- Date: 2023-05-25
- Pct day: 20
- Start: Mile 240
- End: Mile 259
- Distance: 19 Miles
- Ascent: 2785 ft
- Descent: 2523 ft
- Start name: Mission Camp Spring
- End name: Tentsite (3)
- Wake up: 04:45
- Start hiking: 06:20
- At camp: 16:30
- In bed: ?
Key moments
- bit of a slow morning, I need to focus on getting a bit of an earlier bed time
- I did however take a good moment when waking up, there were birds singing, I was amongst pine trees, i am finally here, hiking the PCT. Sometimes I get caught up in the work of it all, I forget about how long I’ve been dreaming and planning on doing this, and I know that this time is going to fly by.
- Also it was cold and it’s hard to get out of bed when it’s cold and you’re really comfortable and warm
- had a caffeine electrolyte drink that another hiker, “snickers” gave me - that definitely gave me a boost
- It was definitely cool and I kept my fleece on for a few hours, i was up high - about 8000ft (about 2400m) and walking past small snow drifts
- Mostly a downhill day, thankfully! But the day stretched out a little bit longer that’s I thought it would - downhill doesn’t always mean easy
- Found a water cache with a lawn chair, definitely a novelty to sit down on a chair on the trail.
- Got into camp with two other friends, Nathan and Arthur, we enjoyed the sunset together - getting in at 430pm means you can have a nice relaxing afternoon, I need to do that more often
Plan from here
- have a nice relaxing morning , no need for an alarm , and head down to Big Bear
Animals sighted
- blue jays
- Lizards
- No snakes
Gear thoughts
- I cracked the shits with my bag, I found it too painful on my shoulders with a heavier load of food and decided to buy the Durston Kakwa 40, picking it up in Wrightwood, about mile 370
- Also ordered a pair of mayfly sandals - basically some cord tied to corflute, just to have a nice camp shoe moment but they aren’t anything substantial, and weight about 40 grams.
- Try out dance pants for wind pants?
- Get a really nice pillow
- Get nicer reusable earplugs?
Physical condition
- good enough! My left knee hurts occasionally but I think taking it easy tomorrow and a rest in Big Bear Lake will be good for me
Thoughts and Observations
- getting in at 430pm is awesome
- We have nearly 100 miles of downhill from here
Some of the bad things
- we did about 20 miles today and it just felt like a lot of work - when does this get easy?
- I can feel the toll on my body. Another key to doing this hike is having good sleep. I might change out some sleep things, potentially.
Quotes of the day
- sunset is always better 10 minutes after the sun sets
#pct #pct2023 #pctclassof2023
