PCT day 29 – Detour
We were up and packed up at our normal time, around 6.30, but of course all the old folk were up much earlier so they got the first lift back to the trailhead.
We hung around but we didn't even know know if Terrie Anderson was coming back, so at 8:30 we started walking to the store to maybe try and get a hitch (just as the portaloos were getting emptied!). We get to the store and Terrie pulls up, so we pile in our packs and we get taken back to the trail with Jesse and Alison.
Due to a fire the next part of the PCT is closed, and has been for some time I think, so there is a 12 mile road walk around it before you can get back on the trail. I did the first 6 miles with Growler, Cool Breeze and Alison – I haven't hiked with Alison yet, I met her at Scout and Frodos and she started a couple of days before me so it was really nice to catch up with her.
Road miles seem to take a lot longer than trail miles. We stopped half way at the gas station and I loaded up on soda, icecream and Pringles – the staples. We sat outside the gas station on the ground and ate most of it.
We carried on another 6 miles of never ending road. I was going quick because I just wanted it to be over, and I caught up with Jesse. He was talking to a man with the cutest and most scared dog.
We took the side trail to get back on the pct which was really steep with approximately 1 million bugs.
The PCT is really beautiful in this section, some people road walk all the way to hiker town and miss this section which is a shame. Although the path is a little slanty so it's murder on your ankles!
We got to the campground and cooked dinner and we spoke about reaching the 500 mile mark tomorrow. I got over excited and I spilt my just boiled water all over growler – all over her sun burn which I felt so so bad about. I didn't want to cook anything else so I had string cheese dipped in bacon bits. Nutritious and delicious.
Alison and Recon arrived at camp too and we we went on a hunt for water but we couldn't find any. We all had a tiny bit left so we had to make it last until 6 miles into the next day.
Despite wearing triple puff I was cold so we retired to our tents after a 19 mile day. We have an early start as tomorrow is planned to be a big day...