Wrightwood

Thought I'd give you all a "day in the life" for a thru-hiker; namely, me.

Wake up around 6, glance over at K-Bomb. Notice that he is already deflating his sleeping pad, ready to stuff his sleeping bag away. Go to sleep for five more minutes. Finally sit up, squinting and blinking in the light. Mumble a little. See that K-Bomb's gear is all in a neat pile, ready to pack. Feel a bit rushed. Reach into food bag (resting beside head) and grab a breakfast bar (Snickers), eat in the sleeping bag, maybe a honey bun too. Finally get out into the cold air, quickly stuff sleeping bag in stuff sack, put that, journal-and-map bag, food bag, and snack bag in pack. Brush teeth, realize you are ready to hike. Notice that K-Bomb is still largely unpacked. Wait ten or fifteen minutes. Finally begin walking.

Hike. Eat while hiking, from food stuffed in pockets. Sweat. Think about life, women, work, or maybe just sing songs in your head, or else think about nothing at all for hours. Take a break after 8 to 10 miles or so, eat. Consult map, answer everyone's questions about where we are, how far we have left, what the climbs look like, where the next water is. Enjoy being useful. Possibly play a game of Blisters (R), or else just watch one another pop theirs, making comments regarding size and distance the fluid sprays. Talk mostly about your feet, her feet, his feet.

Hike. Eat while hiking. Walk behing K-Bomb for hours, but talk seldom. Watch his feet, step, step, step, until you're almost trancing. Drool a little maybe. Sweat. Take random pictures and be unsure of their quality. Take another break after 6-8 miles, discuss where we might want to camp, eat again. Hike another 6-8 miles.

Finally reach a campsite maybe an hour before sundown (unless it's been real hot, then, an hour after sundown). Possibly play a game of Blisters (R), or else just watch one another pop theirs, making comments regarding size and distance the fluid sprays. Talk mostly about your feet, her feet, his feet. Cook dinner, enjoy it immensely, even though it's just noodles. Take a fistful of Ibuprofen, write in journal, lay down to sleep at around 8:30. Be asleep by 8:33.

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As for what's actually been up lately, all's well. Feet are actually vastly improved, and with a few days of easier terrain, we've been cranking miles including one day over 25 miles. I also appreciate a solid lunch of avocado and cheese in tortillas, that's real power food. Food is amazing, it makes me so happy to eat.

Also, we came to the Deep Creek detour, a long road walk, and decided to just hike the real PCT, landslides or not. What a beautiful canyon, all day walking along the canyon sides, looking at and hearing the water below, a rarity for sure, not to mention the freakin' hot springs. Lots of naked hippies everywhere, but it was great to soak a while in the hot water. The landslides weren't even that bad, except in two places where it was a little tricky (read: fun). Glad once more that we didn't obey the rules. 

Wrightwood is amazing, we've had a great welcome. A ride materialized out of the heavy fog for Ninja at the trailhead, and she was able to get the guy to wait for the rest of us. Then in town as we were trying to figure out lodging, not wanting to pay the high hotel rates, a local woman showed up and told us to come stay at her place: showers, laundry, internet, burgers, and beds. Amazing. Then at the bar, locals kept buying us beers and even gave K-Bomb a taco. We didn't spend a dime on drinks. And everyone's so friendly, welcoming us to their town. Wish we could take a zero here, just to enjoy that, but we're hiking out in the morning.

That's all for now, gotta go shower and eat!