Nicholas Tierney - PCT day 33: up and down and back again (mile 440

Date: 2023-06-07
Pct day: 33
Start: Mile 440
End: Mile 454
Distance: 15 Miles
Ascent: 2365 feet
Descent: 2545 feet
Start name: Mattox Canyon Creek
End name: Serenity Oasis
Wake up: 06:15
Start hiking: 07:30
At camp: 20:30
In bed: 21:00
Where I slept: tent
Shower: no

Key moments

longer wake up in the morning
Talking to other hikers it seems like a resupply in Acton was the most reliable idea
After a brief pit stop in an RV park off trail, where I had a surprisingly chill time to myself, I got a ride into town with a lady from the RV park
I did my most expensive resupply yet in Acton, would highly recommend checking out all grocery store options before committing to one - I didn’t follow my normal rule of eating food before shopping. So we learn
I had a nice meal at the saloon in town and charged my devices and relaxed
I hitched back to the RV park with Jean Claude , my new French friend. We had a very wholesome lady pick us up, she said she used to give 20 hikers a ride a day a few years ago, she was really excited to pick up some hikers. Very wholesome.
Met up with some really cool hikers at the RV park, Clouds, Tiptoe, Whoops, and Double Check. Had a good discussion about skipping the Sierras. I’m going to try and hike with them, I liked their vibe.
I hiked the 10 miles to Agua Dulce from the RV park and man I forgot how hard it is to hike with a full resupply for food. No wonder Baden Powell felt hard, I did that the first day out of Wrightwood.
Everything felt slow and I could feel the weight on my feet
I did what I think is a normal hiker thing to do in this situation: mentally calculate all the ways to ditch weight from my bag. In reality the simplest answer is to carry less food.
the hike suddenly appeared over highway 14, an 8 lane highway. The hike goes under the highway through a tunnel and through some amazing rock formations where they have filmed a bunch of movies - Taquez rocks.
I eventually made it into town - Agua Dulce is one of a few towns where the PCT goes through the town itself.
I wandered into a Mexican restaurant and got an enormous meal that I managed to finish.
My friend Amelia got the largest salad I have ever seen.
Beth had saved me a spot at the hiker oasis, I pitched my tent there and it is already quite late. I’m tired.