getting back into the swing of things

Day 121 ~miles 2003.2 - 2024.6

It was just one of those lazy and slow kind of days on the trail, to start, anyway.  Sleep is usually much more restful on the trail; even though we felt well rested leaving Bend, we slept in until 8 today.  Also, our tent was dripping with condensation and our sleeping bags damp. Sleeping in gave things a little more time to dry out, but we still had to pack them up pretty wet, which sucks.

It was the kind of day that we just couldn't go more than a couple of miles without taking a break for something: water, stretching, bathroom, etc.  Time passed quickly, while the miles dragged by.  A pack loaded full of 5 1/2 days of food and plenty of water for a dry stretch of trail surely didn't help matters.

For most of the day, we hiked through the most expansive burn area we'd seen, which meant no shade.  Views of Mt. Jefferson and the dramatic surrounding peaks made the day more aesthetically pleasing.  We sort of got our act together after lunch and started making better time. 

To add a little excitement to our day, a bee decided to sting my right lower calf.  I screamed and ran, unsure of what was going on.  The pain was so intense; I looked down and brushed the bee off of my leg.  The stinging continued for several minutes.  That hadn't happened to me in years!  Also, we spotted a trail "celebrity" on the trail today: Scott Williamson.  He's hiked the PCT multiple times, and was the first person ever to complete a yo-yo hike of the trail (hiking the trail, arriving at the terminus, and turning around to hike back in the other direction).  He is apparently attempting to set a record for the fastest known Southbound thru-hike; despite the fact that he's attempting a speed record, he still moved over to let us go by while we were ascending.

Where water is scarce, it's sometimes wise to cook dinner at a water source; that way, we don't have to carry water to cook with.  We utilized this strategy this evening, then hiked straight towards the stunning and glacier-covered Mt. Jefferson, as the trail was lit by colors of orange from the wide open sunset view.