Day 16 - Trail Magic!

Start Mile 1252
End Mile 1270.3
Total Miles 18.3

Jim wanted to be on the trail by 6-00 am today, but when I woke at 5-45, Jim was not up. Therefore it was going to be a much later start than Jim intended. We finally got away by 7-00 am and enjoyed a very pleasant downhill walk for 1 1/2 miles before filling up our water bottles from the small creek that crossed the trail. Every fill of 2 liters adds about 4lbs of weight to the backpack!

We then started a very long uphill section that did not end until around 1.00 pm. The afternoon was much more enjoyable as we bumped along on a ridge. There was a little bit of up and a little bit of down but nothing too difficult. Jim is trying to cram in 20 mile days as he’s supposed to be meeting someone in Ashland, but he’s also talking of quitting the trail as he no longer enjoys it. I guess if he quits, I will have to join him as there is no one around that I can see who is even close to fitting in my age group. There is no point in trying to walk with the young kids as they are all looking to do 25 - 30 miles a day. It is very impressive to watch them race away up the hills!

Right towards the end of the day, there was Trail Magic happening. As we were coming out of the forest, approaching the road, there was a homemade sign saying Trail Magic Yay! And just 20 yards on, set up in a layby, were a half dozen hikers enjoying drinks and treats put out by a young PCT’er who hiked the trail a couple of years ago. The young ladies name was Spirit, and she had really gone to town. There were 6-7 coolers, each filled with something different. I had a Fanta Orange drink, which was heavenly; it’s amazing how you miss simple things like a soda-pop. I also had two chocolate desserts that were like a mousse and two honey buns. I could have had more but decided not to be greedy and slipped Spirit $5.00 as a thank you. I didn’t see anyone else offer to pay and it’s a crying shame the way Trail Angels are treated. It’s almost like hikers take them for granted. I should explain the role of a Trail Angel, who are the glue that binds the hiker and the trail together. Trail Angels come in two different forms, with first being former PCT’ers who want to give back to the trail. For instance, last year, Tina and I were faced with a long downhill section that was slightly off-trail in order to get water. It was a particularly nasty day, but right at the point where we were due to detour to the water source was a large SUV. Out stepped a young Korean fellow who had driven to the PCT from Arizona to provide trail magic. We were able to stock up on water, have a snack or two, and finish off with a soft drink. This was very much the same kind of service Spirit was providing. The 2nd kind of Trail Angel are those people who are older, and because of their age may find it financially easier to provide the necessities that PCT’ers crave. I’ve heard of huge barbecues being provided with cheeseburgers, potato chips, drinks, desserts, etc. on the menu. Some Trail Angels go all in, a la Spirit, and others are more modest like the young fellow a day or two ago. Having said that both groups are valued just as greatly by PCT’ers for their invaluable contributions. When you get to the end of a trail that leads to town, for instance,, you might find a Trail Angel ready to offer a lift into town. Other times they will insist on accommodating you and providing laundry facilities and a bath or shower and will even feed you while you are in their care. They are such generous people, and if all the world were to act in a similar manner, I believe we would all be in a happier place.

We stayed for about an hour, (I couldn’t tear Jim away from the various treats he was consuming) and left at around 6 am for the last 3-mile section, which turned out to be all uphill. How novel!! As good as the Trail Magic was it also interfered with our schedule, but no one was complaining as it was a very welcome break from all the uphill climbing we had endured. We managed to reach camp around 7-30 pm and started the usual evening ritual of setting up camp and preparing dinner, cleaning our dishes and putting everything away before brushing our teeth and getting ready for bed. The only problem for me is I have a blog to write, and when you are dead beat at the end of a long day that can be difficult. Still, it’s a task I’m happy to embrace in order to share just a small portion of a typical day on the PCT.

Wanderer.

The morning was full of great views of the surrounding countryside.