Daily Mileage

11.41

Elevation

2260 up
1414 down

Campsite

Boulder Oaks Campground

Total Miles Hiked

15.1

Hours Spent Hiking

4 hours 40 minutes

 

The Best Part?

Breakfast crossiant at Lake Morena

 

What did I learn?

This is hard and blisters hurt

 

PCT Trail Journal: Hauser Creek to Boulder Oaks Campground (Miles 15.1 to 26) Overview

On day 2 (Hauser Creek to Boulder Oaks Campground) I learned that blisters really suck and that hiking friends are awesome.

It was a pretty rough day. I didn’t sleep well and felt pretty tired in the morning. It rained a ton and my tent was under a big tree. There were a lot of loud drops. Coffee and food made me feel human again. Everything in my tent stayed dry. I packed my sleeping bags and clothes in a garbage bag because I was afraid of them getting wet. I put my wet tent on the outside of my backpack and it worked pretty well.

When I opened my tent, I was the only one there. I was the last one to leave Hauser Creek.

My hips are very sore and achy. I have blisters on:

-The bottom of my left pinky toe
-Left inner heel
-Right inner heel

My feet were not happy today.

The trail was wet. I was smart and put on my waterproof socks and rain pants to try to stay a little dry.

The climb out of Hauser Creek was about 1000 feet and in a cloud. I started hiking with two older folks, Happy 6 and 20 D. They were really nice and I hiked with them they whole day. We just talked and talked and it made the miles fly by. They hiked 1500 miles of the PCT last year and were back for more. They had a lot of great advice and I loved hiking with them.

We hiked 5 miles to Lake Morena Cafe and I ordered a breakfast crossiant with bacon, egg, and cheese. It was nice to sit inside where it was warm. We talked to a general contractor and his family. He asked a lot of questions about hiking on the trail. The breakfast croissant was life changing.  So good!

We walked by Lake Morena and it was really scenic. It was mostly cloudy but the sun popped out. It was nice to get warmed up. And for our stuff to start to dry.

We hiked another 6 miles to Boulder Oaks campground. There was one road walk on a bridge to avoid a water crossing and a wet crossing. I took my shoes off for it. The water was freezing.

I was having a lot of positive thoughts today about how good I was doing even though things were killing me. I am really proud of myself.

I’m so glad I found folks to hike with. I don’t think I would have made it as far without them.

Trail Self-Reflection

Peenz waking up alone at Hauser Creek

✨3 Things I’m Grateful For

1. Hiking with Happy 6 and D 20.

2. My gear seems to be working pretty well. I haven’t gotten cold.

3. Town food!

Breakfast croissant at Lake Morena

✨3 Things I’m Excited About

1. Just being here on this trail and starting to get it figured out.

2. Warmer, nicer weather coming. I want to the sun and warmer nights.

3. More hiking.

Hauser Creek to Boulder Oaks Campground

🌟How Was Today? Did I enjoy it?

It was a rough day but also good. I am glad I am here. I was really tired and low energy today and am really proud how far I made it. 26 miles in 2 days! Go me!

Hauser Creek to Boulder Oaks Campground massive pinecone

⛺How Was My Gear?

My new mattress is super warm. I like it. Don’t know about the inflating bag. I stayed dry and warm last night so that was a win. There is a hole in the mesh of my tent so that’s a big bummer city. I need to figure out how to fix that. My rain gear worked well when hiking in the cloud.

I love my tent!

PCT tent city at Boulder Oaks Campground

💪How did my Body Feel?

Not a good body day today. Both hips were very achy and sore. Plus the blisters on my feet were killing me. On a more positive note my right neck and shoulder aren’t hurting.

Mac n cheese with extra cheese

🍴How was my food situation?

Food worked out well. Didn’t eat too much after the breakfast crossiant. I love the olive oil packets. They taste so good!

Wildflowers in the way to lake morena

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

I didn’t take a lot of breaks. The same as when I am at work. Need to work on this. It’s cool to take breaks!

Map for Hiking the PCT

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

Get more inspired to get outside:

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

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...

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

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...

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

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...

PCT Trail Summary Week 4: Walker Pass to Mile 549.0

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...

PCT Trail Journal Day 35: Vasquez Rocks to Mile 440.2

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...

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

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,...

PCT Trail Journal Day 32: Mile 471.4 to Serenity Oasis

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...

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

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...

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

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...

PCT Trail Journal Day 29: Hikertown to Bear Camp

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...