PCT Day 108 – 111 Bye Bye California!
Stats
Start: Girder Creek Campground – Mile 1,649.5
End: Ashland – Mile 1,717.7
Elevation Max: 6,337
Elevation Min: 1,706
Elevation Change: 23,432 up & down
Walking Time: 21 hrs 8 minutes
Date: 7/19/2022 – 7/22/2022
The Walk
Day 108 – Girder Creek Campground to Tentsite (1,649.5 – 1,679.3)
Day 109 – Tentsite to Shelter (1,679.3 – 1,708.2)
Day 110 – Shelter to Ashland (1,708.2 – 1,717.7)
Day 111 – Ashland Zero
I quietly packed my bag and was hiking under the stars by 5 AM. My headlamp illuminated the trail rocks and sticks. The air was crisp. I was excited for breakfast to keep moving forward.
I walked into Siad Valley 10 minutes before the restaurant opened and found a bench to relax. I met two other hikers, Fozzie and Jacob. We had coffee and eggs to fuel the climb.
We all had the same idea. Get out of town ASAP to beat the heat and get this climb over with. Fozzie and I left the restaurant and headed out. The first few thousand feet went by without a problem. Except I missed a water source I planned to fill up at. That meant I had to ration water. And it was getting hot.
I had another mile of steep climbing to a probable water source. I prayed to any god that would listen for it to be dripping. The heat was raging. And there was no shade in sight. I was walking through chest high prickly bushes. The ground was cracked and drought was evident.
Half a mile away I considered laying down under the bushes for a break. But I didn’t have enough water. I knew I’d only get more thirsty. The coffee definitely wasn’t helping either. Not the most hydrating beverage.
I stumbled along a short side trail and saw where the stream had dried up. In a panic I kept looking and finally found a literal dribble of water. I used a small leaf to funnel the drip and in 2 minutes I had half a liter of water. Oh my God. The relief overwhelmed me. I wasn’t sure if I could finish the climb without water.
Jacob and Fozzy walked up as I was filling my second half liter and I let them take over. Everyone was breathing hard and drenched in sweat. We’d heard how though this climb was, but weren’t ready for it!
I was thankful for water, but there wasn’t any shade to be found. I took a 10 minute break and could feel my skin roasting. So I double checked my 2 liters were full and headed out in search of shade!
Fozzy and I hiked off and on through the day and found a shady old dirt road for lunch. I laid down in the grass thankful to be done with the climb.
The afternoon and the next two days followed a similar theme. Casual walking and enjoying the trail.
The next day we crossed into Oregon! After spending 3+ months in California the milestone felt huge. Even bigger than the halfway mile marker. I was excited to check out Asheville and spend a day relaxing. Fozzie had a trail angel lined up so I tagged along.
The trail angel was Bill. He is a retired magician. He welcomed us into his home and entertained us for a day and a half.
