in the same slutty high heels she started in
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Victorious
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| Victorious after rescuing her trekking pole from the rushing creek. It fell off the bridge she was taking a break off. Around Shasta, c. mile 1500 |
Mt Shasta
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| July 24th. Georgia very sweaty, holding up Mt Shasta |
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| July 24th. Evening, the day before Georgia's birthday after a long hot day |
Monday, August 13, 2012
A Couple of Photos
A couple of pictures from around the Yosemite area
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1000 miles. June 28
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Half Dome, Yosemite. June 24
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A Chance Encounter
A chance encounter with a friend from Portland on the trail near Mammoth Lakes around June 21st
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Thursday 5/17 8:54PM mile 444
The past two days have been long, hot, and poodle dog bushy. This poodle dog bush is a vicious plant sort of like poison oak or ivy, but worse. Rubbing up against it can leave you rashed and blistered for weeks, and more than a few hikers were hospitalized last year because of it. The poodledog bush has completely taken over the trail in places, so there has been a lot of road walking yesterday and today. Water was very scarce, and the long, exposed road walking wasn't easy. I am still hiking with the Wolfpack, and we decided that since the road was pretty easy to navigate we could comfortably wait out a bit of the heat, and do some night hiking when it was cooler. It was a velvety cool breeze evening as we walked all together up a lonely mountain road. The road took us through the hauntingly burned shell of a correctional facility that got caught in a fire up there about 3 years ago. Ghosts and zombies seemed to be absolutely oozing out of the gaping, black windows, and out the back seats of crusted, rusted cars. It was properly petrifying, but thrilling none the less, and even more so when we got completely turned around and had no idea what way to go. The night was called at the end of a road that dead ended into a wide, flat turn-about. I still fell asleep quickly and comfortably despite my proximity to all kinds of spirits and undead. It was a good and early start today, and by 6 o'clock we were back on track ready to fill the morning with steady miles. A KOA campground just off the trail was the destination for the day with promises of pools, pizza, and soda pop. It was a good 18+ miles from the haunted village, but the goal was to make it before 3pm. It got so hot and I felt like I was off trail sometimes because of how steep and overgrown things were. Lots of tall manzamita and other shrubby, desert brush covered the trail, with lots of poodle dog brush sneaking in all over the place. It was just before 2:30 when I collapsed into the grass at this campground. It's been a great afternoon. I swam and ate pizza and drank soda. There are also a few hikers here I haven't ever seen before, so it's been fun to meet some new people. Everyone is headed to the Saufley's house tomorrow, so it's cool to meet people now. Early morning tomorrow, so I'm going to shut my eyes now.
-Georgia
-Georgia
Tuesday 5/15 9:19PM Day 30
Hiking wise these past two days haven't been easy, but the summer camp feel is still going strong. I had a relaxing rest day at the house in Hesperia. The Wolfpack is pretty fun, and we all took it really easy in this hot little desert town. Shannon and Kelly are sisters, and met the Wolfpack hiking a few weeks ago. Shannon is back on the trail now, and her sister dropped us all off yesterday with promises of meeting up soon. We were dropped off at the base of Baden Powell Mountain very steep, and heading up into a bit more snow.
-Georgia
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| Mile 378, Mt Baden Powell I've struggled a little with the steep ups and downs of the last two days. My knees and ankles still can't quite hack it. I also got a really stupid injury slipping in the snow and essentially punching myself in the face with the end of my stick. The screw in the end of my stick left a small puncture in my cheek, and it's a little bruised. My busted open lip has just healed up enough so it doesn't hurt to smile, and now it is tender to stretch my cheek. I also took a nose dive tripping over a log fallen across the trail. But I barely scraped my knee. I've been pretty pleased with how careful I have been about not getting hurt out here. It really has taken an intentional energy to make sure I don't do anything careless. Even a small cut on the bottom of my foot from running around barefoot could mean a really tough day or two of not being able to walk easily. The trail has been difficult to follow the past two days, and I've been happy to have hiking companions to find the way with. At the end of the day yesterday we all walked about a mile and a half down the wrong trail as it was getting dusky, and it would have been almost impossible for me to have motivated myself to walk all the way back up to our trail had I been alone. However, having everyone retain such good attitudes in such a frustrating situation made it almost enjoyable to make our way back to the trail and eventually a campsite. Today was a very hard day for me physically, but it was a wonderful hiking temperature, and there were some fantastic views and stretches of trail along the creek. The 5 of us -Creep, Cosmo, Camshaft, Shannon and I- made it to a campsite just after 6, and just past 400 miles. Supper was a social affair with everyone sharing bites and sips. Now we are all cowboy camping around a fire drinking hot chocolate with whiskey. By cowboy camping I mean sans tent, just our tarps and sleeping bags. I've cowboy camped the majority of my nights on the trail, and love it. I can't believe it's already been a month out here. I think I've slept under a roof 5 times, and taken 6 showers. It's just one day at a time, but I do feel just the epitome of content most days. It's nice to buddy up with a crew for a few days. These guys have given me my official trail name - "Lil B". It's up to interpretation which I like, but it mostly stands for Little Bear, for when that girl thought I was a bear, or Little Bubbles for the imprint my shoes make in the sand. There are a lot of B-words that I'm a little of, so it works out well. Definitely not Little Blister though, those things are huge. I'm going to look up at the stars now, not down at this page. Goodnight y'all. 400 miles! |
-Georgia
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Saturday 5/12/12 6:39PM mile 374
When I ventured back into the Mcdonads quite a few more hikers had snuck out of the canyon and back into civilization. I didn't really recognize any of them, but Zana and Eric and Robert were still there so I sat back down with them. A couple of hikers who I had met briefly - Thor and Penny - came in sans backpacks and it turned out they had a room at the Best Western just across the highway. I'm still trying to slow down a little so I arranged to find a spot on the floor in Penny and Thor's room and spend the rest of the day watching TV and hanging by the pool. We walked over to the hotel together, and I took a shower and put in a load of laundry.
A clan of hikers got a room next to ours, so we all got to know each other leaning against the railing in the sun outside our rooms. Cosmo, Creep, Camshaft, and Paws. All nice guys, not all originally hiking together. Creep and Cosmo have known each other since high school and came out here together. I think they are originally from a small town in Illinois. Camshaft is from somewhere in Oregon, possible a town sorta close to Eugene, and Paws is from Portland and lives just off Burnside! They call themselves the Wolfpack, but they are actually pretty cool and not bro-y at all. I got a good nights sleep on Thor's blow up sleep pad, and was pretty refreshed when I woke up at around 5. I took advantage of some fresh fruit at the continental breakfast, and while I was drinking apple juice the Wolfpack made their way downstairs, and the 5 of us set off to the trail together.
I feel like I keep commenting on how hot it has been, but it is fairly oppressive. There was an unexpected water cache pretty early in the day so that was a nice break early in the day. Anyway, it was very hot, and very steep, but the next water was 22 miles and it was too hot to be trying to scrimp on water so we had to make it to the water. It was fun to hike in a little group for the day. We all took a long break in the worst heat of the day, and played cards and laughed a lot. The next 7 miles were not too steep, and the high elevation was finally cooling things off. It was a beautiful campsite to come to at the end of the day. There is a pretty strong camaraderie in this group, but they let me hang out really nicely. I was nervous that it was going to be a ridiculously cold night, but I was super cozy bunched up between some trees. It was about 10 miles to the highway leading into Wrightword, and the Wolfpack had a ride taking them to a house to take a zero at. I've been happy with these guys, and that sounded like a good time after a 20+ mile day. We made it to the highway by noon, and their friend Shannon drove up to take us off trail. Paws decided to keep going , so it was just the 4 of us piling into her little Subaru. She has done a lot of the PCT with them, but had to get off to finish stuff at her job. Shannon is house sitting for someone so we are hanging out here tonight, and showering, drinking beer, and eating tons of fruit. I am glad for an awesome place to slow down a little.
-Georgia-
A clan of hikers got a room next to ours, so we all got to know each other leaning against the railing in the sun outside our rooms. Cosmo, Creep, Camshaft, and Paws. All nice guys, not all originally hiking together. Creep and Cosmo have known each other since high school and came out here together. I think they are originally from a small town in Illinois. Camshaft is from somewhere in Oregon, possible a town sorta close to Eugene, and Paws is from Portland and lives just off Burnside! They call themselves the Wolfpack, but they are actually pretty cool and not bro-y at all. I got a good nights sleep on Thor's blow up sleep pad, and was pretty refreshed when I woke up at around 5. I took advantage of some fresh fruit at the continental breakfast, and while I was drinking apple juice the Wolfpack made their way downstairs, and the 5 of us set off to the trail together.
