9-9-2013
PCT MILE: 2155-2164.78
-Cascade Locks, OR across the Columbia River Gorge on the Bridge of the Gods into Washington
-CONSTANT incline! Ugh! Every time out of town the trail does this... Up, up, up... and my pack is full with a 10 day supply of food because Im trying to hike through to White Pass which is roughly 150 miles north of me.
-Packed extra food since Im moving slowly and working back into my thru-hike after being off trail for so long. This means Im carrying more food weight than usual.
-Meeting new people. I like it.
-Different type of forest and weather here in WA
-Set out to the trail alone. Feels strange without my Vortex trail family, but it will be good for me to hike my own hike and experience some solitude I believe I need
-My back is really hurting me. Oh well.
-Couldn't start a fire because everything was damp. I didn't try too hard to get one lit.
-Camped alone
-Happy and excited to be back on trail! Also nervous... Im jumping back on after so much time off trail. I feel out of practice (because I am). This is why Im hiking the entire trail next year... so I can feel I've done a true thru-hike.
-Female issues... grrrrrr!
-Saw old friends this past weekend at PCT Trail Days... Atlas, Busted, Kitten, lots from Vortex, Shady Acres, Explagrance, Rain Maker, Solstice, Wild Fire, Fire Hazard, White Lightening, Rustic, Rocks, Cookie Monster, and more.
9-10-2013
PCT MILE: 2164.78-2184.96
-OMG! I walked 20 miles today! Woohoo! Yay! Im tired as all get out, but mentally Im feeling good. Im proud of myself and Im glad I pushed on today.
-Leap-frogged with Rando, Muck Muck, and Man in Black.
-Hiked with Rando a lot towards the end of the day. He is an Army Veteran, my age, friendly, and super chill. He is nice company.
-Muck Muck is a chic from Australia who is really boisterous and her joy is infectious. Don't know her too well, but I appreciate her positivity.
-Woke up late and didn't start hiking until 10:00am.
-TONS of uphill! Aagghhhh! It was difficult, but worth it.
-While I was walking and wondering why Im here and putting myself through a grueling hike up hill, the trail spat me out from the thick forest onto a beautiful mountain ridge with snow-capped mountains off in the near distance. It was a remarkable sight and I stood there speechless. THAT is why Im here.
-My feet, hips, back, and shoulders hurt me the most right now... practically all of me, lol. But my feet are THROBBING right now!
-Ate Pad Thai for dinner... soooo good!
-Happy to have my tent, stove, and blow up sleeping pad. I've got too much food (I think). Need to get Tyvec, a tarp, a bivy sac, a synthetic down sleeping bag, snow shoes, micro-spikes, and a well-fitted ice axe.
-Need to ask mom and dad to send me down gloves, socks, and pink long-johns set.
-Im really glad to be back on trail. I feel less lost, and like my life has direction again. Being off trail was hard for me (mentally). Being able to come back on trail, and to return to the trail community and way of life is so amazing. I love it here even though it is challenging and Im dirtier than ever.
-Slipped on a patch of mud, fell down on my right side, got bloody and bruised knees, and my hip kind of hurts. Im okay though... just mother nature's rude welcome back to the trail again. Lol. I should remember to not be overcome with nostalgia for the trail- it's really really really difficult hiking!!!
9-11-2013
PCT MILE: 2184.96-2204.34
-9 miles of uphill!!!!!!! Didn't think it was possible, but I did that plus almost another 11 miles. Im very proud of myself. Im also very tired!
-Blister on right pinkie toe
-Said bye to Rando this morning and got a late start
-Hard finding a camping spot in the dark, so I practically set up camp on trail... I just didn't have it in me to keep going
-Hearing animals and critters around my tent... kind of freaky
-Sooooo tired, my body hurts... but I'm so happy Im here!
9-12-2013
PCT MILE 2204.34-2227.35
-Yep. You read that mileage correctly! I hiked 23.01 miles today! Woohoo! I haven't done that in a looooooong time! Im exhausted and hurting, but man am I proud of myself today.
