PCT SOBO DAY 122 – A pleasure

Day 122

Start: Dirt road, mile 2299.6

End: Dirt road, leaving mile 2323.5

Miles driven: 24.1 miles

I woke up surprisingly refreshed after last night. I watched the sunrise over the mountains and stretched, breathing in the rapidly warming air. It felt good to be on the road today. I had something special to look forward to.

The sun was already a force to be reckoned with as I made my way down the dirt road parallel to the trail. Some hunters were outside, stopping on the side of the road and looking through their binoculars. Traffic grew steadily in the valley as people began their days.

I snaked down and around the mountain, descending mile after mile. When I got to the bottom, it was almost noon and I was thirsty! There was only one water fountain where I took a break, but now all the water I had was hot. You can imagine my relief when I arrived at another wonderful water tower filled with more water jugs than SOBO hikers. And it was in the shade! I took a break under the convenient tree and took a drink of water. What an oasis!

As much as I wanted to stay in that sweet retreat, the day was getting hotter and hotter. I had to keep moving. I had a brief climb over bulbous rock formations and found myself among trains winding through the valley. I was so close to my treat of the day!

Suddenly, traffic roared over the constant chugging of trains. I-15 seemed big and busy, getting louder with every step I took. Down below the road, however, there was a strange silence. Once I got past all the graffiti, I found myself at an intersection. To McDonald’s!

I don’t normally eat McDonald’s off the trail, but my palate loosens up a bit once I become a hungry hiker. So McDonald’s was lunch today. Refreshingly cool and bustling with passing travelers, this McDonald’s was actually quite nice. I ordered my food and sat down while I charged my devices. I stayed for more than an hour, it was that nice.

However, it was time to venture out into the heat again. Now that it was mid-afternoon, it really wasn’t that bad. I climbed, but the trail was gradual and smooth. I walked late into the night and found a campsite 30 minutes after dark, satisfied with my work for the day.

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

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.