I feel like I keep commenting on how hot it has been, but it is fairly oppressive. There was an unexpected water cache pretty early in the day so that was a nice break early in the day. Anyway, it was very hot, and very steep, but the next water was 22 miles and it was too hot to be trying to scrimp on water so we had to make it to the water. It was fun to hike in a little group for the day. We all took a long break in the worst heat of the day, and played cards and laughed a lot. The next 7 miles were not too steep, and the high elevation was finally cooling things off. It was a beautiful campsite to come to at the end of the day. There is a pretty strong camaraderie in this group, but they let me hang out really nicely. I was nervous that it was going to be a ridiculously cold night, but I was super cozy bunched up between some trees. It was about 10 miles to the highway leading into Wrightword, and the Wolfpack had a ride taking them to a house to take a zero at. I've been happy with these guys, and that sounded like a good time after a 20+ mile day. We made it to the highway by noon, and their friend Shannon drove up to take us off trail. Paws decided to keep going , so it was just the 4 of us piling into her little Subaru. She has done a lot of the PCT with them, but had to get off to finish stuff at her job. Shannon is house sitting for someone so we are hanging out here tonight, and showering, drinking beer, and eating tons of fruit. I am glad for an awesome place to slow down a little.
-Georgia-
Thursday 5/10/12 11:42AM Mile 342 MCDONALDS!!!!
I like how doing this hike completely changes so many things - 7am is really late to be waking up, and 9pm is really late to be going to bed. Taking a shower two days in a row is unheard of. Ha, Mcdonalds sounds like the best thing ever and can push people to do more miles than anything else. Off the trail a 10 mile hike followed by a meal like I just had would warrant a full afternoon on a couch somewhere, and I would feel totally justified in it. Now I'm sitting here thinking "look at that meal you just got to eat! And you've only done 10 miles!" I got to Mcdonalds a little after Eric and Zana and Robert had already been there for a while. I was well within time for breakfast, and was happy to find that they would let me get a milkshake as my drink with my Mcgriddle combo.*Jacob comment: this is the most Georgia has ever sounded like Rainer, the trail truly does turn people screwy* I got the lunch combo too about a half hour later, and now I'm out in the grass trying to organize some things and write my journal, but I keep dozing off. I have a few options right now, so I'm sort of relaxing until I figure things out. Once again there is no pay phone at either the chevron or the Mcdonalds, so that complicates things. I'm ready for my soft serve now, so I'll let y'all know what I end up doing a little later.
-Georgia
Wednesday 5/9/12 8:57PM mile 332
The past two days have been like a weekend summer camping trip. I woke up at my river-side camp spot yesterday morning and really took my time getting things together, purifying water, and looking over my maps. On one of the reports I had it said that the trail was closed from the spot I was camped at to the highway about 16 miles away. The trail had been rerouted, and I could see the markers heading across the river, but there was no sign right on the trail, and from the footprints it looked like most people were sticking to the proper trail. I was taking my time waiting to see if any hikers came past, and one eventually did. A man named Robert who I haven't seen in a while, and who decided to disregard the warnings of rock slides and broken bridges and stick to the trail. I finished packing up camp and made my way along the patch about 40 minutes later. It was a hot day, and I was walking high above the river which was a real tease as temperature and trail climbed. Every corner exposed another perfectly clear, deep swimming hole cozied up to a sandy beach, both screaming for coolers of beer and dozens of friends. Around 2 I came to the hot springs, and I was glad to have not taken the detour route and risked the trail. It was a pretty exquisite spot in a wide bend of the river. Clear water with high rocks to jump into it from, punctuated by steamy little pools closer to the warm, shaded bank. I found Robert there, as well as Eric and Zana, the couple who started hiking on the same day as me way back in camp. I thought they had gotten well ahead, so it was a pleasant surprise to see them. The hot springs are accessible from a road about a 5 mile hike away, so there were a few people out just for the day lounging around soaking up the sun. I went for a swim that left my whole body smiling. Jumping off rocks into a pool of clearest blue water, and paddling over to a soothing, warm natural tub is about my idea of paradise. I got out eventually and went to sit with Zana and Eric and make myself a tuna wrap with a packet of sweet pickle relish. As we three chatted, a young guy came up and introduced himself as Tom Saufley. The name Saufley doesn't mean much to anyone outside the hiking community, but Donna Saufley is basically the epitome of a trail angel. Her house is at around the 500 mile mark, and she has completely devoted it to PCT hikers. She has it set up with pretty much everything a hiker could ever want, and it seems that for many hikers their time at her house is one of the best parts of his or her adventure. Tom is her son, so he can obviously spot a thruhiker from miles away. He lives in LA, and was out at the springs with his girlfriend and a buddy, but I'm guessing he figured their might be hikers around. All three of them were great to meet, and I hope they are at his mom's when I roll through. He has friends in the Dead Baby Bicycle Club! And his girlfriend is going to cut my hair! No other hikers rolled through, and around 5 Zana, Eric, and I decided to head out and find a campsite together. They are a really great young couple who live in Detroit, but are thinking of moving to Portland after the trail. Zana is originally from Florida though. It was a beautiful hike heading west out of the canyon with the river still dancing away below us. The trail headed back down to meet it after a few miles, and we made camp in the sand beside it. I had my most comfortable temperature night so far, and slept very well. the three of us hiked together today, and I really like their pace. They let me hike between them which I think is cute. It got brutally hot as it got closer to noon, but we were headed towards a giant lake which was a strong driving force. Lake Silverwood ended up being a tantilizing disappointment. We were all expecting to be able to swim, shower, get ice cream, and comfortably camp at this lake, and ended up doing basically none of the above. The trail snakes around the lake, too high to jump into, and with no path forged down to it. We hiked the entire way around the lake until the trail finally spat us out in the middle of the parking lot, and quite far from the water. It was hot, and I think I was pretty dehydrated. A conversation with the park ranger revealed that the mini mart attached to the marina was closed, but that showers and camping was up the hill. For a shower you paid 50¢ to have water beat onto your back for three minutes at a pressure that felt like it was shot from a cannon. It was somewhat refreshing, and I rinsed some clothes in one of the campsite taps. It wasn't a very accommodating camp ground, and I was bitter about the inaccessibility of the water. There was still enough daylight to hike a few more miles without too much difficulty, so the three of us reshouldered our packs, and got back on the trail. There is a Mcdonald's at mile 342, about 10 miles from here, and it is hilarious how excited every single person on the trail is to get there. I've really only seen Eric an Zana and Robert for the past few days, but Robert has seen others and everyone is beelining to the big macs! Eric and Zana and I are going to try and make it in time for breakfast tomorrow, and then stay for lunch. I'm still eating pretty well out on the trail though, I stuck a packet of salsa in my ramen tonight and that was awesome. The railroad runs along the interstate, and at 10 miles away I can hear it bellowing through the pass. I like the sound of trains, though it reminds me of Portland.
-Georgia-
-Georgia-
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Day 23? Monday 5/07 5:50PM Nearly 300 miles
Every time I see a rattlesnake it gets scarier. But I still have the urge to poke at them. I spent the weekend hanging out in Big Bear City, and I had the best time After showering at the fire station and organizing the stuff I had gotten from the post office I wanted to look for a cheap place to maybe spend the night. I hadn't seen any hikers around town yet so I decided to walk down to one of the two hostels in town. I had already heard that Big Bear Hostel was booked up, but did know about the Nature's Inn. It was a bit of a schlep to walk down there, especially to find out that they were indeed totally booked. The owner was very nice though, and let me use the phone so I could check in with my Dad. The last option was the Motel 6, which I knew I couldn't really afford, but figured i could see if there was a hiker milling around to possibly split a room with. Worst case I'd just hitch a ride back out to the trail, but there were still things I could do in town, and a night indoors sounded really tempting. I caught the bus to the mote, and felt pretty awkward wandering around with my backpack. I didn't see any hikers, and all they could tell me at the front desk was that hikers were staying there, but not what room or anything. It was all getting a little frustrating, and I was kind of cursing my insistence on being so independent. It would have been easy to have waited to hitch in with someone when I got to the highway, and everyone says it's much safer for a girl on her own. Then I would have had someone to figure stuff out with. I'd walked around the outside of the motel, trying to keep the bus stop in sight in case someone got off, but decided to walk around the inner courtyard before formulating a plan B. or D at this stage. As I turned the corner I finally heard friendly voices I assumed were hikers calling out to me from one of the rooms. I couldn't see who they were, but a few obvious questions revealed that they weren't hikers at all. I was invited in anyway, and it ended up being the real room of the manager of the motel, and he and his three friends were just hanging out drinking beer and watching movies. It was pretty much exactly what I wanted to do, and was hoping would happen going into town alone. I've loved everyone I've met on the trail, but it was really awesome to hang out with people not doing exactly what I'm doing. They were all great, fun guys too. We all chilled and drank beer for a while, Andrew, the manager one, and Brian left for a while and I hung out with the other two Josh and Kenny and their dog Lily. We watched Snatch, and some crappy horror movie that was fun to laugh at. I was finally feeling relaxed to be in town, even though I still hadn't seen another hiker. The boys