Daily Mileage

14.01

Elevation

2211 up
1043 down

Campsite

3rd Gate Water Cache

Total Miles Hiked

91.2

Hours Spent Hiking

4 Hours 57 Minutes

The Best Part?

The trail and finding new hiking friends!

What did I learn?

I drink a lot of water. Need to be smart about water sources especially in these drier sections.

PCT Trail Journal: Day 9 Scissors Crossing to 3rd Gate Water Cache 

Day 9 from Scissors Crossing to 3rd Gate Water Cache was glorious! 

I woke up early at Stagecoach and started getting ready:

-Took another shower
-Drank hot coffee and ate oats
-Talked to my love

I said goodbye to Hannah, Liam, and Jorrit. It was so nice talking with them. I will miss them.

There were some hikers standing on the road looking for a hitch so I went to join them. The Fossil lady came right away and dropped us off at Scissors Crossing.

The trail was in a beautiful desert landscape and slowly climbed up. The trail followed the edge of the mountain and had great views the whole time. Sometimes you crossed into the meadowy type areas with big granite boulders and those areas were super awesome too. There were crazy wildflowers everywhere. It was unreal. They were covering the mountainside. There were tons of lupines, scorpion weeds, poppies, chia, fiddleneck and a ton of flowers that I don’t know the name of. It was so peaceful to hike and listen to the Fifth Season. I am really getting into that book.

While hiking, I realized today is Thursday (you seem to lose track of days out here) and I was about 30 miles from Warner Springs. They close at 1:30 on Saturdays. I want to make it there by Saturday morning so I don’t have to wait an extra day there. It is a small town without good amenities.

I hiked about 5 miles and then met a guy, Nick, that also has blisters. We met at 2 foot outfitters when asking the lady about blister care. We bonded over having bad blisters. I am not going to lie it felt good to know someone else was suffering from blisters. Then we met at the brewery later where I told him there is plenty of space at Stagecoach.

Nick saw me on the trail today and was really excited because he was feeling bad that he didn’t share his blister tape with me. We ended up hiking together and the miles flew by. There were 2 other guys in his group and hiking with them made the day really fun. We talked about all kinds of stuff and it made the day super enjoyable.

My blisters started to reform a little bit. I let them dry out and retaped them. The new shoes seem to be ok. There is a tiny bit of rubbing but it is better than the other shoes.

We saw a guy on the trail that was walking in socks or barefoot. His feet were super swollen and wouldn’t fit into his shoes anymore. I felt really bad and loaned him my camp shoes. He said it really helped when he gave the back at the water source later. Poor guy. He really should have bought new shoes in town. It’s a long ways to more shoes.

We made it to the water cache around 2 pm and had a lovely afternoon chilling in camp. I ate snacks, talked, laughed, and Matt sewed up the holes in my pants. He made all his own gear so he is a good sewer. It was sweet of him. But my pants look a little ridiculous. Like there are eyes on my butt. I’m happy they got sewed up though!

The water cache is pallets of water from Costco that trail angels drive up here. There is a spot for empty bottles and to donate money. It’s crazy that people do this. And awesome because if this water wasn’t here it would be a really long water carry. It was already 14 miles to get to this water source.

Today was a really good day. I was super happy to be back on the trail and hiking again with feet that were hurting too bad. The trail, views, and wildflowers were so great. I’m happy to be back and can’t wait for more great trail days.

Trail Self-Reflection

Day 9 Scissors crossing to 3rd gate water cache

✨3 Things I’m Grateful For

1. My feet doing better
2. Being on the trail again
3. Finding cool hiking friends

So many flowers on the trail

✨3 Things I’m Excited About

1. Getting my box at Warner Springs
2. Meeting my love in Palm Springs
3. More hiking!

scissors crossing to 3rd water gate<br />

🌟How Was Today? Did I enjoy it?

Today was a great day. The vibes were good. Everyone was excited to be back out on the trail again. Especially me. I loved the trail, the flowers, and the views.

Water cache thanks trail angels!

⛺How Was My Gear?

There are now 3 holes in the butt of my Eddie Bauer hiking pants and the crotch seam blew out. Matt sewed it for me.

Sewed up pants!

💪How did my Body Feel?

My back was really unhappy with the weight of the back. I started with 6 liters of water plus 3 days worth of food. It was definitely over 30 lbs. My blisters were getting a little rubbed but no serious pain.

scissors crossing to 3rd gate water cache<br />

🍴How was my food situation?

I’m food rich! I had lots of snacks and meals. I will be good until Warner Springs.

PCT hikers really do look like homeless people

🤔What did I learn and how will I action it?

Be easy on my feet and they will let me hike big miles. I will take lots of breaks on the trail and listen to them.

Read Other PCT Trail Journals

✨Day 7 & 8, Day 6, Day 5 , Day 4 , Day 3, Day 2, Day 1

Map for Hiking the PCT

Maps are fun. Plus you should always have a paper map. 

Nat Geo PCT Map Pack Thumbnail

PCT National Geographic Maps

Map pack for the PCT (affiliate link)!

