5/24/2023
Section: Mile post 80.6 to 96.5
Distance: 16.5 Miles
Moving Time: 6:47 hrs
Elevation Gain: 2,828 ft
Click here for location
We we’re up at 4, deciding to sleep in a bit since the temperatures were supposed to come down this week and 3 seemed a bit excessive. At 4 we woke and made busy with preparing for the day. Phillip also woke around the same time and started his preparations. Today’s breakfast was a new one - sharp cheddar cheese and pepperoni all wrapped in a tortilla. We had seen Joe doing it a few days back and had to give it a try. After breakfast we did our industrial athlete workout, picked up a few more things and were off.
The trail today was absolutely perfect for just about the whole day. No steep grades and no stony pathways - we could glide. Phillip stayed with us for some time in the early hours but eventually took off ahead. We kept up our own good pace throughout the morning, faster than we have so far on this journey. We both also felt great, finally starting to observe the trail legs take shape.
The sun eventually came up, making for another stunning set of views as we passed the two Czechs in their camp. The trail continued to meander through drainages and around hillsides, always steadily climbing along the contour lines. About 2 hours in we took a break and had a quick snack. Here the 2 Czech guys passed us and we continued on after them.
The day began to heat as we continued to wind our way through the San Felipe Hills study area. Just before we reached our one water stop for the stage, I heard a scream behind me. Making my way up the trail I saw Amanda coming down with a smile on her face. She had seen a Garter Snake and had, with recent run-ins with scarier serpents in recent days, wafted in what could be considered an appropriate way.
At mile 91.2 we walked through a gate with big signs saying water on the other side. We meandered down a side trail for about half a mile before coming on a scene of activity. As we approached we could see Phillip, the two Slavic guys and a host of local volunteers unloading water jugs onto a series of shaded pallets. Amanda and I joined in helping move the last few jugs out of the car.
This section of the trail has very little water. From Scissors Crossing at mile post 77 to mile post 101 there is only one spot to get water and that is here and this water is delivered by volunteers in 3 Liter jugs every 2 weeks. We were very lucky to get to see them here and, because of our good luck and elbow grease, we were rewarded with cookies and fancy fig newtons. Gotta love trail mail. The volunteers are generally from San Diego and are led by an older lady who did the trail in the 90’s. We chatted with them for a while and at one point i asked about all the airplanes that had been flying overhead. One older guy looked at me and said “There’s an airbase at San Diego - have you seen an older movie, it was called Top Gun? Not the new one but an older one?” To which i replied “Do you mean, have i seen the greatest film ever produced by man-kind? Yes i have, I’ve even seen Kenny Loggin’s music video for Danger Zone!” Which got everyone laughing. The older guy continued “Well that base used to be in San Diego - it was moved Nevada a few years ago but there is still some naval activity and this trail is right on the flight path.” We continued to talk some more and one of the other volunteers told us how one of the main reasons we have the PCT as it is today is because of a number of large horse lobby’s who, at the time, were very powerful in congress and helped get the support needed to complete the trail. That is why it has such incredible and consistant grades, because it was designed with horses in mind and they generally try to keep horse tails under a certain grade which is why it is one of the nicest trails to hike in the world.
The volunteers eventually left and we filled our bottles before covering the pallets with a tarp as requested. We then took a midday Siesta in the shade of a nearby bush until around 2 pm. At 2 pm, a couple from Knocksville, Tennessy stopped by and recognized Phillip. We talked to them for a while before Amanda and I headed back out on the trail.
At this point, because of our efforts the day before and the fact that we were developing trail legs a little fast than i had anticipated we were a whole half stage ahead of plan but we carried on anyway as we were starting to feel some good momentum. We walked for another 5 miles as the trail slowly made it’s way meandering in a northwest fashion. We passed by another gate as well as a small man-made cave. Eventually we had to decide whether to continue on another 5 miles or stop at one of the last camping options for the night in a shallow saddle between two hills. We elected to stop and pitched camp. I had some delicious freeze-dried Hatch Chille Mac and Cheese using some of the last bit of Tillamook Cheddar as an additive. After, i did some yoga and we prepped for bed. Somewhere along the line Phillip passed though and asked if we would stay with him down to the next water source. We said we were staying put but that we would see him down there tomorrow.
Today’s trail was some of the best we have been on so far. The sections in the San Felipe Hills Reasearch Area are hot but stunning and so well maintained. This made a difference that was most notable in our speed over the course of the day. All-in-all we are starting to feel really good during the days. A midday break also seems to stave-off the worst heat of the day and allows us to tack on 5-6 miles to the progress realized in the morning. We are starting to get a good cadence and that is super encouraging.
