Journey Day 82 | PCT Day 82
Hawkins Peak in haze near Carson Pass.
7/7/85
From spot, I’m up with the dawn for 3rd 20-mile day. As usual, begin by climbing. Surprisingly hard hiking, up, down and around through granite and trees. Come to Sunset Lakes. Stumble around confused for about 30 minutes, then as I ask others for help, I figure it out for myself and hike on. Many campers near lake still sleeping as I strive to orient myself.
On to Blue Lakes Road. Relatively busy with cars. Breaking across road behind a rock, tired and in need of fuel, a hiker goes by. I catch him. He gives me a candy bar. He’s been out about 1 ½ months but not intending to get anywhere definite. I see a deer behind a rock. I hike on and get lost again on a nipple above Blue Lakes, when he shows up again. I yell hello, ask direction and again find the trail as I’m asking for help.
Long volcanic ridge walk above lakes. Breaking at the bottom, no water for lunch, when a Mexican man and little boys stop. We talk, the hiker catches me again. He stops for lunch apparently satisfied with lake water or stream from it.
I hike on for about three miles to closed jeep road, decide it is the trail. Hike down to realize I’ve strayed again. But go cross-country to catch on to it. Find stream for lunch.
As I’m filling up, Dr. Norman Briggs, head of physiology department at the Medical School of Virginia, comes up. We break together.
He’s 61, day hiking a 15-mile circle. Explaining membrane permeability and his discovery related to this, electrical controlling mechanical, as we climb to Carson Pass. He points out sites, plus give me a nature lesson on wild flowers blooming everywhere. Soon we’re at the pass. I sit with him until his wife drives up. We talk, they leave.
Young family comes by, marvels at my travels. But I’m off again to Showers Lake.
Climb up again, this time to Meiss Pass. Then across the meadow across from Meiss Lake. Bugs hit again. I’m exhausted as I walk on to the lake. Climb through a dense field of flowers, bushes, up to the lake. Take 1st spot. Eat quickly as mosquitoes jump me.
Into tent and off to dreamland. 21.5 miles. Makes third day of 20 or more. Since I’ve gone solo, long miles come easier. Very tough still, but without others’ concerns, an early start and steady pace, seems to add up to big mileage.
