Day 2 - Slowing Down, Getting Organized, Establishing Routine

28 Mar Day 2 – Slowing Down, Getting Organized, Establishing Routine

Posted at 21:00h in PCT South California, PCT Thru Hike by mmbowden60 0 Comments

Hiked 15.6 miles today, at mile 20.

I saw two shooting stars sleeping under the stars in the mountain desert. Here is a cool photo of my first camp on the PCT taken in the dark early morn.

I’ll never get management out of my blood. Today I am reminding myself that I am in this for the long haul. I need to remember to give my body a chance to adapt. I need to establish the right routines early. For example, don’t skip flossing. It’s a small thing, but I’ll be out here for 6 months. On short hikes, I could get away with a little sunburn and a sore knee or back. Here, over a period of 6 months, the smallest thing can become chronic and make me uncomfortable for weeks or lead me to quit. I’m also getting trail organized which is different from hike preparation. I have the right things with me, but I need to keep up with them and have them where I want and when I want. It’s not a small thing. You wouldn’t believe how much time can be spent digging to the bottom of a pack to find something like sunscreen.

After 10 miles of hiking these good intentions to focus on the long-haul went out the window. My emotional ego-centered self took over. With other hikers either waiting out the heat or slowly climbing Hauser Mountain, I had to show what a 57-year-old trail veteran could do. I zoomed up the 1000 plus vertical feet in the exposed afternoon sun. I passed younger hikers that had ducked under rocks for shade. By the time I reached the top, I felt sick. After laying in the shade, I finally managed to recover. Yep, I overdid it!

The trail