I have a good nights sleep and get up about 4:30.   Get everything back in the pack and again have 2 Carnation Instant Breakfasts for breakfast.  I figure if I have the summer sausage and cheese where I can get to it easy, I might be more likely to eat so I rearrange a little so I have easy access to them.  Feeling good, I start hiking.

The pictures below were just taken because I thought it was a pretty view of the trail in the early morning.  The hike is about as expected.  You go up and then you go down and then you repeat.   The slopes are not overly steep.  If I were walking this after having traveled 1800 miles from Mexico this would really be a piece of cake.  I can remember that this level of slope was not as difficult as it is now.  However now is now and I am breathing heavy almost continually and have to stop often to catch breath and get the pack off my back for awhile.

 

 

 

 

This last picture above was taken an 7 am in the morning.  I did not take another picture all day long.  I was actually too busy trying to catch my breath.  There were some mighty pretty things along the way and some nice wildflowers.  I’ll get stronger and better at this.

I am in a 16 mile waterless stretch from Thielsen Creek to Six Horse Spring.  However, it is fairly hot and not being in great shape, I am drinking water rather freely and really don’t want to wait till I get to Six Horse Spring to get water.  I start looking at my apps and no water is mentioned directly.  However on GutHooks PCT Hiker there was an entry about Maidu Lake Junction and if I clicked and read the comments it indicated it was a beautiful lake and was only .8 miles off the trail.  I decided to give it a try and walked the .8 mile down to the lake and it was a great decision.  Nice clean lake with clear water and so I filled up.   This was at mile 1865 or so and so I had another 5 miles to get to Six Horse Spring.  This nice lake was not even mentioned on the Halfmile PCT app and so I was happy to have both.

Oh, and here is something cool.  Today on the PCT I passed over the PCT’s highest point in Oregon at 7,573 feet at about mile 1860.  This is just east of Tipsoo Peak.    The highest point on the PCT is in California  at Forester Pass at 13,153 feet.  I’ll figure out the highest point in Washington when I get there.

I have not seen a single person all day.  The German fellow was still sleeping when I left and he has not passed me which is a bit of a surprise but I assume he went by when I did the Maidu Lake diversion.  I plan on camping at Six Horse Spring and the apps say there are 4 camp sites there.  I have not seen anyone all day but literally within 1/2 mile of Six Horse Spring 3 people pass me and say they are camping at Six Horse Spring!  3 of 4 camp sites will be taken  .  I look behind me and hope I do not see anyone else.  I did not and was able to manage the last half mile without being passed and did get a tent site.  However, once there, I could see there was room for others.  So Six Horse Spring water is  .6 miles off the PCT, but unlike Maidu Lake, this diversion to get water is straight down!!  After resting for awhile, I grab 2 of the water bottles (2 liters each) and head down to get water.   After .6 miles I do indeed get to a “spring”, however it is stagnant nasty looking water.  I had read to keep on going which  I did and in another .1 mile there was a spot where the water was flowing and I could get water.  It had “things” floating in it even so but I was able to clear that out later with a screen filter I carry for such occasions.  The hike back up was the most steep I have had on the PCT but only for .7 of a mile.  I made it back up, drank a lot of water, had 2 Carnation Instant Breakfasts and felt pretty good.

A little later another south bound German hiker (Germans really seem to like the PCT) came into camp.  He was low on food and was asking if anyone could spare some.  I had a 7 day supply that so far I was not eating and couldn’t see me ever doing so and so I gave him either a 4 or 5 day supply of food.  I can’t remember exactly, I was just pulling out food and giving it to him.  He was a happy camper and so was I.  My pack was now much lighter and he had food.  Win-win.

Iphone health app says I did 14.5 miles and 39402 steps.

Lenora’s Story:

While Don is on the trail I am in the happy position of being the recipient of missives and messages from both daughters.  Today I get a really neat text from Myla and it is touching and makes we want to talk to her.  We have a good long talk and I revel in the positive feelings of being in tune with one of my kids.

I am not neglecting my stitching duties and today I complete one piece of a nativity that I have had in my stash for years.  Then I finished up #5 Ornament of the series of 16 called Five Gold Rings and it is finished finished, that is ready to use.  By end of day I am working on a Charlie Harper Penguins needlepoint and making good progress.  This is turning into a productive week already.

 

The offer to buy the CA house arrived late today and I told the realtor I would sign off after Don and I got to agree.  It is a good offer and it seems we are on the correct path.  I will hear from him tomorrow I am sure.  He is still moving steadily forward and at this time I still did not realize he is unable to eat so I am foolishly and fondly feeling very positive about his first week out.