-Woke up to the threat of stinging insects attacking me. I could have sworn I heard a bee's nest or something just behind my tent. I very carefully drug all my gear into my tent, organized and packed it all up as best I could, put on as many layers of clothing I could find including my bug net for my face, exited the tent and quickly walked away with my poorly packed backpack. I then went back for my food bags, and finally I went and grabbed my tent. I hauled all this down the trail a ways, took my tent down, threw everything in the backpack, and walked 2.5 miles to a good rest stop. I realized that I wasn't near a bee's, hornet's, or wasp's nest; the entire forest sounds like its sitting on top of a nest! It's safe here. You have to pay attention to insects just like anywhere else... but for some reason they're loud here!
-Washington is HOT! I thought it would be really cold and overcast. It's beautiful, sunny, dry, and warm!
-Blister on my pinky toe still hurts. I think it's getting bigger too. I keep trying to take care of it and keep it dry, but Im walking too much for it to heal properly. Oh well... I'll be in town in a few days. I'll rest up there.
-HYOH Mantra: Hike Your Own Hike... Mind your own business. Don't tell others what to do. Don't offer unsolicited advice. Don't try to take care of others. Don't try to mimick someone else's hike or plans. Simply do your own thing and take care of yourself. Everything else falls into place when everyone just worries about their own hike, health, plans, and overall journey. If you need help, ask... you may not always receive it so don't feel entitled. If you're lonely, ask someone for some company... don't just innocently stalk someone. Hike your own hike. Be an individual. You are autonomous and responsible for you and only you!
-Why I love the trail: human experience, scenery, sense of accomplishment and direction, challenging, adventurous, fun, learning experience, always changing, and it requires adaptation, mental strength, and physical strength.
-Scared of the dark and running into a bear. Talked out loud to bears in the forest to scare them away and alert them as to my whereabouts.
-Gave myself a WetOnes Wipes bath. It's not much, but I do feel a bit better. I've been sweating an insane amount and the salt from my sweat is crusted all over my skin. It feels great to be free of dried salt for now!
-Goodness gracious... My feet are KILLING me! And my low back and my hips, especially the left hip. I took a pain pill and some ibuprofen. Im hoping the medicine and sleep will help me out. Im nervous about my back going out- its incredibly sore and my hip is almost "locked" right now. I need a massage!
-Made a "PCT Playlist" on my phone today. I love it!
-I miss my dog, Sadie.
-I miss my girlfriends so much! I like to imagine each friend hiking with me for a day or two. Often I end up laughing out loud because most of my friends would be horrified at the things us hikers do. I see some friends as being able to do large portions of trail with me. I also see some of my girls hiking the entire trail on their own; where we set out together on day one and then go from there- no commitments to stick together or meet by absolute deadlines- just to hike and see where we end up on trail, and if we end up hiking together due to similar hiking styles.
-To my girlfriends back home: I love y'all and miss you gals so much!
9-13-2013
PCT MILE 2227.35-2237.50
-Accidentally slept in waaayyy too late... 10:45am! Wtf?!? Whoops! I can't believe I slept so long! I took my medicine last night in addition to my emergency pain pill because I was really hurting all over. I think the pain pill made me more drowsy and lethargic than normal. I just didn't feel 'right' when I woke up this morning. And now, after being off pain pills for so long, I look back at the year when I was so heavily medicated and it now makes perfect sense to me why I was incredibly catatonic and depressed! Im so happy Im not taking pain medication anymore.
-The late start on my day and my constant body odor and dirtiness was getting to me. I had 10 miles to walk until the trail put me close to the town of Trout Lake, WA. I had originally planned to skip over the town. I even packed enough food so as to last me all the way to White Pass. But given the way I was feeling, I decided to stop to rest. I immediately got a hitch into town from a local trail angel named James. My town stop was meant to be.
-Saw Cookie Monster! We ate dinner and split a bunk room for $25 total! Hell yeah!
-Took a bath and am cozy in bed. Everything is right. I feel good and am loving life! :)
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