PCT Map Miles 367.8
Miles Hiked 240.6
Elevation 4,908 feet
Miles Hiked Today 10.2
About 9:00 a.m., I left my hotel room and went down to the front desk to see if I would be able to stay another day. Nope, no vacancy. They were full and four people who stayed the previous night wanted to extend their stay. That was it. Everything else in town was booked. I really did not want to go back to the trail today, but there is no choice in the matter now. I guess I’m leaving Packwood.
Along with two other hikers, we caught a hitch out to the trailhead and were dropped off at noon. I slept good at the hotel the night before. Even though I had supplies for about eight days and my pack was really heavy, I got on the trail and proceeded to hike 2,000 feet in elevation, which took me six hours. Nevertheless I did not find myself exhausted as I might have a few days ago.
My target for the day was a campsite eight miles down the trail. Water was beginning to be a problem. I didn’t like the water source and campsite at eight miles, so I continued on. I came across another water source that was barely a trickle. It would have been time consuming to get two liters of water but doable.
A couple of northbound hikers came up, and I asked him if there was any water that was easier to collect than the source I was at. They both said there was about a tenth of a mile to the south. I decided to go for that next water source. However, even after half a mile no water showed up. Those two freaking northbound hikers were a couple of idiots. I finally found a pond that had clean water and got two liters. A good campsite was just a little further. The tent is up and I’m settled for the night.
