Today the alarm was supposed to wake me up at 04:50. Due to the lovely effects of the still apparent jet lag however, I was awake long before the call-time. Maybe something to do with the anticipation..? Finally upbeat tunes by Sven Hammond sounded through my phone speakers and I knew it was time to get ready. After repacking my pack for what felt like the hundredth time, I carried it out to the porch for it to be collected and to be driven to the Southern Terminus of the trail.
The past 3 days I have been staying at Frodo & Scouts (those are their trail-names from their pct-hike) place in San Diego. This wonderful couple, host hikers who aim to start the PCT at the Mexican boarder, near the small village of Campo. Americans get to stay one night, Canadians two nights and anybody coming from outside the Northern American continent gets to stay up to three nights. Lucky for me, I thus had some time to recover from my jet-lag.
Views from Scout & Frodo’s garden.
At 0600 we were headed out into the car towards the trailhead. Today 19 people who stayed at Scout & Frodo’s would start at the Southern Terminus. At the statue everybody snapped pictures and around 0730 it was finally time to go. The first section is approximately 20 miles, to lake Morena. We were strongly advised to carry at least 6 – 7 liters of water, because it would be a dry stretch with very limited shade. To top things off it was forecasted today to be 33 degrees Celcius; Happy days. Because I lingered a bit at the Southern Terminus I was one of the last ones of the group to head out. For the first hour or so I hiked alone. This was not really what I intended, but fine nonetheless; the trail is very well marked.
A couple of hours in and I already knew more than I did before I started. Here is a brief summary:
– heat (check)
– thirst (check)
– sand (check)
– dust (check)
– bugs (check)
– sweat (check)
– heavy pack (check)
– first rattle-snake encounter (check, and yes, it scared the crap out of me)
After passing a couple of other hikers I hiked together with Isha from Belgium. This is fun because we get to chat in Dutch. Funnily enough without realizing it we spend most of the day chatting in English anyway.
It was hot, really hot. Occasionally we stopped for breaks in the shade. A common strategy for the hot days is to have a siesta break between approximately 1130 up to 1600-1700. We attempted this but got too bored, so we decided to continue hiking around 1500. We ended our day in a valley called Houser Creek. One of the more shaded area’s of the first section. It has taken me approximately 5 hours to have my clothing appear as if I have worn it outdoors for a week already. The dust and dirt are merciless. Sweat and sunscreen don’t help either.
After cooking myself a lovely dinner of cold soaked cous cous, beef jerky and molten cheese it was time to head into my tent. We are camped here with approximately 8 others, and at 2030 it is quiet. Today was tough. Tomorrow we are going to rise early to beat the heat and get some miles in. Time to get ready for the first night out in the wild of SoCal.
Not a soul up ahead and nothing behind
There’s a desert in my blood and and a stone in your eyes
Ooh, through the wilderness
You and I we’re walking through the emptiness
I got your back, if you’ve got mine Ooh
One foot in front of the other
One foot in front of the other
One foot in front of the other…
One foot – Walk the Moon
Knalvet! Mooi begin Jor en toffe foto’s!
Wat chill! Geniet ervan Jor! Krijg ik nu elke dag een update?
Leuk om te zien en lezen.