Leaving winter behind

Sorry for lack of blog posts but once we left Three Fingered Jack cell coverage pestered out. Update: we are now just north of Olallie Lake, where we spent the night after hiking 24 miles around and beyond Mt. Jefferson. Unfortunately,’winter arrived early and clouds precluded a full view of it. Temp was 38 and wind howling just north of Jeff Park at 6,000-plus feet. Ice pellets falling from trees. Weird, considering two days ago we were baking.

We have averaged 22.5 miles in the last four days and are 13 miles ahead of sked. My blisters are improving.

I was thinking Tuesday how I’ve updates you on our progress and location but little about the daily PCT routine — beyond, of course, the right-left stuff.

My watch alarm goes off at 4:50 a.m. The next 45 minutes are the worst of the day: taping feet, replacing warm long johns with cold, damp hiking garb, taking down my tent and loading the pack — in pitch dark and while eating two Costo Danishes for breakfast. Then we hike for 12 hours, much easier. We generally stop only three times, morning break, lunch and Afternoon break.

So far, our full days have been 24, 22 and 20 miles. We Avg about 2 mph. We’re slow compared to most others, except for Turtle Don, but, then, he’s 77.

People ask: Do you read? Fly fish? No, we just try to eat, organize for the next day, then go to bed. Last night that was 8:30 pm. Doesnt sound like much fun but it is, especially the views on the trail and meeting other PCT hikers. Tonight, for example, we built the rare fire — we’re fogged in — and a couple from Israel, Bugs and Bunny, joined us because they have nowhere to camp and it’s late. (Just about everyone has a trail name but us. We’re just Glenn and Bob.)

All in all it’s a pretty basic existence. Same task. Same clothes. Same hiking buddy. But, says Glenn: “I brush every other day whether I need to or not.”

44.813603-121.789178

#PCT