invited me to come along to a barbecue they were going to , and I figured I may as well Splurge for a room since I was having a good time and was going to get fed. I mentioned that, and a few minutes later Drew presented me with a gift certificate for a room at the motel! Things couldn't have really gone much better, but they did.We all piled into one of their cars to go over to the BBQ house, and that was just so chill and fun and normal. I learned a new drinking game and met new people, and made connections for further up the trail. And so many great dogs. I wasn't too antsy about an early stat, so I stayed up pretty late, and big time milked my noon checkout. I said by to my Big Bear Boys, and still not seeing another hiker headed out to the road to hitch a ride back to the trail. The first vehicle to pass me was a big truck while I was still in the motel parking lot. I sort of recognized it, and looked in the window to see Trip, Sweep's wife, the maker of the amazing salad I ate at the campground just at Scissor's Crossing around mile 166 or something! I haven't seen her or Sweep or Sister Sue since before Warner Springs, and I have been missing seeing them on the trail and hoping they would catch up to me. Trip stopped and we exchanged out happy greetings. She told me that Sue was sick on the trail, and I was pretty quick to ask if I could come with her to go pick Sue up. There was already another hiker in the car, a cay called Alaska who I had known to be about a day ahead of me since just after the storm. By another happy coincidence Alaska and I realized that we had actually met before - last year when my dad and I were hiking our tiny bit of trail he was out there and we had spoken briefly at a campground near the border! He hadn't been able to do the whole thing last year, but was back again this year. Like me! Nice to bond with him, and reunite with Trip, and successfully rescue Sue and another hiker who had excruciating, infected blisters. Back at the motel where Trip, Sue, and Alaska all had rooms, I decided there were a few things I could grab from the store that hadn't come in my resupply box. Stashing my pack in Alaska's room I could comfortably walk up to the bigger part of town I hadn't gone to previously because I was hassled by not wanting to leave my backpack. It was a very pleasant walk with Big Bear Lake sparkling alongside me, and the sun warming my strap-free shoulders. My first stop was the dollar store where I got everything on my little list. I hadn't realized how hungry I was, so impulse bought a box of oatmeal cream pies that I dove into while I waited in line. When I set my items on the best the nice man behind me informed me that the box I was about to purchase was already opened. I turned around and with a mouth full cookie explained that it was because I had already eaten two, and showed him the crumpled wrappers. He thought that was all pretty funny, and tried to give me a piece of pie he was buying for himself. I was still hungry, but for something more substantial, so I thanked him anyways, and headed over to the grocery store. A few minutes later I emerged with my face buried in an avocado sandwich. I could hear someone laughing, and finally dragged my face up to realize it was directed at me. The same guy was sitting in his car laughing at my endless appetite. I explained myself, and when he understood that the reason for my insatiable hunger was because I had walked to his town from Mexico, he offered me a ride back to the motel. His name was Austin, and what an interesting guy to randomly meet at the dollar store. He ended up living about a block from the motel, so we went to hang out at his place for a bit so he could show me the Arabian horses he raises, and I could finish my sandwich at a kitchen table. I loved his house, it was like a really, really big version of my cabin in Portland. With a hot tub, not a sauna. It was getting pretty tempting to had down to Costa Rica with this guy and check out his horses, but the trail was still calling to me, so we got back in the car and he dropped me off in front of Alaska's room. Leaving for the store on food, and being dropped back off by a guy in a convertible Mercedes was a little embarrassing with Alaska, Trip, Sue, and a few others all sitting on the sidewalk outside their rooms, but it definitely gave everyone a laugh. Sweep had made it into town, as well as a few other hikers I haven't seen in a while, and everyone was going out for margaritas to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I resigned myself to another night in town, and my first first proper zero day, and headed to the restaurant with them. We ended up needing a table for 10, and it felt warm and familiar to be there, all of us sitting self consciously in our clean, though wrinkled town clothes. It was a Saturday night. and I was tempted to go see what my friends from the night before were doing, or call up Austin who had told me to come hang out if I stayed in town, or see what other hikers were up to, but I really wanted to get back to the trail in the morning so was very happy to watch X-men with Alaska and crash out early on the floor in his room. He and I were both heading back to the trail, so in the morning we woke up pretty early to get our gear together. Trip and Sweep and Sue were stirring as well, and it was decided that we would all go out to breakfast, and then they would drop us off at the trail. Biscuits and gravy, eggs, and a big portion of hashbrowns went down with a big glass of water that I remembered to drink after beer and margaritas all weekend. At the trail head there were tow hikers emerging from the south side of the street, and they ended up being Micheal and David my friends from kickoff last year! I couldn't have been happier to see anyone else, even my Israeli boys who Micheal informed me had headed into town earlier that morning. I'm still missing Yotam and Nadav, but I needed to get back on the trail before I ended up in Costa Rica, so I'm hoping they will catch up to me here in the next few days. I did about 20 miles yesterday, which I was pretty proud of considering I started closer to noon than my usual 6am. I have really enjoyed these past 2 days of hiking. I'm getting very comfortable with walking and with my pack and using my maps and compass, and the organization of my gear, and freedom I have with how I conduct my day. Yesterday I hiked pretty steadily with a couple of other hikers and I enjoyed it a lot. Today I hiked completely alone, and I only did about 13 miles. I think I'm in another pocket of solitude, but I'm totally okay with it. I love doing my own thing. I knew I was going to be crossing a lot of streams and rivers today, and I love that and didn't want to have too high of a miles goal set so I could enjoy the water. A lot of the area I have been hiking through the last two days was pretty devastated by a fire a few years ago, so it's not very pretty, but the water makes up for it. Last night was my coldest night yet, and their was frost all over my sleeping bag and my water was frozen. When it is that cold I wear my wind jacket and my insulated jacket over my thermal shirt, and both pairs of wool socks. I think I need leg warmers too. I don't think it will get quite as cold at the little camp site I am at tonight. I got here right around 4:30 which is my favorite time to set up camp. I was able to wash myself and some socks in the river, explore without my pack, cook and eat supper, and completely update this here journal and it's not dark and cold yet. It is dusky and chilly though. I'm a happy hiker with a soft, solo campsite, a warm, full belly, hot springs, and mcdonald's soft serve in the near future, and the possible rendevouz with old friends.
<3 GPS
<3 GPS
Monday, May 14, 2012
Inventory
TOP OF PACK:
Bag with guy lines, stakes, extra rope
bug head net
safety pins
toilet paper
GPS(just sends out my coordinates, does not receive info)
compass
sunglasses
wind jacket
INSIDE PACK:
Stuff sack with warm clothes
- base layer pans/top
- hat
- wool socks
- insulated jacket
Stuff sack with extra clothes
- 3 pairs nylon socks
- 3 pairs underpants
- tank top
- town dress
tarp tent
towel
Big food sack - suppers/lunches
Little food sack - breakfast/snacks
tortillas/ whiskey loose
KITCHEN STUFF SACK:
- Pot(aluminum)
Inside:
-windshield(bit of a can)
- tin foil
- assorted baggies
- tin can stove(shiner)
- matches/lighter
- aqua mira(water purifying drops)
HYGEINE BAG:
-toothbrush
-toothpaste
-little bottle soap
-floss w/needle
-eyedrops
-bugspray
-wet wipes
-tampons
-condoms
-little mirror
-little bottle ibuprofen
-medical tape
-wrap bandage
ALSO INSIDE
-frisbee(chopping board)
-two 2 liter bladders
OUTSIDE OF PACK:
-3 1.5 liter water bottles
-bottle of alcohol
-tarp(tyvek)
-purell hand sanitizer
-z rest sleeping pad
-spork
-cup
-umbrella
HIP BELT:
-camera
-chapstick
-little knife
-flashlight
-small beam light
BOTTOM OF BAG/OUTSIDE:
-sleeping bag/sheetbag
WEARING:
-short, soft purple shorts
-White(not anymore) button up
-sports bra
-watch
-bandana
-walking stick
OUTSIDE ZIPPER POUCH:
-maps
-journal
-book
-pages from guidebook
-water report
- 1 pen
- 1 pencil
- 1 sharpie
Bag with guy lines, stakes, extra rope
bug head net
safety pins
toilet paper
GPS(just sends out my coordinates, does not receive info)
compass
sunglasses
wind jacket
INSIDE PACK:
Stuff sack with warm clothes
- base layer pans/top
- hat
- wool socks
- insulated jacket
Stuff sack with extra clothes
- 3 pairs nylon socks
- 3 pairs underpants
- tank top
- town dress
tarp tent
towel
Big food sack - suppers/lunches
Little food sack - breakfast/snacks
tortillas/ whiskey loose
KITCHEN STUFF SACK:
- Pot(aluminum)
Inside:
-windshield(bit of a can)
- tin foil
- assorted baggies
- tin can stove(shiner)
- matches/lighter
- aqua mira(water purifying drops)
HYGEINE BAG:
-toothbrush
-toothpaste
-little bottle soap
-floss w/needle
-eyedrops
-bugspray
-wet wipes
-tampons
-condoms
-little mirror
-little bottle ibuprofen
-medical tape
-wrap bandage
ALSO INSIDE
-frisbee(chopping board)
-two 2 liter bladders
OUTSIDE OF PACK:
-3 1.5 liter water bottles
-bottle of alcohol
-tarp(tyvek)
-purell hand sanitizer
-z rest sleeping pad
-spork
-cup
-umbrella
HIP BELT:
-camera
-chapstick
-little knife
-flashlight
-small beam light
BOTTOM OF BAG/OUTSIDE:
-sleeping bag/sheetbag
WEARING:
-short, soft purple shorts
-White(not anymore) button up
-sports bra
-watch
-bandana
-walking stick
OUTSIDE ZIPPER POUCH:
-maps
-journal
-book
-pages from guidebook
-water report
- 1 pen
- 1 pencil
- 1 sharpie
Day 19 Friday 5/4 10:58am
I'm in Big Bear City officially now. I got a ride into town by a couple of really nice guys in a truck. I got dropped off at the fire station, which is known for it's friendliness to hikers. I've taken a shower and gotten my packages from the post office. I'm pretty smiley from that and have everything spread out in a big pile around me. Town days are a little overwhelming. I want to do laundry and make some phone calls, and pick up some supplies. I don't know if I'm going to get a room for the night at one of the hostels, or try and hike out a few miles later tonight. I'm more lonely in town than when I'm on the trail. Maybe I'll go see if the gas station has big peach.
