PCT Day 113

Bushcamp to Bushcamp

33 miles

Mile 2215.0

Feeling prime from a restful night of sleep, I slurped down my breakfast brew while scouting out the trail ahead for the day. Lots of lakes near trail today means lots of skeeters…dang.

A bit past 5 Spikes and I were on our way. The day began much like yesterday. We crossed a bridge over Panther Creek before beginning a long ascent.

I nearly fell off the trail when a trail runner startled me from behind.

Around 10 I entered Indian Heaven Wilderness, it should have been named Mosquito Heaven…Historically, tribes values this area for its richness in Huckleberries and mushrooms. I passed multiple signs requiring any commercial pickers to obtain permits before picking.

By noon the skeeters were out in droves, robbing me of any chance to rest. I’d forgotten to buy a new bottle of big repellant while in town, so there wasn’t much I could do to avoid being bit other than keep moving.

The next 5 hours flew by as I hustled up the trail evading the skeeters as best I could. When I stopped to top off my water before camp my left foot slipped and splashed into the water below, so I hiked my last few miles with one wet and one dry foot…

I reached the campsite before Spikes and was immediately attached by thirsty skeeters. Since Spikes wasn’t there I couldn’t use her trekking poles to pitch my tent, so I made due with a couple tree branches I found nearby.

Shortly after I’d hopped in my tent to escape being eaten, Spikes arrived at camp. While pitching her tent she told me of a pain she’d been experiencing in her leg that had been rather excruciating the last few hours. Concerned about whether she’d be able to continue, she decided she’d try to hitch into the nearest town tomorrow to have it checked out.

We spent the remainder of the evening scarfing down dinner while chatting, before crashing.

Cheers!