Day 133
Start: Campground, mile 2546.8
End: Campground, mile 2574.2
Miles driven: 27.4 miles
We started again before dawn, eager to get some miles in while it was still cool. Our first stop was to collect water. It was only 0.5 miles away, but we hadn’t gotten there last night.
When we reached the slowly dripping water source, I was even more disappointed than when I saw the cistern at our last campsite. This water had an oily sheen and was clearly frequented by cows. After straining the water, I took a tentative sip and immediately spit it out. It tasted like a cow! Disgusting! I smelled the water and it even smelled like a cow. I wasn’t too desperate for a drink, so I saved it as emergency water until I could get my hands on something a little less gross.
We continue walking, climb a small hill and enter open terrain. The trail was finally on the flat side today. I enjoyed the fresh morning air as the sun came out. Our main attraction on the trail today was the famous Eagle Rock.
When we arrived, I found it was much smaller than I expected, but it was still great. We all took our photos in front of the natural sculpture and hung out for a while, taking our time and eating snacks.
However, we soon moved on, eager to get to the next water source before it got too hot. We all spread out a bit and walked at our own pace before meeting up at the spring. It was paradise! The water was clean and had no smell! Plus, we were able to enjoy a little shade while we refueled for the next stretch of the day.
We climbed, ascending a little before following the ridge line. As the morning turned into the afternoon, it was very hot. There was almost no shade at the top of the mountain, so we huddled under some bushes to take a short break before continuing. When we reached our next water tank, we were defeated! We needed a real break.
We all took off our shoes, set up our backpacks, and took a nap resting on our gear. The symphony of snoring was loud and constant throughout our 30-minute nap session. But we all needed it. Everyone woke up happier and ready to tackle the next section.
When we got back on the trail, the sun had set a bit and was at a less intense angle. We snaked along the windy contour of the mountain, following the road below us. We walked until it got dark as usual, the moon lit the path for us.
When we found our campsite, it was absolutely perfect. We were perched near the top of the ridge line, with the open sky above us. There was enough space for everyone to sleep in a circle and share another meal together. We chatted and laughed as we watched the shooting stars go by and savored another perfect evening on the trail.
And that’s a day in the life of a PCT SOBO hiker!
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