Day 3. PCT 18.6 miles!!

August 13, 2020

Whew!! What a roller coaster of a day! Physically and emotionally! We woke up at 5am as planned and we’re going by 6:00. Unfortunately, we did not beat the mosquitos as they never went away. There was still at least a hundred of them in between our tent body and rain fly. We couldn’t boil water for oatmeal or coffee. We couldn’t brush our teeth. It was hell. We just had to leave ASAP once we were out of the tent.

We spent the first half of the day climbing and climbing. It really really is a bummer when you can’t stop for more than 5 seconds anywhere without getting attacked by mosquitos. It was like this until about 9:00 when we came to and rested by a nice and sunny, open river. The only reason they were tolerable here was because of the wind.

6:30am

Salmon berries!

Can’t stop won’t stop in Mosquito-Ville

Our less-mosquito heaven

Claire Crossing

I set out the rain fly out to dry at the river and after some snacks we headed on up a giant mountain. We were so tired from the early morning and the stressful and quick-paced morning mosquito-escape/hiking. Our only saving grace up the steep, hours-long mountain was the thought that at the top, we’d be able to FINALLY get some good food in us (since we skipped breakfast), and maybe look at some views. One thing was for sure, the climb WAS beautiful...

Why the foreshadowing of doom you might ask? Because of the MOSQUITOS!!! Truck these taquitos!! (Mmm taquitos!) There was a slight breeze, with no water around for miles, atop a sunny mountaintop... all recipes for a great break/lunch spot. Buuuuuut, they were as bad as ever! Also, to the mosquito repellant companies that claim 12 hours of mosquito protection: I’d like to see your proof!! Did you spray it on some garlic and time how long it took a mosquito to land on it?! Because it lasts about 13.5 minutes before I get attacked again... What gives?!

As you can probably tell, we were very frustrated. Even such a simple rewarding thing like being on top of a mountain you just climbed, taking in the views, had been stripped away. I decided then in my mind that the next section between Snoqualmie and White Pass (100 miles) would NOT be happening if the mosquitos were this bad. It wears you down having to walk constantly all day, and we aren’t in thruhiker shape.

Thankfully, miles later, for the love of all that is good, we got tipped off about a lake called Deep Lake just off a little spur trail. We went down to the lake and found that the wind coming off the lake kept most mosquitos at bay. (You we’re still doomed if you stepped behind any wind block though). I set up the tent body for protection from all the biting flies, (I wish I was joking), and Claire and I both soaked our feet a few times and got some dirt off our mosquito-bite-ridden extremities.

Our private beach at Deep Lake

Burritos in the sun! (not wearing my puffy or rain jacket, shoes and socks, and head-net!!)

We reluctantly left the lake, assuming that we’d be swarmed for the rest of the day by relentless blood-suckers... But, just like that, the tides turned! All of s sudden we found ourselves able to stop without be eaten alive! We started seeing HUCKLEBERRIES! (Which I thought it was too early-season for). Even some more wild raspberries!

Huckleberries

Claire stoked on those raspberries

So many Hucks!

A great afternoon water source, with no Mozzies!

Because of the early start, and the want for a nice campsite with a view, Claire and I trod slowly but surely to a great campsite (but then I found an even better one by scrambling up a steep rock and we are camped up there now!) Our spirits are definitely higher than this morning, but we are still battered and bruised from the long day.

Claire’s hip belt on her pack is maxed out, so instead of 50% weight being carried by the hips and 50% on the shoulders, it’s more like 20% hips and 80% shoulders and her shoulds are killing her! Also, we both have some hot spots on our feet. To top it off, Claire’s right ankle has been hurting and NOW she has two mosquito bites on it too, and it’s swollen up HUGE!

We are only 1/2 way through this 70 mile section. We’ll need to do about 14 miles on each of the next two days to have minimal miles in on Thursday since the weather could turn nasty. Just to get a little perspective on what we’ve been hiking (with full packs with a conservative 7 days of food):

16,179 ft. up and 17,248 ft. down in 70.94 miles

We’ll be taking two days in Snoqualmie and then figuring out our next move (as a team). I know Claire doesn’t blame me for it, but sometimes I get so carried away in the planning I don’t stop to think about all angles before jumping into something (if that makes sense). Well, gonna wake up at 6:00 tomorrow and it’s 10:01pm! Off to bed!