Am I Really in a Desert? – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [02]

  1. The Pacific Crest Trail Blog of ‘Tatters’ 2017
  2. Scout and Frodo ‘A Homely Beginning’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [01]
  3. Am I Really in a Desert? – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [02]
  4. Scissors Crossing and Julian ‘A First Time for Many Things’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [03]
  5. Early Mornings and Desert Superblooms – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [04]
  6. Paradise Café & Idyllwild ‘The Motivation for Food and Alcohol Grows!’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [05]
  7. San Jacinto & Fuller Ridge ‘Alpha Mountaineering Crew’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [06]
  8. Trail-names, Burgers & Sleeping in Cyclones – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [07]
  9. ‘Hippy Hot Springs’ & Big Miles to McDonald’s – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [08]
  10. Motivation into Wrightwood & Mount Baden Powell – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [09]
  11. Trail Closures & Reuniting at Hiker Heaven – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [10]
  12. Trail Family United & Casa de Luna – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [11]
  13. A Truly Hot and Dry Desert Surrounding Hikertown – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [12]
  14. Tehachapi Zero and Nero Day Morale Boosting! — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [13]
  15. Nearing the End of the Desert? – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [14]
  16. Lake Isabella & Last Stops Before the Snow and Mountains! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [15]
  17. Kennedy Meadows ‘Into the Mountains We Go!’ — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [16]
  18. Off to Lone Pine – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [17]
  19. Badass Mountaineers on Mount Whitney – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [18]
  20. Forester Pass & the Township of Bishop – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [19]
  21. Glen Pass & the End of the Family: PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [20]
  22. Mountaineering on Pinchot Pass & Mather Pass – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [21]
  23. Muir Pass, Evolution Creek, & Flooded Creek Crossings – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [22]
  24. Walls of Snow at Mammoth & Donohue Pass — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [23]
  25. Solo Hiking to Yosemite Valley – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [24]
  26. The Waterfalls of Yosemite & Sonora Pass – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [25]
  27. Truly Alone in the Wild (near Ebbetts Peak) – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [26]
  28. South Lake Tahoe, Dicks Pass & Frozen Lakes – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [27]
  29. Desolation Wilderness & Truckin’ to Truckee – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [28]
  30. A Week Off-trail for 4th July with Rex! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [29]
  31. Back on Trail, Sierra City & Out of the High Sierra – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [30]
  32. New Faces, Middle Feather Fork River and Belden – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [31]
  33. The PCT Halfway Point and Lassen Volcanic Wilderness – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [32]
  34. Chilling with Bears, Old Station & Burney Lodge – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [33]
  35. Burney Falls to Dunsmuir – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [34]
  36. Deadfall Lakes and Finding the Long Lost Dinosaur – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [35]
  37. Rockin’ Through the Trinity Alps Wilderness – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [36]
  38. Sky High Lakes & Grider Creek – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [37]
  39. Bye Bye California, Hello Oregon! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [38]
  40. Rollin’ Along the Meadows to Lake Hyatt – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [39]
  41. ‘A Hike of Ice and Fire’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [40]
  42. Frustrating Closures & Shelter Cove – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [41]
  43. ‘Bending’ Past PCT Fire Closures & Homely Trail Angels – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [42]
  44. Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge & the PCT Days Event- PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [43]
  45. Preparations for the Final Month in Washington – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [44]
  46. Mt Adams & Ascending into Eternity – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [45]
  47. Amazing Goat Rocks Wilderness & Resting in Packwood – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [46]
  48. White Pass & More Fire Closures! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [47]
  49. The Beautiful Deception Lake & Loving the New Trail Family! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [48]
  50. The German Town of Leavenworth & Hiking in Beauty – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [49]
  51. Mica Lake, Suiattle River & the Final Push into Stehekin – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [50]
  52. All Good Things Come to an End… The PCT Northern Terminus! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [51]

Am I Really in a Desert? – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [02]

Previous Post:

Part 1: Scout and Frodo ‘A Homely Beginning’

Day 2 (30/03) – Water in the Desert

I set off alone at around 9am in the morning, as one of the last hikers from the campsite. I remember reading from last year’s hikers, how many litres of water needed to be carried at this point – like 6–7 litres from memory. For us in 2017, the winter rains had changed the desert into a water wonderland! There were small cascades everywhere, and some creeks were so wide you had to take your shoes off to cross.

What normally would be a dry river bed in a normal year is now a nicely flowing creek

I passed several new animals in the first few days, most of which were completely new to me – including several snakes (almost trod on one) – none were rattlesnakes, thankfully.

A ‘Pacific Gopher Snake’ crossing the trail

I caught up to Eyran and a guy called Nicholas and hiked with them. We decided at one point to go off trail for a refreshing swim and some lunch down by the creek. It was a great 1-mile detour and we felt much refreshed.

The large creek flowing in the valley below
First swim on the PCT!

We came to a nice green area under some trees and by a small stream. It was only 3:30pm, but we were all wrecked from the first huge day, and decided to camp there. Eventually, many others also decided to camp there too – a popular spot!

Campsite by a small stream and hidden under trees

We had a small fire and some dinner, and had some introductory conversations, as most people had not met prior to the evening. I learned that evening that Eyran was not very experienced in hiking and was very under-prepared. He had barely any food (I gave him some noodles), no maps, and basically no idea of what he was into. He had a large learning curve ahead of him, that’s for sure, ‘I guess I could help him out somewhat’, I thought. As it grew cool, we eventually retired into our cocoons of warmth.

Distanced hiked: 12 miles (19.31 km)

Total PCT hiked: 32 miles (51.5 km)

Day 3 (31/03) – Mount Laguna Gear Store

Nicholas headed off early, and Eyran and I started our day at 8am. We talked along the way about hiking and what kind of food he should bring, and how he should navigate. The scenery changed from semi-desert, into a pine forest – the first real trees we’d seen yet.

The semi-desert region we passed
Where did these pine trees come from?

We arrived at a small place called Mount Laguna, which deviates from the trail and contained three of the hiking essentials: post office, restaurant, and gear store. Food came first – a delicious burger and chips with a beer, followed by a visit to the gear store.

The ‘hiker’ table at the café (with a touch of bear?)

At the gear store, we got a free run-down of our equipment from veteran PCT hikers. I already knew my pack and tent were ‘too heavy’, but decided to hear out the advice. It was a great decision. Mike was blunt and to the point, making me question all gear. I ended up switching my overly large Gregory Baltoro for a Hyperlite Southwest – a lightweight pack weighing 2kg lighter. I also removed many dry bags, a pair of shorts, a bottle, and some other small items. It felt good to have a lighter pack – I’d been eyeing this pack for some time in my gear research.

We spent so much time there that we ended up camping in the nearby ‘closed’ campsite. We ended up camping with Matt, Jen, Leia (all that started with me) and a girl I just met called Crunchy (trail name).

A ranger drove past, and we got worried he would kick us out. Our conversation went like this:

Him: “Y’all campen here tonight?”

Us: “….Ummm yeah”

Him: “OK, y’all can light a fire if ya want” *drives off*

“Well, that went better than we expected”, we laughed.

Distance hiked: 9.5 miles (15.29 km)

Total PCT hiked: 41.5 miles (66.79 km)

Next Post:

Part 3 ‘A First Time for Many Things’

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