Day 126

Campsite to mirror lake - 31.1 miles

Total - 1960.3 miles

Woke up to everything damp once again but it was okay as the sunrise was incredible. The sky was painted orange and pink coloring the clouds. You could see the south sister mountain had developed layers of lenticular clouds which are always so gorgeous to look at. The burn zone that we were in was gorgeous only because of the sky. It was a pretty easy day but I don’t remember much of the first 18 miles as I was yapping Gigs ear off who I had just met. I was gossiping and practically trauma dumping to her but she was so cool and kind that I don’t think she cared. At least that’s what I’m going to tell myself. She works as a firefighter in Montana which is so cool. She also had such a calming voice that I bet everyone just trusts her blindly like I would. We were yapping together and Marc heard and he was struggling as he was an eepy boy so he trailed behind us and listened to our yap session like we were a podcast. I had taken some caffeine pills so that was definitely contributing to my yap session. Eventually we stopped around 11 for a break and we realized how far we had come aka 18 miles. We took a lil break and ate an early lunch. The weather also had been amazing all day with low clouds blocking the sun. I barely drank any water so I had to down some liters to make up for dry mouth from the yap session lol. We parted ways with her and cruised another 9ish miles to round out our average to 26ish by 3pm. Truly impressive but the terrain was hella flat. We got to elk resort turn off before taking another lil break before pushing on the last 5 to make it to mirror lake for camp. Ben ended up hitching from shelter cove to elk lake to catch up with us. I still got to camp first and waited for the guys to catch up as Marc was calling Leonie. I did the 31 by 4:45 which felt pretty good today. More mosquitos than I would like at camp. We were waiting to see who owned the backpack at our preferred site but they didn’t show up for another hour and a half so we set up I think taking her spot. But she didn’t set anything up so it was hard to tell if she wanted to the site or not. I cooked dinner and ate before finishing off my chores and getting into bed to scroll lol. Too many mosquitos to want to be outside but it’s not as bad as Yosemite. It’s supposed to rain a lot tomorrow so trying to enjoy the warm while I still can.

Marc and I had a good conversation today about people skipping miles. Obviously I’ve skipped about 150 miles. Something along those lines. Half of them have been recommended by the pcta and the other half have been small hitches that skip about a couple miles while 50 of them have been from a timing issue. I don’t have a problem with people skipping whatsoever especially for timing issues or something along those lines. What we really talked about was diminishing achievements. I’ve always said I want to be transparent that I have technically not done the entire PCT as I have skipped miles like I’ve said. I think it’s being honest but he told me it was diminishing my own achievements as I have hiked the pct even with the skips. It’s hard to fully accept it as I feel like I have to overachieve to be taken seriously. I have to be super good at something to be considered. He really put it into perspective that it’s okay to claim something and to be fully proud of it. Idk it was helpful. I’ve learned a lot on this trail and it continues to give me lessons when I think I’ve learned enough lol. He had said awhile ago that he doesn’t know if the trail can provide anything more for him. I at the time said I don’t really like that statement because why do you always have to get something out of a situation for you to continue with that journey. Today, we both agreed that you continue to learn so much on trail even when you think you’ve gotten everything out of an experience. For me, I’ve become a better communicator as well as being okay with claiming my achievements. It’s been nice to reflect especially now we are within 700 miles of the end of this long ass journey.

There is also a survey called the halfway anywhere survey where this guy asks you questions and then he compiles all the answers and posts them for the next PCT class. Here’s my advice so far thag I’ve thought of

• be a floater as you meet so many more people and you can hike your own hike
• if you are in a group set a precedent and communicate
• before going into the sierras, for the love a god know your limits as well as know how to use an ice axe with proper technique. So many people had to get airlifted out or got extremely hurt because they were not informed. Some got away unscathed but could’ve been way worse
• skipping is a slippery slop

I swear there were more but now I can’t remember them.