One whole rotation of the sun ago, I stood at the monument in Campo, California, and started walking north on the Pacific Crest Trail. I wanted to write a long, meandering, weepy reflection on this day like I tend to do, but I don't think I have it in me. I really should be grading. …
September 17-21, 2022 0 miles Seattle, Washington I wake up on the morning of September 17 in the ranger cabin feeling groggy. I don't know why, but the quality of sleep I've experienced on the PCT is far lower than on the AT. It could have something to do with the fact that my sleeping …
September 8, 2022 Leavenworth to Stevens Pass to campsite at mile 2481.2 16 miles I do not want to leave this amazing bed. No, no, no. I’m more tired than I’ve ever been. I hobble when I start moving. I am one with this mattress, these pillows. Movement? No thanks. But then it’s 6:50, and …
July 2, 2022 US 50 crossing at mile 1090.8 to campsite at mile ~1107.9 17.1 miles I wake up before everyone else and creep into the common area, where we’ve stored Tribute’s massive balloon. Finding it, I return to our room and clip it to Tribute’s bunk. “Happy birthday!” I whisper, trying not to wake …
July 1, 2022 0 miles Oh, it is a slow morning. I wake up naturally around 6:30 and think about going to write, but it just doesn’t happen. It’s too cozy, too early. I stay in the room. Eventually, though, the thought of breakfast becomes overpowering, and when Jumbo and Tribute are eventually awake enough …
June 29, 2022 Campsite at mile 1061.5 to Showers Lake at mile 1081.9 20.4 miles The mosquitoes went away in the night, but they’re back this morning. Still, it’s not as bad as it could be. There are just, say, three or four. Jumbo is packed up and ready to go long before we are, …
June 28, 2022 Wolf Creek at mile 1039.3 to campsite at mile 1061.5 22.2 miles Cowboy camping is so nice. You can set up fast, take down fast, and see the stars. But it’s all fun and games until the mosquitoes start whining in the morning. Then it’s time to move. I walk with Jumbo …
June 27, 2022 Kennedy Meadows North to Sonora Pass to Wolf Creek at mile 1039.3 22.4 miles We try to get breakfast at the restaurant, but because they’re short-staffed and a lot of hikers descend at once, it’s ages before anyone even gets to our table. Tribute and I decide to go to the store …
June 21, 2022 Mammoth to trail near Red’s Meadow to campsite at mile 920 13.3 miles The alarm goes off and I ignore it. No. No! You can’t pull me from this bed. But I hear Jumbo rustling around and know it’s game over. “We’ve got shit to do!” he says. He and Tribute are …
June 19, 2022 Deer Creek to Red’s Meadow to Mammoth 5.6 miles Everything is frozen. The water bottle inside my tent is frozen. My feet are frozen. I know I should get a move on because today is town say, but I just don’t want to get out of my sleeping bag. I boil water …
Continue reading PCT Days 62 and 63: Nero and Zero in Mammoth Lakes
Sarahmarie Specht-Bird 