-Georgia-
-Georgia-
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Day 18 Thursday 5/3 8:01pm Mile 260
A girl thought I was a bear!! ROAR! I'm drunk with bear-power. I was nestled by a bush rustling through my pack wearing my little black beanie, and she for real thought I was a bear! It's a nice thing to be confused with out here. Most of the time I feel like a lost little girl stumbling around in between these huge mountains and pine trees. It was very cold this morning, but I managed to extricate myself from my sleeping bag and be on the trail just after 6. I warmed up nicely over those first 4 miles or so, and was loving the fresh piney smell. It warmed up into a sunny, but bearable day I did 10 miles by lunch time which is when I came to the animal cages. There really were a couple of grizzly bears in cages there. I didn't recognize them though. Aside from a few steep climbs and descents the terrain was very manageable. I think I did my first 20 miles day today! I found a nice spot to camp just before 6, and took some extra time trying to clean myself up before heading into town tomorrow. It has gotten a little windy over the past few hours, but I don't think it will be too chilly. I made it to Big Bear! Well 6 more miles. I thought I was going to be struggling through snow again up here, but aside from a few sneaky little patches in some shadowy corners of trail I was free of it! A few highlights of today - A group of kids from LA were out on a field trip, and their instructor was so excited when he saw Nightengale and I hiking towards him and the group up the trail. He asked us to stop and the kids had apparently been learning about the PCT. It was pretty cute when they were all hollering good luck to us. They would all prefer to walk to Mexico than Canada. They want the burritos. The other fun thing today was a couch set up in the middle of the trail with coolers of soda beside it. A marketing gimmick set up by one of the hostels in Big Bear. It worked, cause they are all booked up this weekend. I have my shirt airing out in the tree above me, and with the wind and the moonlight it is really creeping me out. I'm going to venture out of my bundle and deal with that, so this is goodnight!
-Georgia-
-Georgia-
Wednesday Day 17 5/2/12 7:06pm mile 240
I didn't hike quite as hard or as far as I often do today, but I am big time exhausted. This section of trail has been pretty varied. I have been crossing the same creek over and over again which I like a lot. In some places it is even deep enough to take a little dip, and I haven't had to carry too much water. Last night's campsite was very warm, and on the packed sand of a dry riverbed. Tonight it is much cooler - all my layers, and I'm on a bed of pine needles. I am very curious about something on the map about 10 miles from where I am camped right now. At mile 250 there is a label on my map reading "Animal Cages - film stunt animals." I'm beside myself with excitement. I really hope Babe is there. Meeting Airbud or Wishbone would be really great too. Tomorrow is a long day, but the next day I have to head into the town of Big Bear. I'm looking forward to getting my stuff at the postoffice and making some phonecalls, but I don't really want to pay for a hostel/motel, and it doesn't look like there are any in-town camping options. Pretty much the only thing out of my gear that I don't love is my tarp. I think I'm going to have my folks send me old bluey, my little blue kids tent that I got for 8 bucks. Everything I actually spent money on is proving to be my least practical pieces of gear. I spent a good chunk of money on this windbreaker that everyone in one of my guidebooks just raves about. One guy even said that if he had been hiking for a week, and was really hungry for normal food, and someone busted out of the woods with a pizza and a bottle of pop to trade for his wind jacket, he wouldn't trade. If someone did that even after 3 days of being out here I would totally make that trade! And I'd just buy a basic wind breaker at goodwill, and more pizza with the money I didn't spend on this price tag jacket. Just goes to show though. I'm annoyed about the money I spent, but it's good to confirm that I'm not going to suffer because I don't have any of the high tech gear. I'm pretty basic. I'll include my gear list in my next journal send off. If whoever is reading this has questions, or wants me to talk about something in more detail he or she should email or facebook me. I feel I tend to ramble, so some direction might be good.
<3's to everyone! I'm going to sleep.
-Georgia-
<3's to everyone! I'm going to sleep.
-Georgia-
Tuesday Day 16 5/1/2012 7:21pm Mile 226
Looks like I've got some catching up to do again! I made it to Cabazon within about a half hour of when I said I would on Sunday, which I was pretty proud of. Especially considering how difficult the previous few days had been. My family's good friend Dan came and picked me up , and I showered, shopped, and supped - sugar snap peas and strawberry shortcake! It felt pretty fantastic, and I got dropped back off at the trail on Monday feeling refreshed, and with plenty of time to find a decent campsite for the night. After Cabazon one moves to a new section of the PCT (Section C), and I printed out the maps for this section while I was with Dan, soI hadn't really gotten a chance to peruse them until I was back on the trail. The map detailed that some trail angels had a house a short hike from the highway, and welcomed hikers to camp in their yard. The ten or so miles of trail around Cabazon are pretty derelict - lots of trash, and potent exhaust from the highway, and as I was walking in there were two stray dogs prowling through the sand neither of whom seemed friendly. It seemed a good option to check out the house, and boy - what a set up! I was the only hiker there and was excitedly given the tour by the sweetest lady, Ziggy, who lives there and her friend Ron. Their whole backyard is dedicated to hikers. There was a big canopy with pieces of carpet that hikers could sleep on. A big table with a computer and phone for hikers to use, as well as food and supplies coolers with soda and gatorade, and a basket of fruit. There was a washing station, and an outside toilet for hikers, and they were just the nicest people offering tea, coffee, or a footbath while I got myself settled. These people really love the trail, and are not quite able to hike it themselves anymore, so they get pleasure from helping other people hike it. I'm pretty blown away by all of it. I was munching an apple and going over my new maps when I heard the gate open and a chorus of voices coming into the yard. It was the British couple - Tanya and Neil! And three others. A girl named Rabbit who i have hiked with a little before. She has a lot going for her in terms of me liking her. Her name is Rabbit(I like someone named Rabbit!) She is from Florida(I like someone from Florida!) She is 22(I like someone who is 22!) And she is carrying a mouse named Ella. Ella is pretty cute. She sleeps in a glove and has a lil cold right now. I fed her some carrot last night, so we are friends. I hope she makes it. The other hikers were a girl named Nighengale and a guy called Wolf(their trail names). It was a fun evening. Our hosts provided salad and ice cream, and it was a clear, balmy night. In the morning there was cereal, juice, and fruit served at 6. And I was the first to start hiking just before 7. The first stretch was though; the with mill farms, and the wheezing and wooshings those giant pinwheels make echoed through the valley welcoming me in the San Bernadino mountains. I walked steadily and happily up onto the ridges of the mountains. It's so beautiful. It's kind of crazy that this trail, so huge, and all encompassing in my mind, can be so small. Barely a foot across most of the time it can completely disappear behind a desert shrub, or be totally obscured by a rock the size of a football. As I look down into the valley from way up at the top of a mountain it's like a squiggly intestine of some tiny rodent coiling through the mountains. I just love it. Some of the views today were seriously out of control, and the desert flowers have exploded everywhere. The fiercest reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, purples, and blues. It makes me want to wear more than just black all the time, if I could look as good as these flowers. Aside from smelling worse than anything ever, and having about half of California stuck under my fingernails, I do feel pretty glamorous out here. I strutted around for most of the day with my sun umbrella - my parisole - and I definitely think I look like a class act twirling that thing around. I have some great sunglasses, and I wear my hair tied back with a green bandana. My white( well used to be) collared button up also feels pretty sophisticated, and I love my little purple shorts. I also feel like a Greek goddess cause of all the dried fruit and nuts I have been eating. That's all Greek goddesses eat. Fat little purses of tender fig meat with all those tiny, crunchy seeds. Dried mango is my favorite, I like it in strips so it feels like your french kissing someone with a candy tongue when you eat it. I have a ton of dried apricot which I'm not liking as much these days - like chewing a sugared grandpa ear, but they used to be my favorite so I'll finish this bag for nostalgia's sake. They do taste good cut up and put into supper dishes. I cut some up and put them in my couscous tonight. That was a fiasco. I am in ant city right now, so I have to be really careful with my food. First thing I did when starting to make supper is open my bag of couscous, and the couses go everywhere! All over the spot I'm fixing to sleep in. There was no way to pick up all the little couses, so I had to relocate my entire camp. I am getting to new animal part of the trail up hereNot as high a chance of encountering a rattle snake, but more of a chance of encountering a bear!
Tomorrow is going to be a very tough day, so I need to go to sleep. It is going to be hot, and I climb something like 500 feet over not-so-many miles.
Goodnight y'all @8:45pm
-Georgia-
Tomorrow is going to be a very tough day, so I need to go to sleep. It is going to be hot, and I climb something like 500 feet over not-so-many miles.
Goodnight y'all @8:45pm
-Georgia-
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Saturday Day 13 4/28 8:00pm mile 200(!?)
