PCT SOBO DAY 132 – Eyes in the Dark

Day 132

Start: Concrete Cistern, mile 2516.3

End: Campground, mile 2546.8

Miles driven: 30.5 miles

We woke up and it started to dawn this morning. Border fever had infected everyone, so we were looking forward to days of big miles, starting early and finishing late. Sunrise in the desert painted a pale morning sky, ushering in a warm day.

We spent the morning weaving in and out of the cacti, trying to avoid getting pricked by the angry desert plants. It was harder than it seemed. I was definitely impaled several times.

Despite our lofty goals, our walking pace was not too fast. We took turns alternating who led the front. I didn’t like leading, but I had one advantage of being in front: there was no one to fart in my face! Yes, the boys smelled bad, but that made things even more entertaining.

We stopped for second breakfast and then lunch. Today’s big attraction was a huge water tank filled by a trail angel. It was a real lifesaver and one of the only water sources on the trail today. Someone had even left a carton of fresh hard-boiled eggs. I wasn’t brave enough to try them, but one of the guys did.

We lazed in the shade for a long time until it was time to keep moving. The day was warm, but we had a nice breeze to cool us down once we were back up. I was still waiting for the desert to turn flat, but it didn’t look like it was going to happen.

Our goal for the day was a creek, but as the sun set we still had several miles to go. As we walked into the dim light, we found ourselves in an open field that smelled of cow pies. Out of the darkness, large glowing orbs followed us as they reflected the light of our headlights. It was a little strange having the cows watching our every move, but they kept their distance and we kept ours.

When we got to our campsite, I was absolutely devastated. It was a long day for me; All I wanted to do was collapse on the ground and sleep right there, but of course I had to do my camp chores. After setting up my tent and devouring dinner, I was more than ready to sleep. The boys felt the same. Before I could get comfortable on my quilt, a chorus of snoring began around me. I wasn’t far behind.

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

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