On my sixth day on the PCT I hiked an easy ten miles, traversing along the northern slope of Granite Mountain, starting from my camp in Chariot Canyon.
From PCT mile 63.7 to 74.4 Total: 10.7 miles 4/2
I slept in at camp, because I was hiking so few miles thanks to my pesky blisters, which appeared to be healing nicely under the patch of Leukotape I applied during my recent zero days. That stuff really works. I heard my neighbors packing up earlier, but I kept quiet. Once they were gone, I boiled up some water for oatmeal, and afterward mixed my lumpy concoction of powdered milk, protein powder, and Carnation Instant Breakfast. This thing was almost 50% solids, and it took a lot of work mushing it with my spoon to get it suspended. Even then, there were still plenty of lumps. But lumps float, and they have the same vanilla taste, so it was all good. I got this idea from Deserrae, a thru hiker I met last year in the High Sierra. Reading her blog and following her adventure was largely what inspired me to attempt this crazy thru hike. Credit where credit is due. Any blame is all mine.
After that, it didn’t take long to pack up my gear. The weather looked to be a bit breezy, but other than that a pleasant day was in store. Not too hot and not too cold. I put on my backpack and headed uphill, out of the canyon. The trail went over a ridge, and then descended into Rodriguez Canyon. Ten years earlier, back in 2013, Vicki and I dayhiked along this stretch of trail. We hiked about fifteen miles, from Lake Cuyamaca to Scissors Crossing, and it was much too long for Vicki. But she made it. Anyway, to get to the point: That day there were people shooting guns down below on the valley floor, aiming generally in our direction, although we were high above them. We had to shout to make ourselves known. So, this time I was on the lookout for errant marksmen, and of course I didn’t see or hear anything. All the better.
Down at the bottom of the canyon was a big concrete water tank. When we were here last time we noticed that we had to lower a bottle on a string into the top of the tank to get any water. It appears that, finally, they unlocked the valve box so hikers can actually use the water. The tank was placed there for use in wildfires, but PCT hikers barely use a drop of the total by comparison. Thanks to whoever made that decision!
After that, the trail stayed relatively level, traversing northeast around the side of Granite Mountain. It was a long and winding trail, with plenty of desert plants like yucca and cholla cactus. There were plenty of wildflowers along the trail, thanks to the abundant rains during the Winter of 2023. The views were quite good from up there, mainly out over the San Felipe Valley, but also back to the west, up Highway 78 toward Julian.
As I hiked, I wondered why my left shoe kept getting sand and rocks inside. I was wearing gaiters, after all. I stopped yet another time to dump out my boot after feeling a pebble inside (because hiking with irritants in your boot can lead to blisters) I realized that the upper section of shoe near the toes had detached from the sole! Every step I took was like scooping gravel with a shovel! And here I was with no glue. I looked at my shoes and realized that these were the ones that had sustained all the underwater creek crossings not long ago. They were old, as well, being left over from last year’s hiking season. I started kicking myself for cheaping out and not buying new shoes at the start of this hike. What was I thinking? Well, I probably thought that this pair were “broken in” even though modern hiking “boots” are more like sneakers anyway, and really don’t get broken in. They simply get broken. Like these.
Oh, well. So I hiked onward, thinking about what to do next. Besides set up camp, of course.
I set up the tent in a nice little spot next to the trail, then lay down on my air mattress and read my book. After that, I cooked up some ramen noodles for dinner, and generally chilled out all afternoon. These ten mile days were getting to me. Much too short for a long-legged hiker like me. But I had to do it for my feet.
Eventually, I decided to give Vicki yet another call. I apologized profusely for bothering her again, but could she please come get me? Tomorrow morning? At Scissors Crossing? I could hike the three miles easily enough, but I couldn’t afford to get more blisters. She understood, but it was also a longer drive out here than it had been back in Campo, or even Mount Laguna. While lying in the tent, I came up with a plan to get myself back to Scissors Crossing in my own car, thus saving her yet another trip. I texted her about it and the plan met with success. I would be taking yet another Zero Day, this time for new shoes. I tried to do the math, and I think that I had already taken more Zero Days than Hiking Days thus far. Not a very impressive record, if I do say so myself. Therefore, why not take a few more?
For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page
For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page
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