Today was my first day to not see a single other person. I tried to get up very early today, I set my alarm for 4:30, but it was very cold so I waited until 5:30 to finally succumb to the chill. My shoes were frozen when I went to put them on, the laces all sticking out as if they had been electrocuted. I forced them onto my feet, and without changing out of my warm sleep clothes, I started hiking. After an hour I was warm enough to put on my normal clothes. It's not good to dirty up one's sleep clothes, but I'm hoping to do some laundry tomorrow, so I forgave myself. I even kept my warm woolen socks on because it was hard to walk in my damp socks and frozen shoes. This morning was tough. Lot's of snow. When it snows the trail disappears. However, usually by the time one gets to snow it has been there for a while and an obvious path of footprints has been traversed through it. I think only two people had been through this snow before me, and I don't think they hiked together. Or if they were thy argued a lot. Often times the foot prints went in different directions and it was impossible to tell if they met back up. But one can't rely on footprints, especially when there isn't snow everywhere, and when it is only a set or two. If you are just following footprints, and the snow ends, more than likely you are not right on the trail because you haven't been able to follow it precisely through the snow. One has to be diligent about keeping out her map and compass, and making sure she is doing her own navigating. It was a little scary. I felt pretty lost a couple of times. The snow was deep and fresh, and even out of the snow the path was difficult to discern. I've been hiking mostly in the desert with lots of people in front of me leaving obvious footprints pounded into the dust. A thick blanket of pine needles, and dark crumbly dirt is much harder to make a dent in. You have to really use your eyes to look for clues as to where the path is. I spent a slow morning scrutinizing my map for direction, as well as the ground for faint traces of holes left from trekking poles or a dent from the heel of a boot. When I thought I was out of the snow I combined my elevensies break with my lunch break for one long rest where I took out my sleeping bag to dry and thawed my shoes and socks. It turned out I wasn't out of the snow, and spent another two miles slipping down a steep, icy bank. You shouldn't walk too close to trees and rocks coming out of the snow. It's tempting, because you think the snow won't be as deep there, but it is thinner, and you are much more likely to fall through and scrape your all ready raw legs on jutty-out-y bits of branch or rock. After the official last of the snow I began the steep decent off the mountain and towards Cabazon. My body needs a rest. It's been strange having my left leg be the one to give me so much trouble when I've spent all year dealing with my right. I still have to wrap my left knee every day, and it looks like I cut a big, juicy apple in half and stuck a piece down either side of my left sock. It is unsightly, and I do not plan on busting out those high heels again soon. I managed to find a flat grassy campsite even though I've been switchbacking down a steep rocky canyon for hours. There is a breeze, but I will be much warmer and drier than I have been, and I am happy to be sleeping out in the open again tonight. I've got a bright moon overhead so I'm going to turn out my flashlight to enjoy that for a while.
-Georgia
-Georgia
Day 12 Friday 4/27 7:45PM Mile 183
Here's what y'all missed in me not writing for two days. A lot. Things have been difficult.
Back to Wednesday - A really nice, almost leisurely hiking day. Spent most of it with Yotam and Nadav and we were cracking jokes, and generally and me were cracking jokes, and generally in very good moods. I left them just south of Highway 74because they are planning on going to kickoff and I am not. The kickoff is a big hiker party back at Lake Morena(Mile 21) that officially starts the hiking season. I went last year, and it was fun, but don't really feel like going again. I walked the last 5 miles to the HW alone, and was very happy to find a couple of 2011 thru-hikers set up at the road waiting with soda pop, cookies, and fresh apples (all stuff I regularly crave). They were from Portland(!) and had come down for the kickoff, but were doing some trail magic along the way. They let me use their phone so I could make some arrangements for a rest day. I'm taking this weekend to meet up with out family friend Dan. Anyway, that was really an unexpected treat, and fueled me over the highway. to a nice looking campsite about 1/2 a mile in. I knew that there was a good chance of rain, so I set up my tarp before cooking dinner even though it was already quite late. The rain came around 10 and as pretty steady all night. I slept okay. I'm really not too proficient at setting up my tarp yet. I dug my little trenches around the outside to keep the rain away, but things still got damp. It was still raining at 6 so I didn't really get walking until close to 7. It was a very different day than I've had so far on the trail. It was cold and damp and empty. Pretty much everyone I have been hiking with is either headed for the kickoff, or waiting out the bad weather in Idyllwild. I was also a little lonely because the first few miles of trail I hiked yesterday morning is a section I hiking with my dad last year, and I was missing him desperately. I only ate breakfast after about 8 miles because it was so chilly I didn't want to stop walking. A Norwegian guy named Knut was the only other person on the trail, and he passed me at breakfast. We commenting on how it looked like the sky might be clearing up, and he continued hiking. I passed him on his break about an hour or so later and we commented on how actually it wasn't clearing up, and that it seemed we really were the only people on that bit of trail that day. There were no footprints in the mud. I started a steep, solitary climb into a mist and wind that thickened and grew with every step. I climbed and climbed going deeper into a swirling white cloud as the wind howled around me, nearly buffeting me off the trail several times. It was an eerie dream world where I could never see what lay ahead, and strange forms materialized from dead, burned trees through the tangibly thick fog. There were respites from the violent, roaring wind as the trail dipped to lower elevations, but it seemed as if the whole mountain was draped in this pearly cloud-shawl. I was chilly, and damp, and a little spooked. Knut caught up with me as I was traipsing through a clearing of tall, wet grass. He broke up a piece of chocolate for us to share, and produced an extra pair of gloves for me to borrow. We were planning on camping in the same place, Apache Springs, and we both were hoping it would be some what sheltered. With Knut hiking ahead of me I was alone in the mist again. It was hard to walk with the wind pushing at me, and my feet were very wet and cold. I came to a trail junction and Knut had drawn an arrow pointing the way to the spring. The trail disappeared into a labyrinth of 6ft high madrone bushes with the mist snaking through it, thick as paste. I seriously felt like a lost character in a children's book walled in on all sides not knowing where I was going to end up. The trail broke through onto an exposed jut of cliff completely enveloped in wooly, whirling white, with the wind racing it, teasing us in it's refusal to choose a direction. There was nothing else for it, and Knut and I began our numb-fingered assembly of a camp. It was impossible. The wind kept snatching my tarpright out of my stiff, raw hands, and the crumbling, loose earth wouldn't hold my stakes even when I struggled with heavy rocks to weigh them down. Knut got his tent up, and came to help me with mine, even loaning me one of his extra tent pegs when the the wind finally won one. In a too generous solution that I could not refuse, Knut suggested I squeeze in with him, thus ending our battle with my tarp. A hot meal was also unattainable in those conditions. I tried to light my stove, but was stubbornly refused. A packet of tuna and a peanut butter chewy bar made an awkward union in my stomach, but gave me the energy to address finding a sleeping space in a decidedly one-man tent. Luckily, though he is tall, Knut is very thin, and I can fit pretty much anywhere, and once we were all zipped up with our heads at each other's feet it was definitly cozy rather than uncomfortable. After some easy conversation where I learned about Knut's work with the peace corp over in Kenya during the 80s and that he has a younger brother with a daughter my age, it was time for sleeping. We had said our goodnights and settled into our corners, when Knut had to go and ask if I snore! I couldn't lie, and he seemed genuinly worried at my emphatic "YES!".
when we both started stirring around 6am it was to find that the wind had died sometime in the night, and a clear morning with an exceptional view was there to greet us. Far, far below was the city of palm springs nestled amongst the San Jacinto mountains. I think Knut and I both needed a slower start than usual, and it wasn't until close to 8 that I was making my way back to the trail leaving Knut to finish packing. It was a much clearer, warmer day, but the elevation was climbing and with the recent rain I was wary of reaching snow. Sure enough, later in the afternoon, as Knut caught up to me, snow began to obscure the trail. Two southbound hikers we had met lower down the trail had made the first prints, but they had warned us that it had been confusing, and before long Knut and I had lost the trail. The snow was deep, and as it was late afternoon the sun had melted the crusty surface, so I was breaking through, or postholing, often, sometimes up to my thighs. It was slow, tedious going, trudging through the new snow with maps and compasses out, trying to find the trail. Despite it taking much longer than it should have and my feet being cold and wet again, it was an exciting feeling of accomplishment when we finally found the trail. Knut was heading into Iydllwild from a trail junction we reached very quickly after refinding the trail. I had plans to hike a bit further, as I've chosen to resupply in Cabazon. It was sad to say goodbye to Knut after going through so much together, and I'm worried I won't see him again. I have to plan a trip to Norway. I hit quite a bit more snow in the 4 more miles I hiked to my campsite this evening, but managed to stay on the trail. It's a really beautiful spot, and I'm sad not to have my camera functioning. I'm on a south west facing cliff side with a brilliantly bright sunset filtering through the pine trees. I ate my supper, brushed my teeth, and have even managed to set up my tarp.
