Walks A Ways: PCT Day 80

Monday, August 1, 2022

PCT Day 80

PCT Day 80, 31 July 2022 (Sunday)

“Call The MD”

Start Location:	Wilderness Campsite	Destination:	Mt. Shasta City
PCT Miles Day 80:	11.8	Cum PCT Miles:	1,501.2
Non-PCT Miles Day 80:	0.2	Cum All Miles:	1602.9
PCT Miles Remaining:	1,151.4
Elevation Gain Day 80:	344	Cum Elevation Gain:	256,619

The last 10 days we’re not the physically hardest of the hike, but they were probably mentally the hardest. Six plus straight days of walking through devastating burn areas, whacking through dozens of miles of absolutely, irresponsibly unmaintained trail, very hot temps, difficult water situations, dealing with the worst mosquitoes of the hike, and then being hit with the sudden realization that, after hiking this far, completing a continuous foot path along the entire length of California may very well not be possible.

Several hikers I’ve spoken to have, at least, a mild case of trail depression. And now having a large fire closing a big section of trail just north of here makes matters worse. Trying to deal with that is not part of the therapy plan.

As for me, I don’t really have a personality type that makes it easy to allow for admitting any feelings of depression, so let’s just say that coming down the trail into Shasta City I’m not feeling an overwhelming sense of joy. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing, as the parts of the trail that aren’t so great make you appreciate even more the parts that are.

By the way, I passed the 1,500 mile marker today, which will be the last significant mile marker that shows the actual number of miles I’ve hiked. Since I will have to skip somewhere up the trail, probably Ashland Oregon, any future mile markers will be off by more than 200 miles, at least for my hike. Oh well.

Shasta looms large in the morning

Castle Crags