Day 110:
Great start to the day! Hit the trail at 7:20am. Plus, I found Quinn at Tough Creek. AND APPARENTLY HE DID 34 MILES YESTERDAY! WHAT A CHAMP! To no one’s surprise, he soon left me in the dust, so I hiked most of the day solo until….. I came across a group of guys filling up water- Quinn, Hoot, and CHOCOLATE MILK – who I haven’t seen since Hiker Town around mile 500 (Episode 25 of the blog). Trail reunions are the best!
Had dinner together and then hiked on as one big happy family. BUT…. I couldn’t keep up with them. Alone again.
Camped after dark, just a few miles before town.
21 miles today.
Loving the shade:
The view:
The only shot I have of Quinn, Chocolate Milk, and Hoot:
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Day 111:
Resupply day! Heading into Castella!
Arrived at the market and reunited with the guys. Then I went straight for the ice cream. I had some time before the post office opened, so it was time to eat and relax. YES… this is the life.
When it opened, I went in to get my package. I spotted some outlets in the PO box room, so I plugged in my phone and battery. Went outside to throw out my trash, decide what to send home, and repack my bag. When I was done, I went back in to get my phone…. BUT. IT. WAS. GONE. AHHHHHH-UGGHHHHHHH-WRAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! This cant be happening.
I tried asking the postmaster, Cody, if he saw anything. But he didn’t, since his view of the PO box room is obstructed. I tried using “find my iPhone,” but got no results. I even had Cody call the last customer that was there and ask “By any chance, did you accidentally take an iPhone when you were here earlier? (Literally his exact words).
Should I call the police? Should I get a hotel room and stay for a few days until I can find it? WHAT DO I DO?!
Seeing I was in major distress, Chocolate Milk came over to talk. He asked me “What are the chances you are going to find your phone?” Zero. And then he asked me a more important question: “Do you have a better chance of enjoying yourself if you stay in town and wait, or if you get back on trail and do what you’re out here to do?” Hmmm… But how? I use my phone for navigation. “Go inside the post office and print some maps.” Okay, now I’m out of excuses.
With low morale and mentally drained, I got back on trail with a handful of paper.
8 miles today.
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Day 112:
Darn…. I woke up late. Slept through my watch alarm. Its not as loud as my phone.
Hiking with paper maps is slow! I have to pull them out and check if i’m going in the right direction every time i’m at a trail junction or anything that resembles a trail junction. Every spur trail I pass, I question – “Is that the PCT? Or is this the PCT?”
Also, without a phone, I am without entertainment: no music, podcasts, or audiobooks. And no chance of catching some cell service. All i’m left with is my imagination. That will have to do.
Met a couple of southbounders, Wide Load and Convo, who reaffirmed that I was still on the PCT (Yay!).
Hot a buggy climb thats was somewhat enjoyable thanks to my face-net and umbrella (always carry these!). The reward was some beautiful ridge views of Mt. Shasta and Castle Crags, which I have no pictures of because I have no phone.
Downhill for the rest of the day until I stopped to fill up water and eat. When I started prepping dinner I realize my knife isn’t in my pocket. Must have lost it sometime today. Great…
Thankful for a day off tomorrow. I need it.
14 miles.
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Day 113: Rest day
Today was good for me.
I thought about losing my phone, my battery, my knife. And I realized that I need even less than I thought I did. That I can adapt. That I can keep myself company. That I’m resilient.
And I found a better source of entertainment than my phone. Mount Shasta. I sat outside my tent and watched her throughout the day – as the light and clouds changed around her, and it was absolutely beautiful.
I also read a huge chunk of Waking Up by Sam Harris, a book about spirituality independent of religion. It advises you to cultivate a connection with the universe by overcoming the conventional sense of self. Good stuff.
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Day 114:
Late start again, per watch alarm.
Today I gave up on using my filter. In its current condition, its just too slow. I cant afford to wait 20 minutes to filter 2 liters. Fortunately, I carry iodine tablets, so I can use those. Best part is that they work on the go. I fill my bottles, drop in the tablets, pack up and hike. 30 minutes later, the water is good to go (although the taste is not so great).
While i’m on the subject of water, paper maps don’t make it easy to find. I missed the side trail to Toad Springs and after that, I decided to always carry an extra liter of water just in case.
Also, without a phone, Im so aware that i’m by myself. Music, audiobooks, and podcasts have someone else’s voice, and I believe somehow trick your psyche into thinking your with someone. But now its just me. And sometimes I think i’m going a bit crazy, but most of the time, I like it. As I go to bed I wonder: Why is solitary confinement the least desirable prison arrangement?
24 miles today.
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Day 115:
So cold this morning! Plus its windy. Plus there is a ton of cloud coverage. Is fall upon us already?
The terrain has small ups and downs, but overall smooth hiking. When I took a break, some day-hikers gifted me grapes. Yum! Surprise trail magic!
Met a couple of SOBOS, one of which was wearing Chacos and I told him that I have been following size 11 Chaco prints for the past few days. And he said they must have been his! What?? Apparently, this guy hiked from Campo to Etna (the town I’m approaching), and then just turned around and is hiking back to Campo. I do not understand.
Kept on hiking until I found a beautiful spring to camp at. Then I realized I kicked butt today. Biggest day yet.
26 miles.
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Day 116:
Actually woke up before my alarm today and hit the trail by 7:50am.
Got hungry early, so I ate my tuna tortilla lunch at 11:15am. I have some instant mashed potatoes for later if I need.
Wow. So far, today I have met 7 SOBOS. This must be the beginning of the herd (which forms when many people start a through hike around the same time).
When I was going through my pack around dinnertime, something amazing happened. I found a snickers bar in that I didn’t know existed. Best surprise ever!
The sugar rush had me cruising and soon it was dark. Put on my headlamp and kept going. Eventually, I came across a creek and set up camp nearby. Since, I was going to be there overnight, I decided to set up my extremely slow water filter (it could take hours for all I care). As I was hanging the bag on a branch, I hear a buzz, and then I feel pain on my cheek. SMACK! Got the Yellow Jacket, but not before it got me. I guess I chose the wrong tree for my filter.
Time for bed.
22 miles.
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No videos… BECAUSE MY PHONE WAS STOLEN!!!
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