The view from theis campsite is worth all the trouble of the past few days. Which has really all just been part of the adventure. When I got to this campsite I set down my pack and took off my shoes and padded over the pine needles to sit on a rock and look at the valley. I'm happy. Even though it's killing me to stay awake right now and get this thing up to date, and I just cut my finger pretty badly trying to sharpen my pencil. The way I'm doing this blog thing is keeping a written journal out here, and when I get to a town I'm sending the pages back to my friend Jacob who is typing them up and putting it on the blog. And I'm really being a pain about it on my end of things because my pens keep dying so I'm writing in pencil which makes my already abysmal handwriting that much sloppier and smearier. Plus I've just gone and bled all over this thing.**Jacob note OH MY GOD THAT WAS BLOOD. GROSSSSS** and there is about a million dead bugs squashed between the pages. So thank you very much Jacob, I, and whoever is reading this sutff very much appreciates it. Tomorrow is going to be my last hard day before I reach Cabazon on Sunday. I'm excited to see Dan, and get a bit of a relax day. One last thing - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRAV!! thought about you a lot today! I love you and we can go to the bar next time I see you !! <3
-Georgia
Back to Wednesday - A really nice, almost leisurely hiking day. Spent most of it with Yotam and Nadav and we were cracking jokes, and generally and me were cracking jokes, and generally in very good moods. I left them just south of Highway 74because they are planning on going to kickoff and I am not. The kickoff is a big hiker party back at Lake Morena(Mile 21) that officially starts the hiking season. I went last year, and it was fun, but don't really feel like going again. I walked the last 5 miles to the HW alone, and was very happy to find a couple of 2011 thru-hikers set up at the road waiting with soda pop, cookies, and fresh apples (all stuff I regularly crave). They were from Portland(!) and had come down for the kickoff, but were doing some trail magic along the way. They let me use their phone so I could make some arrangements for a rest day. I'm taking this weekend to meet up with out family friend Dan. Anyway, that was really an unexpected treat, and fueled me over the highway. to a nice looking campsite about 1/2 a mile in. I knew that there was a good chance of rain, so I set up my tarp before cooking dinner even though it was already quite late. The rain came around 10 and as pretty steady all night. I slept okay. I'm really not too proficient at setting up my tarp yet. I dug my little trenches around the outside to keep the rain away, but things still got damp. It was still raining at 6 so I didn't really get walking until close to 7. It was a very different day than I've had so far on the trail. It was cold and damp and empty. Pretty much everyone I have been hiking with is either headed for the kickoff, or waiting out the bad weather in Idyllwild. I was also a little lonely because the first few miles of trail I hiked yesterday morning is a section I hiking with my dad last year, and I was missing him desperately. I only ate breakfast after about 8 miles because it was so chilly I didn't want to stop walking. A Norwegian guy named Knut was the only other person on the trail, and he passed me at breakfast. We commenting on how it looked like the sky might be clearing up, and he continued hiking. I passed him on his break about an hour or so later and we commented on how actually it wasn't clearing up, and that it seemed we really were the only people on that bit of trail that day. There were no footprints in the mud. I started a steep, solitary climb into a mist and wind that thickened and grew with every step. I climbed and climbed going deeper into a swirling white cloud as the wind howled around me, nearly buffeting me off the trail several times. It was an eerie dream world where I could never see what lay ahead, and strange forms materialized from dead, burned trees through the tangibly thick fog. There were respites from the violent, roaring wind as the trail dipped to lower elevations, but it seemed as if the whole mountain was draped in this pearly cloud-shawl. I was chilly, and damp, and a little spooked. Knut caught up with me as I was traipsing through a clearing of tall, wet grass. He broke up a piece of chocolate for us to share, and produced an extra pair of gloves for me to borrow. We were planning on camping in the same place, Apache Springs, and we both were hoping it would be some what sheltered. With Knut hiking ahead of me I was alone in the mist again. It was hard to walk with the wind pushing at me, and my feet were very wet and cold. I came to a trail junction and Knut had drawn an arrow pointing the way to the spring. The trail disappeared into a labyrinth of 6ft high madrone bushes with the mist snaking through it, thick as paste. I seriously felt like a lost character in a children's book walled in on all sides not knowing where I was going to end up. The trail broke through onto an exposed jut of cliff completely enveloped in wooly, whirling white, with the wind racing it, teasing us in it's refusal to choose a direction. There was nothing else for it, and Knut and I began our numb-fingered assembly of a camp. It was impossible. The wind kept snatching my tarpright out of my stiff, raw hands, and the crumbling, loose earth wouldn't hold my stakes even when I struggled with heavy rocks to weigh them down. Knut got his tent up, and came to help me with mine, even loaning me one of his extra tent pegs when the the wind finally won one. In a too generous solution that I could not refuse, Knut suggested I squeeze in with him, thus ending our battle with my tarp. A hot meal was also unattainable in those conditions. I tried to light my stove, but was stubbornly refused. A packet of tuna and a peanut butter chewy bar made an awkward union in my stomach, but gave me the energy to address finding a sleeping space in a decidedly one-man tent. Luckily, though he is tall, Knut is very thin, and I can fit pretty much anywhere, and once we were all zipped up with our heads at each other's feet it was definitly cozy rather than uncomfortable. After some easy conversation where I learned about Knut's work with the peace corp over in Kenya during the 80s and that he has a younger brother with a daughter my age, it was time for sleeping. We had said our goodnights and settled into our corners, when Knut had to go and ask if I snore! I couldn't lie, and he seemed genuinly worried at my emphatic "YES!".
when we both started stirring around 6am it was to find that the wind had died sometime in the night, and a clear morning with an exceptional view was there to greet us. Far, far below was the city of palm springs nestled amongst the San Jacinto mountains. I think Knut and I both needed a slower start than usual, and it wasn't until close to 8 that I was making my way back to the trail leaving Knut to finish packing. It was a much clearer, warmer day, but the elevation was climbing and with the recent rain I was wary of reaching snow. Sure enough, later in the afternoon, as Knut caught up to me, snow began to obscure the trail. Two southbound hikers we had met lower down the trail had made the first prints, but they had warned us that it had been confusing, and before long Knut and I had lost the trail. The snow was deep, and as it was late afternoon the sun had melted the crusty surface, so I was breaking through, or postholing, often, sometimes up to my thighs. It was slow, tedious going, trudging through the new snow with maps and compasses out, trying to find the trail. Despite it taking much longer than it should have and my feet being cold and wet again, it was an exciting feeling of accomplishment when we finally found the trail. Knut was heading into Iydllwild from a trail junction we reached very quickly after refinding the trail. I had plans to hike a bit further, as I've chosen to resupply in Cabazon. It was sad to say goodbye to Knut after going through so much together, and I'm worried I won't see him again. I have to plan a trip to Norway. I hit quite a bit more snow in the 4 more miles I hiked to my campsite this evening, but managed to stay on the trail. It's a really beautiful spot, and I'm sad not to have my camera functioning. I'm on a south west facing cliff side with a brilliantly bright sunset filtering through the pine trees. I ate my supper, brushed my teeth, and have even managed to set up my tarp.
The view from theis campsite is worth all the trouble of the past few days. Which has really all just been part of the adventure. When I got to this campsite I set down my pack and took off my shoes and padded over the pine needles to sit on a rock and look at the valley. I'm happy. Even though it's killing me to stay awake right now and get this thing up to date, and I just cut my finger pretty badly trying to sharpen my pencil. The way I'm doing this blog thing is keeping a written journal out here, and when I get to a town I'm sending the pages back to my friend Jacob who is typing them up and putting it on the blog. And I'm really being a pain about it on my end of things because my pens keep dying so I'm writing in pencil which makes my already abysmal handwriting that much sloppier and smearier. Plus I've just gone and bled all over this thing.**Jacob note OH MY GOD THAT WAS BLOOD. GROSSSSS** and there is about a million dead bugs squashed between the pages. So thank you very much Jacob, I, and whoever is reading this sutff very much appreciates it. Tomorrow is going to be my last hard day before I reach Cabazon on Sunday. I'm excited to see Dan, and get a bit of a relax day. One last thing - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRAV!! thought about you a lot today! I love you and we can go to the bar next time I see you !! <3
-Georgia
Day 10 Wednesday 4/25 8:13PM
I am super late tonight. Very tired, and ready to go to sleep, but I still have to eat supper. I'm not very hungry, but I know I have to eat. That is something really weird out here, is that I'm not really hungry at all. I'm sure I'll find my appetite further up the trail, but for now I'm pretty much forcing myself to eat. And for those who don't already know, it is very unusual for me not to have an appetite. Another thing that I really like to do at home but is strangely annoying out here is brushing my teeth. I do! I'm just never in the mood to. Dammit, I just can't keep my eyes open! I'll try and finish this at lunch tomorrow.
-Georgia
-Georgia
Day 9 4/24 Tuesday 8:15PM Mile 132
Today I learned why it is a good idea to take a rest day once in a while. Even though I was a little antsy yesterday, I felt so good today, and I know its because I rested yesterday. There were some steep climbs, and my enemy - the steep descents, but my knees and ankles help up fantastically. And that's with my pack being the heaviest it has been , because I got about ten days worth of food at warner springs, and had to carry quite a lot of water today. Beautiful weather, a comfy 17 miles, a soft, sandy campsite, and an early bed time. I do get homesick. I more think about how great it would be to see people out here. It's surreal to be so disconnected from everyone. I'm pretty attached to my phone at home, and like texting and calling people. I didn't bring a phone out here with me. I bought a phone card which is proving pretty useless. Payphones are basically extinct. Boring entry, but I'm tired, and everything went well. Tomorrow it's supposed to rain which should be more interesting.
