Dave’s PCT & Other Adventures: ay 147 trying out the foot

Thursday, August 10, 2023

ay 147 trying out the foot

August 10

And so begins another day. I left Donner Ski ranch at 6 AM. My heel still has a fair amount of pain and I am hoping it will just stretch out as I continue to walk, 1 mile at a time, one day at a time, hoping this does not end my hike. I go up some rocks at the Crest of the historic Donner summit, the sun coming up beautifully behind the mountains.

I feel so small walking under the towering Granite cliffs and boulders that are surrounding me.

As I come over the saddle of Stewart Peak. I can look across at my first glimpses of interstate 80.

I’ve reached I-80. There are two tunnels for me to cross under the two Highway sections.

Shortly after going under the freeway I come to my first stream of the day.

A short while later, I came to the second stream named upper Castle Creek for the peak that it sits under.

I just bumped into Mustard and Flipper One. They are coming southbound to complete the Sierra after having touched the Terminus. I rode the shuttle with flipper one on my first day, and met mustard a couple times on the trail earlier in the hike.

Castle peak stands tall behind me, a short time later I crossed castle pass.

I arrived at the Peter Grubb Hut. The last time I was here it was covered in snow. (See post on Feb. 18) Quite different today. I had my second breakfast and a short break.

There’s nothing special in this picture it’s just taken mid slope. Looking out of the valley, I see a meadow, snow, rounded hills, pointed peaks, and a lake. Try a mountain version of Where’s Waldo, and see what you can find.

North Creek has a very over engineered bridge crossing. It was a good place to stop for lunch although the mosquitoes again were out in force. I found a shady spot and again put on my pant legs and jacket.

I continued on to White Rock Creek. I selected this as my campsite, although it is 10 less miles than I had originally wanted to hike. I am trying to listen to my body and stop before pain increases. I think this is part of my personal growth of not always pushing for more. I was able to scoop some snow into a Ziploc just prior to my campground for icing my foot as well.