PCT SOBO DAY 112 – Thirst

Day 112

Start: Tentsite, mile 2109.3

End: Hiker Town/Highway 138, mile 2138.2

Miles driven: 29.9 miles

I woke up with the sunrise this morning, glad I didn’t have to wake up before sunrise to put in the miles. Today I had plans to meet my parents in Hikertown. I thought I would be there tomorrow, but looking at the terrain, it seemed possible to arrive in the afternoon. After descending the mountain, the terrain was flat for a good number of kilometers.

I started on a cool morning, but after the sun came out for a bit, it got much warmer. The trail was a little hilly in the morning, but it wasn’t too bad. The only downside to today’s trail was that there was very little water. The only water tap I knew of was already closed for the season, so the only thing I really had was the water I carried with me.

For much of the morning and afternoon I walked with my umbrella up to protect myself from the sun. It kept me a little cooler and I wasn’t as thirsty, but after a while, thirst took over. A few trucks and cars passed here and there, and I hoped some kind soul would stop and ask me if I needed anything. Unfortunately, I wasn’t lucky in that regard, but things got better.

Around 2 or 3 pm I passed a group of trailers behind a barbed wire fence. About 5 or 6 older guys were sitting around chatting when I passed by.

«Hey! Are you hiking the trail? Do you want some water?» One of them screamed.

Sweet! Just what I needed!

«Of course!» I responded.

I walked back to the entrance, sat my things down and was handed a bottle of ice water. It disappeared in seconds. Turns out the boys were part of a hunting club and were out to start pheasant hunting season. They came here often to hunt, hang out, and spend quality time with the boys. They were all retired, so they enjoyed spending their time preparing their awards.

I chatted with them for a good 20 or 30 minutes before it was time to start. I still had plans to meet my parents and didn’t want to arrive to Hikertown too late. They gave me a third bottle of water to take away (I had already finished the second one) and I left.

Rehydrated, I regained my spirits. I played a few more songs and found myself at the famous Los Angeles aqueduct in no time. It was a lot more buried than I expected, but it was great anyway. Then, just as I was approaching Hikertown, I saw a car pull up – it was my parents!

After 30 miles, my hiker fatigue from the day was strong, so we drove with the windows open towards Lancaster, where we would spend the next few days.

And that’s a day in the life of a PCT SOBO hiker!

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