Well it's May 5th and I am at home, much to my disappointment but safer as a result.I couldn't have known how difficult it would have been to complete the whole PCT, let alone the part that I did complete.With all the planning and training I did, it still wasn't enough to be ready for what lay ahead of me.
DAY 1
My first day of hiking was the easy part. It consisted of 20 miles of hiking starting at the border over a few hills. I had pre-set my camp at Lake Morena and got a ride to the border with just lunch and water to carry. It was hot, in the 80's but there were some Santa Ana winds to keep me cool. 20 miles and 8 hours later I was back at camp finnishing the KO and have a good dinner.
Day 2
I left this morning after a good breakfast at 6:45 AM.It was going to be hotter today, in the 90's and I wanted to get my goal of 20 miles a day started early. My pack was loaded with 5 days of food and a days worth of water. This days hike was much different, more climbing in altitude and just as many decents. The hills were steep and they were taking their toll on me. Smoe blisters were developing and my pack was way too heavy. As a result I completed only 16 of the planned 20 miles.I was struggling and so I camped early set up my tent, cooked dinner and got to bed by 7:30 PM. I couldn't sleep much though and suspected that this was due to the altitude.
Day 3
I was restless all night knowing I had miles to make up. Today was even hotter and the winds had died down a little. It reached the low100's at the lower altitudes.More steep slopes to encounter. I needed to get to Mt. Laguna and mail home stuff to lighten my pack. Most other hikers were amazed I had gotten this far with the pack I had and weight I was carrying. Well 10 hours later and some blisters and aching muscles I got to Mt. Laguna. I sent home 14.7 lbs of non-essential stuff and doctored my feet and was ready for the next day...or so I thought
Day 4
With my much lighter load and good feet I hiked really well today. I had 20 miles done by 4 PM and only needed about 6 to the next water stop. They were all up hill however.. and my calves were starting to ache some so I set up camp in a nice meadow and waited for the winds to die down so I could cook and set up my tent. That never happened!! The Santa Ana's blew all night, I had to sleep on my pad in my bag in 40+mph winds and the temps in the 40's. Did not sleep more than an hour all night. By morning the winds were still strong, it was cold and I was miserable. Couldn't light the stove for breakfast for fear of starting a fire in these winds.
Day 5
I needed to travel 17 miles to get to Scissors Crossing to camp today, because that would be the last water before Warner Springs Ranch, where there would be a bed and a mail drop and more food for me.I felt slightly ill from the cold food I ate, my muscles were screaming at me and I was in the middle of nowhere so I had to continue. It was up and down hiking and it was taking it's toll on me physically and mentally. Muscles were cramping and by the time I finnished at 5:00PM I was done... couldn't go another mile. So I got to the road and hitched to Warner Springs and decided to call it quits..