-Georgia
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| 132 with Nadav Sagee |
Day 8 Monday 4/23 8:46PM
I'm being bad about my journal, and I haven't been checking in on my GPS thing. It feels good to be properly back on the trail. That wasn't even a real zero day, but it felt weird. I loved parts of it. One of the ladies who volunteered at the shack was wonderful. She was I think 86 years old and I think her name was Rose or Clandette. I want to call her Nana. She wanted to be called Battle Axe. Nana Battle Axe. A real treasure.
The weather has changed completely. Apparently these past few days when it has been so desperatelyhot it has been record high heat. It was much cooler today. Boarderline cold. David caught up to me at Warner Springs, and it was good to see him. It's crazy how many people one can never meet just always being a day or two ahead of them. I can hike alone all day and feel years and miles away from anyone or anything to find I have been less than a mile ahead of, or behind, someone all day. I'm only about 5 miles from Warner Springs, but what a scenic few miles. It started through more rolling fields, and looked very English countryside-y. Little rabbits everywhere, and horses grazing close by. A low mist draped between the hills, and it felt cool and velvety to breath in the air. Yotam and Nadav were ahead of me a ways, and when they got closer to the horses they all(about 20) started to gallop across the trail and up and over the bluff. Pretty magical. And I'm not even a horse girl. There was a sweet looking ropes course set up right on the trail, but it wasn't that fun to mess with. There was also a tire swing hanging from a perfect swinging tree about a mile further. I am in a pretty full campsite tonight with Amanda and Blake(the people who gave me the icy hot), this goofy guy named Crash, and Yotam and Nadav. Crash is carrying a ton of stuff, including a mp3 player with speakers. He, Amanda, and Blake were sitting around a fire listening to a book on tape when I walked up. They had stuck it in an empty pot to amplify it better. The story was pretty awesome, but I can't remember what it was called. It was fun to listen to while I set up my tarp and cooked my mashed potatoes. Nadav helped me set up my tarp. I don't hate it, but I don't love it. I prefer cowboy style camping either way, but it is rainy. Uh oh, it's past 9 o' clock! And I'm exhausted. Ow. I just sneezed and split my lip open again. Going to sleep with the taste of blood in my mouth. It's not hardcore, it's gross.
-Georgia
The weather has changed completely. Apparently these past few days when it has been so desperatelyhot it has been record high heat. It was much cooler today. Boarderline cold. David caught up to me at Warner Springs, and it was good to see him. It's crazy how many people one can never meet just always being a day or two ahead of them. I can hike alone all day and feel years and miles away from anyone or anything to find I have been less than a mile ahead of, or behind, someone all day. I'm only about 5 miles from Warner Springs, but what a scenic few miles. It started through more rolling fields, and looked very English countryside-y. Little rabbits everywhere, and horses grazing close by. A low mist draped between the hills, and it felt cool and velvety to breath in the air. Yotam and Nadav were ahead of me a ways, and when they got closer to the horses they all(about 20) started to gallop across the trail and up and over the bluff. Pretty magical. And I'm not even a horse girl. There was a sweet looking ropes course set up right on the trail, but it wasn't that fun to mess with. There was also a tire swing hanging from a perfect swinging tree about a mile further. I am in a pretty full campsite tonight with Amanda and Blake(the people who gave me the icy hot), this goofy guy named Crash, and Yotam and Nadav. Crash is carrying a ton of stuff, including a mp3 player with speakers. He, Amanda, and Blake were sitting around a fire listening to a book on tape when I walked up. They had stuck it in an empty pot to amplify it better. The story was pretty awesome, but I can't remember what it was called. It was fun to listen to while I set up my tarp and cooked my mashed potatoes. Nadav helped me set up my tarp. I don't hate it, but I don't love it. I prefer cowboy style camping either way, but it is rainy. Uh oh, it's past 9 o' clock! And I'm exhausted. Ow. I just sneezed and split my lip open again. Going to sleep with the taste of blood in my mouth. It's not hardcore, it's gross.
-Georgia
Friday, April 27, 2012
Day 8 Monday 4/23 10:11am
I skipped writing the last two nights. Sorry! Saturday was a hard, lonely day. I hiked very alone through the steep, rocky San Felipe Hills. I had to stop often because of the heat, finally giving up for the 2 o'clock hour taking off my shirt and shoes, and sleeping in the shade of a spiney bush for an hour or so. I woke up from my sweaty nap to the roaring of two super fast planes zooming through the canyons. It was pretty thrilling. I hadn't realized how close I was to a water cache, but less than an hour of walking led me to a shading section of lower trail where about everyone I've met so far was lying like dead fish trying to avoid the stifling heat. I caught up with Michael, and the British couple, and Yotam and Nadav. We all thought to hike a little further as it cooled off into a star spotted evening. I've found some nice friends in Yotam and Nadav and I hope I can keep up with them on the trail. I think I've secured Yotam's trail name as "Abba", which means "father" in Hebrew. He has been pretty hilarious about hollering at me to wear sunscreen, and get a hat, and drink more water, way worse than my own dad. What really killed me was when I was writing in my journal as the light faded, and he tried to loan me his head lamp so I wouldn't ruin my eyes. And he wasn't even being silly! Then he yelled at me to turn my light off and go to bed when I was still writing 15 minutes later. He might have been being silly then. But there's no way of knowing. It was a really pleasant 14 so mile hike to Warner Springs the next day(Sunday). Lots of meadows, and babbling brooks, and cows. Disney movie stuff. Unfortunately the town of Warner Springs doesn't really exist anymore. There was a lodge type of thing here that hikers absolutely raved about with hot springs, and stores and restaurants, and phones, and internet, and etc. The Indians bought it over this past year, and all that's left is a lonely little post office that I have to hustle over to very soon. Even though it is disappointing to not be in a hot spring right now, the local high school has coordinated to set up a little hiker support shack that has been more than generous and accommodating. There is a little store to buy snacks and random supplies, a little kitchen that serves lunch and breakfast, and we can camp off the fields that surround it. All the volunteers are so nice, and so excited to be helping hikers. It was a relaxing evening with beer and good company, and the preceding foggy chilly morning has cleared up into a cool, bright day. A perfect day for hiking, but I need a rest day. Maybe I will hike out 6 miles or so later this afternoon, but now I have to get to the post office!
<3
till next time
Georgia
<3
till next time
Georgia
Day 5 4/20
Today was my toughest day yet, but I am extremely proud of myself, and have been rewarded with my first taste of trail magic! I headed off on the trail pretty close to 5:30am. I'm pretty properly in the desert now, and I knew that it was going to be blisteringly hot, and that my leg would be trouble. The first 8 miles were quite trying. Lots of steep descents, and I missed the turn off to the trail at one point, and walked about half a mile in the wrong direction. Everything is gorgeous though. I'm about the least inclined to pick up a camera of anyone I know, and I struggle to not take out my camera every few minutes. So many brilliantly colored flowers, and views off the sides of ridges and into canyons. My original goal had been to try and do 18 miles today, but with my leg I knew it wouldn't be easy. However, the ten miles from where I stopped and ate lunch were not bad at all. Very craggy hills, and I was singing and happy. A giant rattlesnake was in the shadow off the path, and I really nearly stepped on him! It spooked me a lot more than any other snake has. He was so big! And mad at me! I basically had to scale the rock wall alongside the trail, grasping at spikey bushes, to avoid him cause he wasn't moving. Around 5:30 I cam to Highway 78, Scissors Crossing, and my goal of 18 miles! I have been hiking around a group of three women and a guy who have been pretty exceptionally nice to me. Sweep, the man, has been making sure I'm doing okay, and he calls me "kid", which I've always liked. He has hiked the trail at least once before, and his hiking partner is someone he met on the trail last year. Now they are hiking again with her two daughters, and Sweep's wife is "angel-ing" them along the way. By "angel-ing" I mean, bringing them food and supplies and generally supporting their hike. She was at the trailhead in her truck with coolers full of soda, gatorade and beer inviting everyone who hiked past to help themselves. Ice cold gatorade was amazing right then, and I was in a very good mood. I couldn't see Yotam or Nadav, so I started to wander around to see if there was a good place to camp. A bad fire had recently swept through right at the trailhead there, so camping prospects looked pretty limited. Sweep came over to ask my plans and invite me to catch a ride with him and his wife to a campground about 4 miles down the road. With a promise of showers and a meal with avocados I was more than sold. So that was all a huge treat. I showered, and when I got out the shower a giant spread of salad was laid out with avocado and spinach and mushrooms and chicken and all kinds of cheeses and dressings, and cookies and beer and even though I have mostly been fantasizing about popsicles, I don't think anything could have been better. It was a later night than I have been used to, but cleaner and fuller than I have been all week, I'm fine curling up closer to 9 than 8.
