Shelter Cover to Bushcamp
18.5 miles
Mile 1925.1
We slept in past 7, and it felt fantastic. I’ve been getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night, but it’s just not enough time to fully recover after the big days we’ve been maintaining.
After packing up camp we hung out on the restaurant’s patio while eating a light breakfast and some heavy caffeine. By 8:30 we were on the road heading back to the PCT.
As I hiked I felt especially sluggish due to my abnormally heavy pack. With enough food for 250 miles, a beer and half a pizza in my pack, the extra weight was cruel to my shoulders.
After our first climb we were rewarded with an awesome lake to rest by, before hiking past two more similar lakes over the next few miles.
Upon completing the next climb, we had a neat view of the three lakes we’d just passed.
Pushing on, things flattened out as we walked through lush woodlands.
Around noon we reached one of the few shelters on the PCT, Maiden Peak Shelter. The two story shelter boasted solar panel powered lights, a stove and even a chess table. It was a great spot to escape the mosquitos for a bit.
From the shelter the trail roller coastered a bit, before flattening our once again.
Spikes and I were both feeling rather lazy, so decided to cut our day short to enjoy an awesome lakeside campsite on Charlton Lake.
We’d packed out pizza and Budweiser so we could celebrate the 4th of July like proper Americans. We enjoyed our dinner by a fire right on the lakes edge. An older couple who was camping nearby hooked us up with additional beer! So that was cool.
By 6:30 we were in bed, giving our bodies extra time to recover for the big miles ahead.
Cheers!