Day 41 (30 May) - Mile 430.44 - 444.10

Messenger Flats Campground to KOA Acton

After I finished the blog last night the outside noise went on until around 10:00 PM and then 3 more hikers wandered into camp.  What is with these people hiking so late into the night?

After everyone quieted down I slept really well.  As expected, the noise started at 5:30 AM and I finally stopped trying to ignore it and woke at 5:50 AM.   I got out of the tent and noticed that many people were already gone, but I got a picture of many that were still here.

Hikers, hikers everywhere.

Oh...I was able to get a picture of "Neon Butt Cheeks" before he left camp.

Neon Butt Cheeks.

As I was packing up I started talking to a couple, Double Puff (she carries 2 puffy jackets) and Special Ops. Of course the rattlesnake thing came up so I had to tell the story.  I finally made it out of camp and was ready to hike at 7:38 AM.  Wow...I'm usually not even close to being ready to hike by this time.

Getting an early start.

Today's hike is not supposed to be too hard.  It is 5.63 miles to the North Fork Ranger Station where there is water and picnic tables so that it is the initial goal.  On the way there was some amazing wildflowers and scenery.

Cool mountains in the distance

Cute purple flower

The cool thing about starting early today is that I completed 3.5 miles by 9:00 AM, the time that I usually just get started.

Today, not only do I have to worry about poodle dog bush, but there is a section of the PCT trail that is covered in poison oak.

Careful of the poison oak.

I made it to the North Fork Ranger Station around 10:00 AM.  I filled my water bottles and hung out in the shade on a picnic bench.  Double Puff and Special Ops who I met this morning was there and many other hikers came and went. Even though it was early, I was hungry since I ate breakfast very early, so I decided to take advantage of the picnic table and make lunch.  "Falling" then showed up and made her lunch as well.  Talk about a crazy hiker wrap...she made a salami, pepper jack cheese, flaming hot cheetos, and cheez-its.

Falling's crazy wrap.

Finally the vortex pull of the picnic area released me and I got back on the trail at 11:24 AM.

PCT sign of the day with picnic area in background

The next part of the trail was hot.  It had a downward trend with some steep ups, but it kept bringing us lower and lower into the valley below where the temperature kept rising.  All I thought about for the next 8.24 miles is jumping in the swimming pool at the KOA that I planned on staying at tonight.

Meanwhile, I had a lot of desert mountain scenery to enjoy.

Cool mountains getting closer.

Nifty rock formations in the distance.

As I was taking a bit of a break a hiker passed me and I decided to try to keep up with him for a while.  He was from Denmark and unfortunately I don't remember his name because he didn't have a trail name and his real name was some weird Danish name.  Anyway, he works part-time so that he can travel.  He especially likes the US and has ridden his bicycle across the country 3 times.  He decided to try to walk it this time by doing the PCT.  He is currently doing crazy miles because he is meeting his wife in San Francisco and is behind a week because he had to take time off for blisters.

I told him that I had met another Dane at lunch and he said that he had heard there is a younger guy just behind him.  About and hour later while we were taking a break, the other Dane showed up.  They both went on and on in Danish and was excited to meet.  Now I have to try to keep up with 2 Dane's.  Even though I kept falling behind, I managed to catch up time and time again.

Falling behind a bit.

Finally, at 2:30 PM, the KOA was within reach.

Self-portrait "Almost there"

The KOA had a pretty good deal going for PCT hikers.  For $15 you can pitch your tent, get a hot shower, and use the pool.  I set up my tent, rested a bit, talked to and hung out with a couple from the Netherlands, and was then ready to jump in the pool.  The pool was freezing and felt great.

After swimming I dried off and went to the office to shop for dinner.  Tonight I don't have to cook since the office had plenty of microwavable pizzas and burritos of which i had one of each.  I then hung out a bit on the patio of the office with other thru-hikers.

This is when we realized that all the 20-somethings were off at the gazebo partying and we "older ones" are not.  I guess that is one of the differences between the young and old hikers.  By 7:00 our party broke up and still there was no sign of the younger ones...another difference.

The "older" party.

I climbed into my tent and everything seemed great until the sun went down and the lights came on.  There was a light glaring right in my tent making it look like the middle of the day.  After some frustration I figured out that I can wear my hat and pull it down over my eyes...that should work. 

Tomorrow I arrive at Agua Dulce and meet Tim around 1:00 PM and then take an zero-day after that.  I better get to sleep since I need to start out early tomorrow.  Good night.

My tent at the KOA.

Oh...since there was some nice lighting in my tent, I thought I'd take a picture of what I look like when I blog.  Tonight it is warm enough to use the sleeping bag as a pillow while I blog.

Self-portrait "Blogging in the tent"