me way too long to get ready to go.

An interesting sign along the way warns about explosives that were lost and are likely to explode if you find them.



I must have seen over 100 lizards.



The reward for getting to the top of the climb was to be in a forest of pine trees.



There have been some very pretty flowering desert plants.



Some of the pine trees have giant cones.



I stopped at Burnt Ranchiera campground and had my breakfast – lunch – dinner and then headed on down the trail. Needless to say, I am exhausted.

I am camped at mile 46.4.

6 comments:

  1. Why are you eating breakfast, lunch and dinner in one place and time? That sounds .... unhealthy.

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  2. Life on the trail looks to be pretty relaxed. 5am? Really? That's almost lunch time for pre-trail Bob!
    Making and breaking camp will feel like a chore for a while. Especially when you're tired. Eventually you'll get a nice routine going and it will be almost effortless. Until then, relax and enjoy the process. It will take as long as it takes. Don't start the day stressed. It's a long trip, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to make up time.
    Enjoy

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  3. I hope you're able to get some rest--sounds like a grueling day. I imagine it will take a bit of time to get into a routine, sleeping outdoors, etc. Keep hydrated!

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  4. thanks for sharing. as paul says...stay hydrated. 300 feet and 20 miles seems like you could take today off?

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  5. Oh Daddy! I'm so glad you are posting most days. I've printed out your trek and posted it in the living room . I can hardly imagine how exciting it must be for you because I am super excited that you are doing this monster journey! I wish I could hike with you a few days!! Of course those would have to be the days when you wanted a break from making process on the trail and didn't mind waiting for my hobbled feet to catch up with you.
    Maybe one of these days you can show me a easy Anne trail once you get home and rest up a little bit. I really really miss the little short hikes around the cabin we would go and adventure about. Or even better when we would go foraging for mushrooms, now that was SUPER FUN! Remember the last time we (You, Jason, Debra, and me) went out behind the cabin and started finding all of those beautiful beautiful boletes? There were so many perfect mushrooms we didn't have enough room to carry any more and ended up putting some in the hoods of our coats! So so so much fun and a great memory. I really hope we get to make more memories like that soon 😊 I love you Daddy. Be safe and as they keep telling me (too) drink your water and stay hydrated. Eat a donut, too! You're too skinny!! I'll end my note now by wishing you restful sleep and good dreams. Keep posting pictures just like you have been, I sorta feel like I'm right there with you!
    I miss you already, hope you are having a blast and remember to take a break every once in awhile. What do they say? It's about the journey not just the finish line?

    (I'm all talk... You are the doer) I'll stop talking and let you "do".

    Love you to the moon and back, Daddy!
    Your little kid. Little a

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  6. I eat some carbohydrates for breakfast as I walk, and snack all morning and early afternoon. I usually stop and cook dinner at a source of water. If it is still early, I head on down the trail until I'm too tired, or when it is starting to get dark.

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