Get more inspired to get outside:

PCT Trail Journal Day 37: Messenger Flats Campground to Mile 415.1

by | March 3, 2024 | PCT 2023, Trail Journal | 1,812 Comments

15.692762 feet up2421 feet down Mile 415.1 (the best campsite!)381.66 hours 7 minutes🌞Getting pizza delivered to the fire station👉Chatting with NOBOs is a great way to get the intel on the trailMay 18, 2023 PCT Trail Journal: Day 37 Messenger Flats Campground To Mile...
Read More

PCT Trail Journal: Day 36 Mile 440.2 to Messenger Flats Campground

by | February 25, 2024 | PCT 2023, Trail Journal | 1,069 Comments

10.243802 feet up699 feet down Messenger Flats Campground366.35 hours 9 minutes🌞Completing the up and ice cream trail magic👉I like not being rushed in the morningMay 17, 2023 PCT Trail Journal: Day 36 Mile 440.2 Messenger Flats Campground Day 36 on the PCT from Mile...
Read More

PCT Trail Summary: Week 5 Mile 549.0 to 49ers Saloon

by | February 25, 2024 | PCT 2023, PCT Trail Summaries | 491 Comments

PCT Trail Summary: Week 5 Mile 540.0 to 49ers Saloon Dates Hiked May 8 - May 14, 202396.012,460 feet up16,067 feet down38 Hours 21 Minutes💛Being warm again 💛Surviving the aqueduct and hiking it when it was cold(er) 💛Getting a trail family and them motivating me! 💛 So...
Read More

PCT Trail Summary Week 4: Walker Pass to Mile 549.0

by | February 18, 2024 | Outdoors | 465 Comments

PCT Trail Summary: Week  4 Walker Pass to Mile 549.0 Dates Hiked May 1 - May 7, 202397.1 19,527 feet up18,593 feet down36 Hours 04 Minutes💛The views, wildflowers, & Joshua Trees 💛Other hikers 💛Rest day in TehachapiFinally making it to Tehachapi and getting warm. I...
Read More

PCT Trail Journal Day 35: Vasquez Rocks to Mile 440.2

by | February 18, 2024 | PCT 2023, Trail Journal | 522 Comments

13.652323 feet up2172 feet down Mile 440.2356.16 hours 21 minutes🌞Coffee from the grocery store. And watching a tortoise eating salad for breakfast👉My new insoles seem pretty ok. May 16, 2023 PCT Trail Journal: Day 35 Vasquez Rocks to Mile 440.2 Day 35 on the PCT from...
Read More

PCT Trail Journal Days 33 & 34: Accidental Double Zero in Serenity Oasis & 49ers Saloon

by | February 11, 2024 | PCT 2023, Trail Journal | 1,617 Comments

00Serenity Oasis & 49ers Saloon342.90 minutes🌞Margaritas & chilling at the mobile 2 Foot adventures👉My feet didn't hurt at all today. Probably because I wasn't hiking. 👉Be careful when cutting insoles. You don't want to grab the wrong foot. May 14 & 15,...
Read More

PCT Trail Journal Day 32: Mile 471.4 to Serenity Oasis

by | February 11, 2024 | PCT 2023, Trail Journal | 2,437 Comments

16.032464 feet up3524 feet downSerenity Oasis342.96 hours 53 minutes🌞Getting to Serenity Oasis and margaritas!👉It's getting hot out! Going to have to start taking siestas during the dayMay 13, 2023 PCT Trail Journal: Day 31 Mile 471.4 to Serenity Oasis Day 31 on the...
Read More

PCT Trail Journal Day 31: Lake Hughes Road to Mile 471.4

by | February 4, 2024 | PCT 2023, Trail Journal | 275 Comments

14.872303 feet up1644 feet downMile 471.4326.2 5 hours 50 minutes🌞Late start (9:45 am), ice cream from the Green Valley Market and a long break👉Poisonous plants suckMay 12, 2023 PCT Trail Journal: Day 31 Lake Hughes Road to Mile 471.4 Mentally day 31 from Lake Hughes...
Read More

PCT Trail Journal Day 30: Bear Camp to Lake Hughes Road

by | February 4, 2024 | PCT 2023, Trail Journal | 452 Comments

19.261722 feet up4068 feet downLake Hughes Road312.07 hours 38 minutes🌞Chilling by the beautiful stream at the end of the day👉I need shorter mileage days. Today didn't feel good.May 11, 2023 PCT Trail Journal: Day 30 Bear Camp to Lake Hughes Road Let me start by...
Read More

PCT Trail Journal Day 29: Hikertown to Bear Camp

by | January 28, 2024 | PCT 2023, Trail Journal | 334 Comments

13.663937 feet up1591 feet downBear Camp (Mile 504.6)293.05 hours 59 minutes🌞Getting breakfast at Neenach market and getting up that huge hill👉Going uphill is hardMay 10, 2023  PCT Trail Journal: Day 29 Hikertown to Bear Camp On day 29 of the PCT, I slept until about...
Read More