Walk

March 11, Day 1

Hauser Creek, PCT mile 15.4

Today was a full day.  I woke up at 5:30 this morning after having not slept much.  I got up and headed to the shower,  While I was waiting for the water to warm up, I stretched really big and immediately felt my back slip out.  Im sure I used a variety of expletives, but needless to say that is the last thing I needed to happen today.  Fortunately quite a bit of panic, 30 minutes of back massage and Brian playing at home chiropractor, it slipped back in.  Lets hope it holds for awhile.

By 730 Keith Tate Scott and Eric arrived at the house, to accompany Brian Austin Chris and I to the trail head.  We parked about 200 yards away and walked to the monument.

Several photos were taken and we all exchanged goodbyes.  Tate asked, “so are you leaving first our are we?”  Knowing I was on the verge of tears I asked them to leave first.  I loitered at the monument for a few minutes and took a couple selfies.  Once they were all loaded up and about to drive off, I started my walk.   I watched them drive off into the distance as I covered the first quarter mile of my hike.

The miles in the morning came easy.  Around 11,  I caught up with a section hiker named Connor.  He had started late the day before and was taking it easy.  He’s from Austin and taking a break from PreMed to hike the trail.  We hiked together for roughly a half hour.  he stopped for a short break and I kept going.  Around noon I stopped for lunch and he passed me.  We continued to play leap frog for the rest of the afternoon.

Around 2 I caught up with Lou Lou Brown, trailname “Lets party”  She was fun.  Shes from Oregon, and has the cutest little Jack Russel with her, with the trail name “Bottoms Up”  Lets party and Bottoms up thru hiked the ECT in 2013.   I didnt know what the ECT was.  Apparently its the Appalacian trail on crack.  It goes from the Florida Keys all the way to Newfoundland!  Bad ass!

We chatted for a few minutes and then carried on.  

As i said earlier, the morning miles came easy.  I put down almost 8 miles before lunch.   After lunch was another matter.   Around mile 11 I began struggling.  My hips, feet, back, shoulders…. well basically everything was sore…  I also started to get several hot spots on my feet.  So I stopped for a few and let my feet dry out and rest.  Around mile 14 the trail is a decently steep downgrade.  This really lit my feet up.  I managed to hobble in to where I intended to camp today around 5pm. 

Shortly after Connor and Lets Party arrived.  Done for the day we all decided to camp together.  Im sure they are in their tents right now, wishing I would stop typing on my rather noisey keyboard. LOL

All in all the trail is everything I expected it to be and more.  I didnt think I would meet people so soon, but it has definitely been nice to have people to talk to.

The weather today was great. I started in avout 60 degree weather and it stayed overcast all day, which kept the temperature down. 

I am going to be very sore tomorrow, so may cut my hiking day a little short.  We will see what tomorow brings!!