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Day 31 – 22 Apr 19. Stumbling Along

Today 36.5 km (22.7 mi), Total Distance 667.4 km (414.7 mi). 9 hours 50 minutes (0735-1715)

I woke up and enjoyed just laying there for a while as there was no rush to beat the snow. I was still up before the others.

I walked through the campground trying the toilet doors but they were all locked. The Swiss couple from Islip Saddle were there finishing packing up. They also must have taken the road for them to be ahead of me.

There was a small ford and then to the trail start, not the PCT but the Buckhorn Trail. This trail headed down hill beside a river. It was in nice condition and a nice gradient. Despite the big effort yesterday I was feeling good. Just before the trail junction was a neat log crossing.

From the trail junction I was now back on the PCT, frogs safe from my possible influence. The trail now climbed up beside a stream before turning away from the stream and climbing up a hill and then following the hill around in a half circle. There was a road option from where the trail left the stream which I am sure a few took. It was a nice view from the ridgeline and then as I was going a round looking back down the valley.

The trail crossed the dirt road, dropped a little more then there was a big climb up to the road. The gradient was much steeper than normal and I was feeling it. I caught up to an older guy with his Dog. He was doing PCT and was allowed the dog as it was a service dog, helping him with hearing. He had done the AT with the dog last year. The dog did not look like a long distance dog, it looked old and a little overweight but having nearly done 400 miles, looks are deceiving.

Once up the climb I crossed the road and there was a short section of trail before crossing the road again.

Now the trail was on what looked to be the old road. There were still small sections of asphalt.

Not long into this section I started to twist my ankle and as I was going with it to prevent injury, somehow I ended up twisting my other knee and was on the ground.

Normally I am able to immediately take the weight off the ankle if it is going over and my hiking pole keeps my balance. I have done this several times, saving the ankle from twisting and staying upright.

This time I sat on the ground thinking I had done serious damage to my knee. After about 10 seconds of panicking I actually moved my knee and realised it was not sore. I stood up and tentatively took a step and I was fine. My knee was fine and the ankle was fine – phew. It was a good reminder to pay more attention to the trail as it does not take much to ruin the hike.

I continued on. The trail switch backed the opposite way and then followed below the highway. I was starting to look for the 400 mile mark.

As I was coming down a slight hill towards a small creek I tripped on something and went flying forward. I got my hands up in time to protect my face. Shaken I stood up and took stock. I was fine, some skin missing from my palm, elbow and knee but otherwise unhurt. This is my first big fall and strange that it is so close to my earlier tumble. I had had a rest and some food in-between so I wasn’t tired.

Grazed knee

Looking carefully at the track I continued, passing the 400 mile marker, and another, and two more. This is now the most marked mile celebration.

The trail continued along the side of the valley, past a cabin called Camp Glenwoood and over the road again.

This time the trail followed the other side of the road winding along the side of the hill. It was in forest, then a rocky area, then a drier shrub area before crossing the road for the last time.

The trail climbed to a carpark where NurCare and another couple were sitting at table. NurCare was just leaving. He was surprised to see me and I was surprised to see him. He he said he did Bowden Powell yesterday. He must have started really really early or later and passed me when I stopped to camp.

I sat down and started to have lunch but it was really windy and cold so I packed up and left, hoping to find a warmer spot on trail.

The trail now seemed really different. Back into drier terrain with a few Yucca and some familiar shrubs. The trail was in lovely condition and I felt like I was flying along.

I found a great spot with a nice rock to sit on in the sun and sheltered from the wind. I was enjoying my lunch when a hiker approached. He looked familiar and as he got closer I realised it was the Brit I had met the same time I met Jorge and Water. He stopped and we chatted for a bit. He had been off trail because of a suspected stress fracture but he decided he will walk through he pain for a bit longer.

The couple from the picnic table passed me. I packed up and started flying down the hill again, passing the couple as they had a break.

The next 2.5 miles were downhill and it was the perfect gradient, not steep enough to hurt my knees but steep enough to give a little added momentum. I was still feeling good and was happy that my feet seem to have adjusted to the new shoes and innersoles without too much fuss.

I stopped at a stream where NurCare was filtering some water. I saw it was 5 miles to the next water so refilled some of my waterbottles. I left NurCare there and continued down the hill.

Not long after I came to an intersection that had the PCT marker in both directions. On checking Guthoook I found out that the right route was a bypass for horses. Not being a horse, I took the left route which did go on the side of a steep hill with some very narrow bits. It continued along the side of the hill for a short while before dropping to a very green and sluggish stream then up to cross a new road.

Now the trail climbed, and climbed. It was a nice gradient so I actually didn’t realise how much height I had gained until I looked back down. As it got higher the trail crossed a saddle to another hill and now the wind really started blowing. At the next saddle there were camping spots but you would be blown away if you tried today.

The trail changed direction and started climbing the new hill. The side of the hill was much steeper and it was a little more rocky, except one patch of pine trees.

The next stream was still flowing so I filled up enough water for camp. A bit further on was a nice section of pine forest, and a little sheltered from the wind but I was feeling good so I carried on.

The trail wound along the hill through an area that was fire damaged and there were a few Poodle Dog Bushes, most off the path but a couple on the hill above the path hanging down near the trail.

Once at the saddle the trail changed direction again and went on the side of a steep hill, slowly dropping altitude. There was a small campsite on a spur but it was in the wind so I continued on.

I was now starting to get tired and decided to stop at the next flattish and sheltered site. The trail came over a slightly flatter area and two girls were setting up their tents. I stood for a while to feel the wind and there did not seem to be much. This area was sheltered, though it looked like it should be exposed. I found a site tucked close to some bushes and reinforced my pegs with rocks incase the wind changed direction.

Just as I was finishing putting my tent up there were a few spatters of rain. Once everything was away and I was sitting in my tent it actually started raining. It wasn’t much but the ground outside was a little wet. This continued for about 5 minutes, then eased off even more and 15 minutes later stopped.

I had a big dinner and then watched the beautiful sunset with the two girls. It was pretty cold and I was shaking as I was taking the video. The temperature gauge in my tent is sitting around 10 degrees C but the wind chill significantly dropped that where we were standing.

I then caught up on my blog, ate some more and went to sleep early, around 2030.

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