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.
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.
