PCT Day 71 Weight Loss

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Mileage 20.8

Bushcamp (1063.3) to Showers Lake (1084.1)

I was reluctant to leave the relative safety of the tent. I just didn’t feel like doing battle with the enemy today. Gingerly I exited the tent but the enemy did not appear. KC and I were able to have breakfast before setting off down the trail. The enemy spotted us and moved in for battle. We deployed our chemical weapons. The mosquitoes were temporarily muted. 

The rest of the day was a blur. The scenery was unable to provide visual stimulation unlike almost every other day thus far. There were glimpses of wildflowers which provided both smell and colour to the day. I just wasn’t feeling the trail today. I guess there are days like that.

Mid afternoon saw the arrival of the sweet smelling day hikers. Perfume, cologne, deodorant and soap. Not a speck of dirt on their clothing. We were a total contrast, as night is to day. We reached the car park from which the day hikers materialised. Carson Pass, there was an information centre. A PCT friendly information centre. We were treated like rock stars. Complete with Pepsi, oranges, Oreos and some new kind of food that I had not tried called a twinky.

We did not want to leave. They also had a weight scale. I’ve lost 6kg (13lb) in the last 350 miles in the sierras! KC has lost a similar weight in the same period. If this continues I’ll end up looking like a PCT thru hiker. Tomorrow we arrive in Lake Tahoe. I plan to demolish the buffet. 

10am

Next : Day 72 To Echo Lake

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About the Author:
Brad is an Australian who has completed the hiking Triple Crown after he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail. He has hiked on every continent (except Antarctica) and has cycled from Alaska to Ecuador. He is an expert on outdoor gear currently living in Chile.

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11 thoughts on “PCT Day 71 Weight Loss”

  1. Showers Lake … a favorite of mine even with all the other “backpackers”. I camped on the back side of the lake among the boulders to get away.

    Reply
  2. I have been following ur blog. Very interesting,fun and educational
    When are you guy,s coming thru Oregon? Near Willamette pass Rosary lakes. Would like to surprise u guys with some comfort. We are bunch of veterans and I hope to rally some up and meet you. I. Was going to do the Oregon part but my window this year will expire before I’m healed.
    Jürgen

    Reply
    • Thanks for the kind words and offer. It hard to plan and predict when we will be near Willamette Pass. I suspect we may be in the area around 10th August, but could be many days either side of that. Possibly keep an eye on the blog and watch my progress. I hope to leave Ashland before the start of August. Would be great to catch up with you if possible. Hope you heal quickly.

      Reply
  3. Don’t be too rough on those day hikers. (unless of course they are leaving evidence that they have been there) We can’t all live the dream!

    Reply
  4. When I spent 20 days on Denali (Mount McKinley) there was one person in our group that had sweaty feet so they had a small piece of lavender scented deodorant stick they used. They claimed that their feet smelled better at the end of the hike than the start. I took their work for it

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    • I’m sure that would work. I gave up on using deodorant a long time ago, it just doesn’t make any difference anymore.

      Reply
    • Most if not all long distance hikers smell similar. Where do I start. A combination of strong underarm body odour mixed with poor foot hygiene and several day old sweat stained clothing. Usually 2-3 days on the trail is enough for the smell to start. Swimming and or washing in mountain streams helps to temporarily negate the smell, most of the time!

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