At about mile 750 I got a new pair of Brooks Cascadia trail shoes. The old ones looked OK, but internally they had a bunch of prep miles in addition to the PCT miles so their support was getting. “tired”.

I left the Saufleys today at daybreak. And guess where the Pacific CREST Trail went… Yup, it went up, up, up. Here’s a picture with Agua Dulce tiny in the distance and below.

Since the start of the trail I’ve been a solo hiker. During my prep time in Austin people asked me if I was going with anyone and I’d explain that “no, but people at the same pace would clump” (at least that is what I assumed based upon my marathon running experiences and it’s best that way because no one feels they have to keep up or that they are slowing you down). We’ll that hasn’t happened. For the most part I’m alone 99% of the time unless I pass a hiker (unlikely) or one passes me (typically the case, because I’m SLOW). So I just do my thing. This has its benefits. I wake and leave when I want to, take breaks and eat when I want to, and stop and sleep when I want to. In a few cases, like when I’m at some Trail Angel’s home, then I have to be a member of a group, but otherwise I’m free to do my own thing when and where I want to. This seems to suit me, even though I then have to accept the relative isolation of that choice.

The Saufleys of Agua Dulce CA are wonderful. The have such an organized operation with extra volunteers to help hikers in many ways. The receive resupply boxes, do your laundry, provide showers, provide temporary clothes while they’re being washed, have a WiFi internet tent, take you to nearby stores such as REI and Walmart, etc. Here are a few pictures of their home along with the 30-40 hikers who are staying here for a max of 2 nights. I was able to resupply for a few places up the trail. Wonderful, just wonderful!

At the start of the hike I decided to bring some cash with me. I’ve kept it in my back pocket in a plastic baggie. Yesterday at the Saufleys in Agua Dulce I reached back for it AND IT WAS GONE. I found that the seams of both of my pants back pockets had fallen apart. When I found out I uttered curses and other verbal feeling of remorse. Now I had no money for my resupply. Oh my gosh what was I to do? One of the other hikers, Colonial, overheard my mumblings and asked if the money was in a plastic bag. I said yes and he told me he had found it and turned it in to the Saufleys. What a lucky and wonderful result! I got my money back. I can now resupply. Oh and for the next hour or so I sat at the sewing machine and stitched and stitched those nasty pockets up. The result is not pretty, but it’s functional.

As of this writing my body is holding up pretty well after 450 miles on the trail. On the first few days after leaving Campo CA I developed blisters on the outside of each heel. Although they are still there I no longer feel them. Then after a couple of weeks (actually upon heading into Big Bear City) I developed another one on the inside of my left heel. This too I don’t feel. My right ankle is a bit sensitive, which has carried over from my preparation hiking in and around Austin. However it hasn’t hurt enough to make me limp, but sometimes after I stop for the day I catch it just right and it hurts. My knees are good. My hips are good. As for the rest of me. My core is fine – no tummy problems. And my brain is still crazy for thinking I might do this.

Here are some pictures of my dear old feet at 450 miles. Oh, they had just gotten a shower too!

Naturally you go under it by walking through a long dark spooky drainage culvert. This one just outside of Agua Dulce.

Way way down is the KOA campground I stayed at last night. What was especially nice was the campground cantina which served dinner, cold soda, breakfast of pancakes, and cold soda. Oh did I mention they served cold soda. Boy was I thirsty. You’ve got to understand that during the hours and hours of hiking you begin to fantasize about stuff and I had been dreaming about COLD SODA!

Just outside of the KOA near Acton CA I came upon this stone monument with a brass PCT medallion mounted on top. Rumor has it this was done to commemorate the completion of the PCT trail.