PCT Day 7

Mike’s Place to Bushcamp

20 miles

Mile 146.9

Decent night of sleep. There were some angry snores, but the exhaustion got me through the night.

Woke up at 6 to enjoy my standard coffee/protein shaken in a smart water bottle for breakfast in a lounge chair on Mike’s porch. Halfway through my beverage Josh joined me. He told me how Mike’s tank was vandalized the day before by a hiker who had been 86ed the previous year. He also explained how the water was extracted via a well on the property and that there was a high wind advisory in the area for the day.

Shortly after Shane and KP joined me. After a short chat we decided to shoot for a water cache 18.5 miles down the trail maintained by a trail angel named Mary. All packed up, we were back on the trail by 9.

After a 500 ft ascent over a couple miles we spent the rest of the morning descending the mountain into a desert basin.

We stopped for lunch at Tule Spring where we found a nice patch of grass to melt into.

Recharged, we got back at it to push the final 6 miles to Muir Camp.

The ascent into Muir Camp was rough, but it was cool enough to keep the sweat down. We crossed a water cache a couple miles before Muir Camp, so we decided to top off.

Shortly after we reach Muir Camp around 530. It was a great place to chill for a bit. Amenities included two picnic tables, water tank, shower, outhouse and a miniature library!

We were tempted to make camp there, but we’re craving a night of sleep away from the main bubble. We decided to push another 3 miles to a campsite on our trail notes.

By 6ish we had found a solid spot and established camp. Dinner was a smorgasbord of snacks. Shane begun his nightly ritual of stretching. As a ex long distance runner, he swears by it. We gave him the trail name Stretch.

Belly full, sleep cane quick. Another epic day!

P.s. Parade Cafe is about 5 miles down the trail. We spent the day dreaming about the legendary breakfast we’d consume. On another note, there’s a fire closure on trail shortly after the Cafe…must people are hitching into Idyllwild, but wanting to hike as much trail as possible we’re working on a viable reroute plan. More info tomorrow.