August 14
I was up at my normal time. The sun wasn’t. I packed up using my headlamp and was walking at 6 AM, again I had a beautiful sunrise as I put everything away and into my pack.
I keep looking over and just seeing amazing views of the lake with the mountains in the background, and the sun rising behind the mountain
My foot is still hurting me, but the biggest problem I have now is the insert I have in there is only a 3/4 insert and keeps sliding forward, which I think they actually may be doing more harm than good because the arch support is no longer on the arch.
It is so cool, the way the bright orange morning sun hits the trees and the ground, it almost looks like it’s on fire.
I found myself on another pinnacle with incredible views all the way around. Here is a nine picture series of my 360° view
The trail continues along the ridge. There are lakes on both sides. It’s amazing how quickly the terain changes.
I’m passing high above two more beautiful lakes
A few more pictures of spectacular views
I arrived at this spring, which is just off the trail. It was a good location for my second breakfast. The pain in my foot is manageable, but it is slowing me down about a half mile an hour which on a 10 hour day is a significant mile loss. I don’t think it’s gotten any worse over the last couple days, but it definitely is not getting any better either. It is just kind of a status quo.
Absolutely beautiful view into the valley with a meadow on the far slope. If you look in the very back of the picture on the right hand side at the sharp pointed peak that is what I came up and around yesterday.
Beautiful spot for a panoramic picture right at the end of a switch back.
Stopped for lunch in this valley next to a little stream. I have a nice log to lean against and a rock to put my foot on.
Unfortunately, this foot issue has delayed me enough that I will not be able to make it down to Kearsarge Pass and do any meaningful miles before coming back to Tahoe for our family reunion and birthday celebrations. When I get to Chester, I will head to Tahoe. It will be a nice break, but will put me a week behind schedule! Again let go of my plans and go with the flow. In retrospect, I wish I would’ve gone straight to Kearsarge for this leg of the Flip instead of dividing it in half I think the timing would’ve been better.
This section in Trail again has lots of small streams
It’s been overcast all day long. We’re starting to get some light raindrops. There’s a little thunder, starting to sound in the distance.
I came across Bob and Mike, a couple of Trail crew volunteers who are out cutting logs off of the trail, hikers heros.
This cream colored a rock almost looks like a blob of ice cream
As I was looking off to my left, i noticed smoke three-quarter way up the hillside across the valley, I was able to use my Garmin satellite SOS feature to notify emergency services.
A couple hours later I reached Quincy Laporte Road. In the turn off was a Forest service hand crew. They were standing by while their other, and engine was checking out the lightning strike that I believe I had called in. I was tired and hungry and making my dinner. I can’t believe I did not take a picture of them.
After they left I finished dinner and as I was putting my pack on when a pick up truck stopped on the road and asked if I was OK. I said yes, they asked if I wanted anything I said I’m good, I don’t know why I don’t ask for help I needed water. He asked if I wanted water and I finally realize God was answering a prayer I had given earlier of should I continue another 2 miles to water or should I camp close by and go without water until I reached the next source in the morning. My reason for going another 2 miles was to get water! I swallowed my pride and said water would be great, I filled up my bottle and was able to camp just a mile farther not two. And as an added bonus, I asked if he could take my trash with him and he did yay!
I selected a tent site up on top of a bluff that had an amazing sunset. I can’t believe I almost missed this.
Today’s PCT miles hiked 23.7
Total PCT Miles hiked to date 1995.0
PCT mile marker 1236.6
(Returned to complete 542.8 miles flipped over)
Miles left:
Echo - Chester 95.8
Kearsarge - Echo 303.4
Snoqualmie-Terminus 259.5
Total 658.7
