Hikingsolo on the PCT: August 2

August 2 - Mice Start

Actually mice didn't start today, they ended yesterday, quite abruptly for the family that invaded my cozy campsite at 10:30 last night. Never mind that I was sort of glad that they woke me up since I had slept through my alarm to take my pill. Headlamps invaded my space, tiny as it was, in a desperate search for a new campsite for the displaced retirees and their thirty something son. They had decided to stay at Rock Creek, fortunately for me, taking up the three decent sites and leaving only two marginal sites available. Squeek was in one site trying to decide if he was going to stay as I arrived. The other site was crap! So after a quick swim in the wonderfully cold creek I heeded the warnings of others and took off up trail another miles to a campsite 'nearby' a seasonal stream.

The word 'nearby' is how Halfmile CHA when the campsite could be before, after, or up to 100 yards away in the forest. This one was up an old unused trail and I was ecstatic to be alone there as it wasn't very big and was easily overlooked, I thought. But if anyone could find it a couple who had just experienced the horror of mice chewing through the bottom of their tent and then invading as they slept were certainly candidates for success. As they scrambled to get the mice out they checked their neighbor to find about twenty mice having a party on his pack. That sealed the deal - they were outa there.

They apologized profusely for waking me up, and I felt bad for their plight, so I pointed out the small areas close by so they could set up. To their credit they were very quiet I was asleep again in no time.

In the morning I was up early and down the trail to avoid the heat. That didn't happen, so a dip in the Wind River and several head washings in other creeks kept me coolish. I ended the day with a 3.5 mile hill climb. The other six miles will come in the morning.

It's so humid here that big trees grow out of old dead ones.

Slugs on the trail. Lots of them!

The swellbow is still there but it's getting better.

One of the many bridges crossing big creeks.

Another bridge.