PCT Map Miles 229.0
Miles Hiked 164.8
Elevation 3,862 feet
Miles Hiked Today 10.5
I left Whitewater Preserve and made my first, second and third water crossings of the day. This time I wasn’t alone. A hiker with a trail name HikeO helped a New Zealand woman and myself find good spots to cross. I still got wet. Wet was something I was going to get used to today. Mission Creek was just ahead.
The two other hikers sped down the trail and I, as usual, plodded along. The desert heat was frying my brain. I stopped to eat a couple of melted protein bars. They didn’t help.
About 12:30, I arrived at Mission Creek and the first of 21 raging creek crossings. No doubt about it. My feet will be clean after this. Before the first crossing I joined a half dozen hikers under a large tree at the water’s edge. It was an idyllic setting. Alas, all good things must end. I made the first crossing. Ultimately, I would make nine more before I called an early end to the day. I had wanted to stop at a camp site that would have given me about 13 miles of hiking for the day. However, at 4 PM I was hot, tired and done with the water crossings. I found a campsite and setup camp.
Tomorrow there are eleven more crossings of Mission Creek. Oh joy.