Georgia
Georgia
Day 4 4/19 Thursday 7:29pm
Today was a very hard day. I have been compensating for my bad ankle and now my left knee is pretty shot. It was a long, slow day hobbling along. It was good to realize though. I'm so bad about trying to keep up with people just a little stronger than me. This adventure was supposed to be a lesson in not doing that, and first thing I do is pick two strapping young Israelis fresh out the Army to pace myself with. It felt like when I was on the swim team in high school and wanted so badly to be in a lane with Sam and Alex Diamond, and I so nearly could, but it was so hard to keep up, and I'd never make the intervals. People were so nice to me though, Maya gave me a bandage to wrap around my knee. I've never done that before it actually works! I met a nice new couple hiking the trail very slowly and happily together. I sat with them and they loaned me some Icy/hot, and I was reassured by their lax pace and comfy smiles. My respite with them helped me complete the last 4 miles, and a sweet note taped to a poast from Maya and Tov showed me to their camp. It was a very pleasant evening, and I am going to try and take it a little easier. It's the 4th freaking day! I'm sore, and tired, and missing my family and friends. I'm not a superhero. Chillout. Everyone has started calling me "G". I love it.
Georgia aka "G" aka mere mortal
Georgia aka "G" aka mere mortal
Day 3 4/18 Wednesday 7:15pm mile 45
I already look like a piece of beef jerky. At least my hands do. I scorched my thumb being too committed to lighting my stove in the wind. I liked the early start this morning - 6am - and on the trail I hiked in the middle of the two sets of Israelis. Yotam and Nadav a ways in front, and Maya and Tav behind. The stretch of trail between sunrise highway and Fred's canyon was steep down on the right with a valley bathed the early morning sun below. My friend from kickoff, David, and his hiking partner Micheal were at the little stream in the canyon. I caught up with him as I filled up my water bottles, and then he and I hiked with the Israelis up the next steep stretch. Yotam and Nadav and I chose a spot for breakfast nestled into the rocky wall of the trail. We were joined by Maya and Tav, and spent the rest of the morning hiking at our own paces. The temperature was a little cooler than the intense heat of the past few days, and there there was even snow on the ground in many places throughout the 12 mile hike to the store at Mt. Laguna. Pine trees appeared very quickly a few miles before the store, transforming the rocky, scraggy climbs I'd been battling to Narnia-esque forest with large pockets of snow. At the store we all reconnected. I saw the Brits, all the Israelis, Michael. The gang was all there. I ate lunch out of my pack before treating myself to a push pop and extra strength chapstick from the store. Most people stayed around the store for the night either in cabins or close by, but Michael, Nadav, and Yotam and I decided to press on a few more miles. Supper, stretching, and very soon snoring is about how the evening went. I'm very sore, and think it is going to be a cold night. My legs are killing me, and I think the bottom of my feet are bruised. There is a lot to look forward to over the next few days though, and I'm excited. The Anza Borrego Desert! Just before finding somewhere sheltered to sleep there was a magnificent view of the distant desert, and at the far end a dash of sparkling that is the Salton Sea.
Georgia
Georgia
Day 2 4/17 Tuesday 7:16PM
I feel very small out here. I'm not lonely, but I do miss my dad. I couldn't have asked for a better nights sleep. We woke up at 6 packed up camp, and did an easy 3 miles to Lake Morena. I took a shower and it felt amazing. It seemed a little early in the hike to be showering, but there was no denying that I needed one. I figure it's best to get in the habit of taking one when I get the chance. While I was eating breakfast Papa went to fill my water bottles, and weren't we surprised to hear someone hollering his name. It was David our good friend we made at kickoff last year! He broke his back 6 weeks ago and is still trying to hike this year. It was really nice to see him. After breakfast it was time to say goodbye to my dad. It was a pretty sorry sight as I set off from the Lake, waving blearily at the blob I could barely distinguish as my dad. My tears dried soon enough, and I enjoyed the first solo leg of my adventure. I felt stronger than yesterday, and the miles fell away through picturesque fields of yellow flowers, and shady stands of trees. I took my shorts off and waded down stream at cottonwood creek until I got to a spot deep enough to slip under the rippling waves. Refreshed, I pushed on until lunch time stopping at bolder oaks to eat more salami and cheese. Those sugar snap peas are about the worst I've ever had, and I'm going to throw them away . I hadn't seen another hiker all morning, but they all caught up with me as I took my after lunch rest. The British couple, and two NEW Israelis came and sat with me, but I decided to keep hiking while they were still mixing their tuna. The next stretch was quite steep, and very hot. I got a stern warning from a rattlesnake just off the trail. It took a lot of will power not to mess with it, because I couldn't tell how big he was, but everyone will be very proud of me that I held back and continued respectfully on my way. I found the familiar campsite and Yellowrose Spring at around 5pm. This is where I hiked to over several days last year when my leg was still a mess. I washed my face in the spring and took my shoes off before starting supper, and was just adding olive oil to my mashed potatoes when the Israelis walked up. I'm happy to share my campsite and get to know them better. We all talked and ate and laughed and brushed our teeth, and now we are going to bed. I remembered that "goodnight" in Hebrew was "lailah tov" and there was a chorus of that about two minutes ago. It's 8:05. The Frogs are going nuts. First complete day on the trail and I'm pretty sure this is going to be the best thing ever. My sore throat and cough are gone, my groin-hammy that I strained yesterday feels better, and my pack is pretty comfy. Probably going to hike as far as Mr. Laguna tomorrow.
I miss y'all!
XOXO
Georgia
Friday, April 20, 2012
Day 1 Monday 4/16 7:14PM Mile 16.5
Really fucking fantastic first day. It was pretty Tuff, but I am surprised and pleased with how well everything went, and how good I feel right now. This morning began in San Diego. I flew into San Diego yesterday, and took a bus into town to meet my Dad at the train station. He was coming from a conference in LA. We were picked up by a trail supporter or "angel" , who we had arranged to host us for the night and drive us to the trail the following morning. Super nice ex navy guy. His dog just had puppies a few weeks ago, so there were 5 teeny miniature pinscher's being painfully adorable at his house. So soft! So rough and tumbly! I was happy for an early night. I started developing a cold - God damn the bad luck! And three hours of sleep plus a plane ride on Saturday was not doing me any favors. I woke up feeling pretty good though, just a lingering raw throat, and hacking cough. We got to the trail head at the Mexican border just before 7am. I t was a pretty wonderful moment. This time last year I came out to the trail even though my leg was still a bit of a broken mess, and I was a little bitter about not being able to hike. It's definitely surreal to actually be doing it right now. I'm sad that my dad is going home tomorrow. He was going to do the whole first two weeks with me last year, but then I went and broke my shit and ruined everything. It was a super special day with him today though, and I think he feels the same. Pictures at the monument at the Southern terminus took a minute. My mom special requested that I take pictures at the start of the trail in my favorite red high heels. I wasn't thrilled by the idea. A little embarrassing, and a recipe for another broken ankle was what I was thinking. It was an awesome idea. First of all, it was hilarious to be strutting around in my heels and hiking gear. Totally evaporated the nervous butterflies. Plus, I love those high heels. They are my confidence shoes, and I've been wearing them when I want to feel sure of myself for like 7 years. The PCT is the perfect place for my slutty stilettos! Starting the trail was an amazing feeling. My dad and I hugged, and off we went. It was a beautiful, cool morning with no wind and everything sparkling with dew. The first 3 hours were very pleasant. We stopped at 10 for our first break. My dad was getting some blisters from his crappy shoes and wanted to tape them up. I messed with my GPS thing. Our next stretch leading up to lunch time was where we started to feel it. A little bitching: My pack is heavy! My leg hurts! I think I pulled a hammy! But that's it. No sunburn, no blisters, and my shoulders and legs will get stronger very quickly. The hiking was hard going at times, but on the whole I was happy the whole day. Our rest at lunch time with salami and cheese and sugar snap peas was perfect. Some hikers passed us while we recovered there. A very sweet British couple, a group of 5, and two Israelis! The Israelis I met last year on the trail, Stav and Elan, were so great. Lunch was at about mile 12, and we were wanting to eat supper at Houser Creek at mile 16. It was a relief to get to the creek. There was a lovely little grass patch under a madrone tree that we chose to eat supper in. Damn it felt good to eat and take my pack off. The Brits and Israelis were camping at at the creek, but we wanted to get a bit further before calling it a day. We had heard that the border patrol do some pretty intense late night scrutinizing of the trail area around the creek looking for illegal immigrants. We told our foreign fellows, but they decided they didn't give a shit. It was a pretty steep, exhausting 1/2 mile to end the day on as the sun set over the trail. I'm glad we did it though. I'm worn out, super cozy, surrounded by stars, and it's exactly where I want to be. I'M ON MY FUCKING ADVENTURE!! I can't get over it. I spent a lot of today thinking about what the hell I"m doing out here. Like why am I spending the next six months spending ten hours every day walking until I've walked the length of America. There are a lot of things I could become really proficient in putting in this time and energy. I'm really happy doing this though.
Me in my slutty stilettos! Starting MY FUCKING ADVENTURE!!!!
you can check out the rest of my photos here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/105279516800615047684/albums/5733602173402454081?authkey=CPTyl7OwobDFSQ
not sure when I'll have another photo update, but posts should be fairly regular.
Lots of Love,
Georgia
you can check out the rest of my photos here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/105279516800615047684/albums/5733602173402454081?authkey=CPTyl7OwobDFSQ
not sure when I'll have another photo update, but posts should be fairly regular.
Lots of Love,
Georgia
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