Remove, smoke and chocolate – The Trek

After a heavenly zero day full of pancakes, resupply of chaos and a visit to an expert physiotherapist on paths, we arrive at the path again, rather, more sweaty and strangely relieved to return. We approach steep climbs, smoke of forest fires in the distance, water fonts full of people and our first appropriate obstacle course of the farms. The miles were long, the brutal packages, but the magic of the paths, the friendly faces and even a surprise chocolate bar reminded us why we continue to walk.

Day 43 – Pancakes and Physio

Awakening in a clean and cozy bed after so long on the road is priceless. Of course, we could have used one or two extra sleep hours, but nothing exceeds fresh sheets and a real pillow. Even so, we had promised everyone at 8 am, time to get up.

We cook pancakes for eight hungry hikers, served with large bowls of fresh fruit and hot chocolate. It became a true party. They loved everyone, and the best part? It was so much that we didn’t have to worry about breakfast tomorrow.

Following mission: refueling. Walmart is almost two miles away, so even on a zero day, there is no shortage of walking. We were buying two sections: 5 days from the next city and 6 more for a package that we plan to send to Lone Pine. That meant food for 11 days. Total mature.

Back at home, we begin to classify and re -package. Of course, «quickly» is never how the refueling works. He took a good part of the afternoon.

For lunch, we finished the leftovers of the dinner last night. Then we separated a little: Patrik, Read and our path of trails went to the post office with the resupply boxes while I went to a physiotherapy session.

Blaze, the PT, is also a hiker. She travels in her red truck and helps hikers in the cities along the path. We focus on my long -term shoulder problem and muscle pain in my pimp. It turns out that the shoulder is related to slightly misaligned ribs (it sounds terrifying, but it is manageable), and spin pain is a common posterior effect of the long and flat aqueduct section. That asphalt fosters longer steps and faster walks, which can overload the muscle. Good news: nothing serious. Shorten my step and should be better in two weeks.

At night, we all met at the house for dinner. The chefs tonight were Timo and Lea, who prepared a delicious tomato risotto. Dessert? Frozen!

After dinner, a foosball championship broke out: serious issues for the boys. I opted for a quick shower and then directly to bed. It was a surprisingly exhausting day for a zero!

Day 44 – Back to the path

Today was that feared part of each stay in the city: the return to the road. And not any return, we were loaded with food and water and we went directly uphill. But first, a last glorious breakfast.

We press the sober of the pancake, along with milkshakes, yogurt, melon and fruit. No one was hungry.

Then came the dreaded moment: fill our packages with 4 liters of water. Outside, one of the Dutch hikers took out a package scale. Bad idea. Our packages weighed between 17 and 20 kilos. Oof.

At 8 am acute, our trip arrived. And how do we find it? Well, two things happened yesterday in Walmart:

1. A random woman asked us if we needed a trip somewhere. When we told her that we would still be the next day, she offered to pick us up in the morning, and actually did!
2. In the payment, a complete stranger asked where we were and then handed us an invoice of $ 100. So. 🤑 Only on the PCT!

This morning, she and her husband came in separate cars to adapt to the four. Read and I went with her, the boys with her husband.

They left us right where we had left the path days ago. After many thanks, we were again. This section is famous, it is where Cheryl deviated began his trip in Wild.

The climb was brutal under heavy packages. Welcome again to our smelly and sweaty life. But honestly, we missed it.

We have lunch in the shadow of some trees and join Swiss hikers. With such heavy packages, nobody moved quickly.

We walk through a dusty and rocky section, once an old road, now only a rough path. The insects left each bush. Then we saw what looked like a gray cloud in the distance … but no, it was smoke. A forest fire! About 3 miles from the PCT, which do not threaten us (yet), but it is still disturbing.

Later, we arrived at the last source of water of the day, a slow drip with a large crowd. First, we explore a cowboy camp place nearby, then we join the tail.

It was slow. A bag took 2 minutes to fill, and they all needed water for dinner and at least 5 liters for the next day. It was going to be a long wait.

We filtered 2 liters, we cook the dinner, then we returned to the second round. At dusk, we finally had our complete supply and collapsed in our sleeping bags.

The reality had returned, but we loved it.

Day 45: long miles and goodness

That was a difficult night. When the wind got up, it blow directly through the breathing of my sleeping bag, relaxing my back as if someone was blowing me directly to me. Even so, there is no time to groan: our alarm shot at 5:00 am and we had 20 miles for our next water.

Dawn was magical. The golden light touched the surrounding peaks just when we started walking. We were definitely back in the full path mode: heavy packages, rigid muscles and five liters of water each. But fortunately, the morning path stayed in the shade, so it was bearable.

We stopped for breakfast a few miles. Timo and read were a little backward, eating below on the path. When we passed them again, the sun was burning and our shirts were once more salty and soaked, the freshness of the city officially went.

We stopped for a break for cookies just before lunch. The heat was brutal. That last climb before our noon break almost killed us. Thirteen miles down, eight or nine for the end.

We find some shadow and rest. This day he felt hard.

Then the dough and Veary arrived: they ran out of water. We gave them one of our additional liters, and they were incredibly grateful. That single bottle probably saved his day.

Back along the way, the climbs continued to arrive. And then: shovels. Huge fallen trees blocked the path. Some we drag underneath, others sported. It became a full -body obstacle race.

We passed the Milla 600 score where a cheerful group of hikers encouraged us. Nice, but we only wanted to get to the camp.

In the water source, the dough reached us again. As thanks for before, he gave Patrik a chocolate bar. Sweet Trail Karma.

We leaked the water and continue with Veary to the camp, where Timo and Lea were already prepared and cooking dinner. We were jealous of each bite.

We present our jeans camp configuration and join them for a shared dinner. As dessert, we divide the talented chocolate among all of us, a perfect sweet end for a very difficult day.
All were totally erased. We hit the early hay.