I decided today that I really need to get off my feet for a couple of days. For the last few days I have gotten used to the first couple of miles hurting, as muscles loosen up and blisters slide into place. Usually the first two miles are fairly painful, but then my body adjusts and the rest of the day is relatively pain free. I know when to take a break when the aches start to return. Heat rash is mostly gone, and sore muscles are a thing of the past. Even most of my blisters seem to be healing nicely. So at first I thought I could keep up this pace.
Today my knee and the small toe on my right foot were nagging me. I gave it a few miles to work out but the pain only grew worse. The beginning of the day was downhill, which explained my knee, but I couldn't figure out the toe. I have a pretty strong tolerance for pain, but after 11 miles I couldn't do it any more. I took a Vicodin, which had eased my pain by the time I stopped for lunch a few miles later. I refilled my water at a small spring, ate, and had a look at my toe. Looks like a blister has gotten infected. So I cleaned it, lanced it, doused it in antibiotic cream, wrapped it in gauze and sealed the whole thing with duct tape.
Determined not to let a little pain ruin my day, I continued my hike down into the valley that contains both Terwillager and Anza (pictured). Water wasn't a huge issue, becaise every time I grew concerned, there was another spring or, as was the case about a mile baxk, a great water cache. I found an amazing set of boulders on a hill overlooking the valley. They provide shade and shelter, which is rare around here. So, with a couple hours of day left I decided to call it quits. I made perhaps 21 or 22 miles today.
I could stop in Anza to let my feet recover, but Idyllwild is not too far now. I have a reaupply box in Idyllwild, plus there will be more hotels, restaurants, and shops there. Not to mention it will be cooler! I have decided to stay there two nights, just to give my body the time it needs to really recover.
I did meet some day hikers today. They were very excited to hear I was a PCT through hiker. "Oh good, I was afraid we wouldn't see any on our hike today," the wife said. It made me feel good, and a bit of an oddety at the same time. Kind of like when my parents get excited about seeing a dolphin. "Kind of scruffy looking." "Yeah, well usually they're not even migrating this time of year, so maybe something's wrong with him." I will give her credit, she gave me a high five as she passed. If I were her I wouldn't want to tpuch me. Hell I don't want to touch me and I AM me.
By the way, the peak in the background of the picture is Mt. San Jacinto. In the next couple of days I'll be working my way up to 8000 feet!
