Pct Day 4 – 6

A cold morning got a bit warmer when Desiree dropped off the first trail magic of the trip, fresh fruit and cookies.

So you technically start the PCT on your start date, but the first three days you get amenities like resupplies, restaurants, showers and most importantly water.

Today we hike 11 miles to the first water source and learned it was another 25 to the next reliable one. While strategizing another trail angel named three socks offered to shuttle our water and food 7 miles up trail. Our backs and ankles are eternally grateful.

We camped with a large group of other hikers in a nice meadow. While making dinner Rooster left his stove unattended. It fell over and Andy sprang into action to quickly turn it off and pour his precious water on the singed grass….Rooster was bummed his rice spilled.

Pct Day 5

We started our decent early to beat the heat with no real plan other than to get to the bridge at scissors crossing.

Some friends found us and called us over for a noon siesta session. We got to learn more about Erick, Sierra, Ezra, Abby, Lev, Faisal, Dan, and Sylvia. Erick ran two miles down a spur trail to grab some extra water for the group. He and Sierra are doing the PCT to train for a 100M trail run.

The rest of the decent can only be described as hot and brutal, with the first true treacherous sections. Our feet were hurting by the end.

The group made plans to hitch to stagecoach rv camp but plans changed under the bridge. Our buddy Johan stuck around to make sure we got the message: pizza and beer in Julian.

We had our first experience hitching. The guy had a brand new Dodge TRX and drove like a maniac. Thankfully, the road to Julian is super windy so Rach got motion sickness.

We met up with friends at the Julian brewery for beer and laughs. Sean found us a sweet camping spot behind the brewery and next to a cemetery. No ghosts were sighted.

PCT Day 6

Woke up this morning in Julian to a digestive system full of carbs and beer….made a fast walk to the bathrooms.

Some friends rolled into town from stagecoach and ate with us at the Julian cafe. We hunkered down and enjoyed plumbing and coffee for a few hours. Then, we visited the gear shop and the market. Outside the market one of the five pie shop owners in town gave us three free pies. We brought the pies to the trail at scissors crossing where some arriving hikers appreciated the snack.

Town is a strange place. The choices and distractions seem endless and even just sitting on a bench becomes somehow taxing. It also strange have to search for a bathroom.

We caught a ride back to the trail and experienced a windy climb. Johan found us and Andy a sheltered site and we hunkered down for a windy night.