Day 4: a surprise Carrot
I wake up early and I’ve slept so well I can hardly believe it. Nine straight hours smiling in my sleeping bag, what a gift.
I put on my raincoat first thing. The condensation in my tent is so bad that with each slight movement, plump drops rain down on me. My quilt is soaked, my pack is soaked and the outside of my shelter is...dry. Cruel tricks of the universe! I'm a mouth breather. Except Laurie’s tent is soaked inside too, and Sunkist’s, a nice lady we camped with. We each have different shelters with different materials, shapes, and floor situations. Condensation has us all in it’s grip.
We christen Laurie as bogwitch in honor of their particularly wet tent scenario. We all agree the name is perfect because it’s kind of scary and will freak out the squares. I feel ready to hike today, the sun is out at last!!!! I tape my feet and notice some of the sore spots are not blisters. The pads of my feet are just a little bit purple. Actual bruises?! What a world.
Bogwitch hasn’t slept well and I try to keep my enthusiasm at a tolerable pitch. We hike out early, winding down and up and down and up, as Washington is wont to do. I sit and eat a bar. I wonder when I’ll get to pitch my tent to dry it out. I think about nothing, letting the sun warm my back. We are a mile from Hart’s Pass, where we plan to grab our next stretch of food from the outhouse, drink a cup of tea by the ranger station, and take our respective shits.
A man in florescent swirly gaitors stops us, asking if one of us is Muffy. I say Muffy is me and he lets me know that Carrot is at the trailhead, she’s heard about the weather, she has her warm van and the dogs and a cooler full of food.
I cry. Bogwitch cries. We all cry. My steps are faster now, more focused until I see Carrot in the distance. I half jog to Carrot’s arms, smell her nice smells, go into her warm van. I haven't seen her in nearly a month. Things have been so hard. I can't believe it.
We’d thought we’d hike 20.7 miles today, but instead we all drive to Winthrop. I’m dirty and chafey and my throat feels weird but I don’t even care anymore!!!! We eat overpriced Mexican food, shower, change into loaner clothes from Carrot's van. I kiss each dog and I curl in the arms of my love, falling asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow.
This section of the Pacific Crest Trail is on unceded Nlaka'pamux, Syilx/Okanagan, and Columbia-Wenatchi land.