Daily Mileage

15.00

Elevation

1837 up
2526 down

Campsite

Mile 56.2

Total Miles Hiked

56.2

Hours Spent Hiking

5 hours 55 minutes

 

The Best Part?

The section of the trail past the picnic area on the edge of a mountain with great desert views

 

What Did I learn?

✨Need to take better care of my feet
✨Need to take breaks

 

PCT Trail Journal: Mt Laguna to Mile 56.2 (Miles 48.7 to 56.2) Overview

Sleep was ok for it being a cold night. My gear kept me nice and warm and it felt good. There was 3x trail magic today:

✨Fresh fruit from the trail angels in the campground

✨Tons of bars from the same folks

✨Annette and Diane at Pioneer Mills Picnic Area

It started with a nice walk in a pine forest. My feet were feeling ok in the beginning. After 6 miles the feet started acting up again. Mainly my pinky toe was hurting. The heels were feeling ok.

My feet were really starting to hurt but I was still enjoying the trail. I didn’t think about quitting one time. I really like being out here. The trail is so nice. I just wish my feet were better.

I switched over to my camp shoes and that felt better on my heals. I walked in them for the rest of the day (almost 6 miles).

At pioneer mill picnic area there were amazing trail angels, Diane and Annette. They had a whole spread and I definitely felt better after sitting there for a little bit. I couldn’t eat anything because I just ate a bunch of food. But I took a bunch of snacks. Their generosity was amazing. One of them said that they lay awake at night worrying about PCT hikers. So sweet.

A ranger came. She said she was a crest runner just working on the PCT. It is her job to check permits and educate folks on fire. She checked all of our permits and signed them.

The hike out of the picnic area was amazing. It was on the edge of the mountain overlooking the desert. The views were great. I absolutely loved that area of the trail. That and the trail angels picked up my mood a lot. My feet were hurting so bad.

I hobbled the remaing 5 miles to a campsite next to a stream. Two guys I camped next to last night were there. Slowly tons of other thru-hikers came and the site is completely packed. Tents on top of tents.

Dib, guy from Amsterdam, gave me Compeed things for my blisters. I lanced them and then put on the compeed pads. They feel so much better.

I had a fun afternoon hanging out at camp with other thru-hikers.  We operated on our feet, ate dinner, and laughed a lot.

 Read about my day 3 on the PCT here. 

Trail Self-Reflection

Mt Laguna to Mile 56.2

✨3 Things I’m Grateful For

1. Win and Steve – I loved hiking with them

2. Trail angels and trail magic

3. The compeed pads from Dib

Mt Laguna to Mile 56.2

✨3 Things I’m Excited About

1. Going to Julian.

2. Hiking more with my feet feeling better.

3. Hiking the rest of this trail.

trail magic pioneer mills picnic area

🌟How Was Today? Did I enjoy it?

It was a hard day but I enjoyed it. I was suffering but didn’t want to leave. I just want my feet better. I love being on the trail. The hiking is so good.

Trail angels

⛺How Was My Gear?

So happy with my sleep system. It was cold last night and I stayed warm. I am grateful for my campshoes and being able to hike in them.

hurt feet

💪How did my Body Feel?

My right neck/shoulder was really hurting. Maybe when this happens I should take a break.

PCT tent city at mile 56.2

🍴How was my food situation?

I ate so much food from trail angels. Fruit in the morning. Then grabbed bars. And then got more food at the picnic area. I am out of lunch food but have a lot of snacks.

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 21 Bird Spring Pass to Kelso Road

15.652822 feet up3287 feet down Kelso Road188.56 hours 3 minutes🌟Hiking through 5+ miles of Joshua Tree forest👉The down is really hurting my left knee.May 2, 2023  PCT Trail Journal: Day 21 Bird Spring Pass to Kelso Road The wind was howling all night. I'm glad I had...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 20 Walker Pass to Bird Spring Pass

21.114163 feet up3845 feet down Bird Spring Pass173.67 Hours 48 minutes🌟Wildflowers + Joshua Trees👉Need to be more careful with my gear so I don't destroy it all. May 1, 2023  PCT Trail Journal: Day 20 Walker Pass to Bird Spring Pass I slept ok. I woke up a lot but...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 19 Walker Pass to Walker Pass Campground

0.8836 feet up 259 feet down Walker Pass Campground152.60.3🌟Seeing my love👉Don't panic, everything will be fine. April 30, 2023  PCT Trail Journal: Day 19 Walker Pass to Walker Pass Campground Day 19 started out with a great morning with my significant other. We...

PCT Trail Journal: Days 15 – 18 Rest Days in Idyllwild & Palm Springs

00Idyllwild Airbnb & Hotel in Palm Springs151.80🌟Face mask, lotion, and a hot bath 🌟Nice comfy soft beds 👉It's ok to not hike hard on the trail all the time. 👉Planning a flip is hard and the weather should definitely be considered. 👉Being a thru-hiker means doing...

PCT Trail Summary: Week 2 Miles 68.4 to 131.6

PCT Trail Summary: Week 2 Miles 68.4 to 131.6 Dates Hiked April 17 - April 23, 202365.19,327 up8,338 down21 Hours 18 Minutes💖Seeing Kari from my hometown! 💖Resting at Stagecoach - the folks were so friendly 💖Hanging in Julian with Hannah, Jorrit and Liam 💖Hiking with...

PCT Trail Summary: Week 1 Campo to Mile 68.4

PCT Trail Summary: Week 1 Campo to Mile 68.4 Dates Hiked April 12 - April 16, 202368.411,037 up10,161 down26.9 HoursHiking with Happy6 & 20D The wildflowers 🌸 My positive mindsetOther hikers & flowers!I would listen to my body more and not suffer through so...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 14 Mile 146.1 to Paradise Valley Cafe (Mile 151.8)

6.21909 up873 downIdyllwild Airbnb151.82 Hours 4 MinutesIdyllwild and town food!I start out with big hunger and then can't eat everythingApril 25th, 2023PCT Trail Journal: Day 14 Mile 146.1 to Paradise Valley Cafe (Mile 151.8) Hiked on April 25th, 2023 On day 14 of...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 13 Miles 131.6 to 146.1

15.612405 up2336 downMile 146.1146.16 Hours 11 MinutesThe wildflowers 🌼🌼🌼Need larger battery pack ASAP!PCT Trail Journal: Day 13 Miles 131.6 to 146.1 Miles 131.6 to 146.1 on the PCT were good and hot filled with more wildflowers than you could imagine. There was a lot...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 12 Miles 115.4 to 131.6

16.033291 up1906 downMile 131.6131.65 Hours 50 MinutesListening to my book while hikingI am quite dirty. So dirty that bandaids and tape won't stick to my skin. PCT Trail Journal: Day 12 Miles 115.4 to 131.6 Miles 115.4 to 131.6 were both hard and gave me a sense of...

PCT Trail Journal: Day 11 Miles 104.8 to 115.4

13.531519 up1513 downMile 115.4115.44 Hours 56 MinutesWalking through field after field of wildflowers I don't need 10 bars per day and should focus on the base meals in resupply boxesPCT Trail Journal: Day 11 Miles 104.8 to 115.4 Miles 104.8 to 115.4 on the PCT were...