We caught the bus from Stagecoach Trails back to Scissors crossing at 8 am and started walking. We took a lot of breaks and only did about 8 miles. We are taking it slow so the blisters can heal. The sun was out in full force again so we were under our umbrellas most of the time. There was at least a slight cool wind blowing.
It's my first cowboy camp tonight. There is not a cloud in the sky and the forecast is for a dry few days.
Looking to take the next few days slow so we can heal up the blisters and also to time it right in order to find the Warner Springs post office open on Monday.
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Nice umbrella photo.
ReplyDeleteUncle Frank and aunty Moira arrived in South Africa on the 26th,we are going to fetch them on Monday for a visit.
Do you still enjoy the trip or are the feet to sore.
groete van pa.
I am glad to read that you are still progressing, Ryno. And you are still with Matt? Have you seen Heather and "Monkey". Are they still progressing?
ReplyDeleteAlas, my feet defeated me, namely the callouses in the middle of the ball of my feet: incredible pain at risk of damaging my ankles and shins as they sought to compensate--too painful to enjoy more hiking. I probably should have stopped at Rodriguez Truck Spur Trail with you guyes, though the weather was probably worse there than Scissors Crossing (I arrived at 21:00 on Wednesday, quite exhausted; though the views were indeed beautiful). The weather at SC was still pretty nasty. I can imagine Matt having problems with that tent. I caught up with "Castle" (that girl at the creek on Day 1) at Barrel Springs. She had similar problems.
Anyway, it was ultimatley the long 23 miles along the endless limbo of the San Felipe Hills trail to Barrel Springs on Thursday that led me to decide that I needed to get off the trail to recover. The 8.5 miles to Warner Springs the next day (Friday, Day 6 for me) confirmed my concern that my feet were in trouble and my legs were at serious risk. Note, however, that Eagle Rock along the way from Barrel Springs to Warner Springs is worth the brief side trip.
So I am back in San Jose (basically due west of Yosemite National Park) healing. My feet need a lot of rest. They keep feeling swollen. It seems that I have fallen victim to one of the classic PCT mishaps, thus joining the ranks of the 50% who do not make the NoBo thru-hike. The hardest part about leaving was the community along the way. I really enjoyed hiking with you and Matt, in particular. I hope that your feet heal, that you make it. Right now, I think that I am more inclined to demote myself to PCT section hiker. Perhaps that approach will better suite my character. Regardless, I definitely need to rework my hiking timeline. It was just too aggressive, not allowing enough time to stop and really linger places, which is what I like most about being in nature anyway. Ridiculous how the progressive, almost workaholic mentality can follow one into the sanctuary of nature.
Anyway, I hope to heal soon to be able to do more of the trail this season. I would probably start farther north than I left off. I will keep following your blog, interested in your progress. What would be great is to connect back with you somewhere near Yosemite if you are interested, or maybe even further south near Mount Whitney. Let me know what you think, if you have a chance. You have my number, or you could respond to this comment or post something on my "Joshua Grubb on the Pacific Crest Trail" Facebook page. I have a lot of re-assessing to do, not to mention physical healing, but I wanted to let you know what happened. Thanks again for the support on the trail. It was invaluable. If you are still with Matt, wish him well for me also. I will try to find his Facebook page, which he said that he was updating, but not knowing his last name it may prove challenging.
Meanwhile, blessings on your continued journey. I wish that I was out there with you. Your shorter mileage sounds wise with regards to letting the feet heal. Wiser than my choices.
Cheers.
Joshua