We awoke early this morning. The hot springs are supposed to be a day use area and we had heard of rangers showing up at 6:00 am and handing out $175 tickets. I left camp at 6:00 am and I was the last of our group to leave. As I left I was able to get a good picture of the hot springs as no one was in the water yet.
The Hot Springs Minus Naked People
The moon was still visible on the horizon as I hiked out of the canyon where the hot springs were located. Pretty cool.
La Luna
After a couple of miles, we crossed a bridge spanning the river that was painted RAINBOW! How cool is that? Rainbow *is* my favorite color.
Rainbow Bridge!
Today I was hiking with a small group of folks which was unusual for me. I typically hike solo and then meet up with fellow hikers at breaks and at the end of the day. Anyway, I was mid-conversion with Halfway about some dumb thing or another when I was stung by a bee on the neck. He turned around to see me flailing about and screaming and just about falling off the edge of trail, not understanding what was wrong. When I stopped screaming I told him about the bee and he pulled the stinger out of my neck. I’m not allergic so after the initial shock wore off, I only had a small mark that looked like a mosquito bite and even that went away in a couple of hours.
The First Dam
Speaking of insect bites, I sat on something during our lunch break today and that’s hurting me a lot more. I’m not sure what got me but it’s in on the back of my upper thigh (ok – my butt) and it itches and hurts. I think it might have been some sort of biting ant. Blerg!
Elise, Halfway and Sevie taking a Break
We eventually hiked out of the Cold Creek Day Use Area and past an old dam. By this point we had gone 5 miles in 2 hours! My fastest day yet so far. I’m getting faster which is encouraging.
Another Dam
The Power Station Benefitting from the Dams
Throughout the afternoon we passed 2 more dams. Eventually we hiked up and over a berm and there was Silverwood Lake suddenly visible directly below us! The wind was whipping around us and I had a hard time waking in a straight line.
Elise and Sevie
Sevie, Halfway, Me and Katrine. It’s Windy!
A View of the Dam from the Other Side of the Lake
The Path Along the Lake
The remaining 3 miles followed the Lake and had fantastic views. Â We hiked quickly and soon made it to the Cleghorn Picnic Area. Â We were inspired to hike fast because word had it that you could order pizza to be delivered here. Â And the rumor was true! Â A flyer was weighed down to a picnic table with a rock and soon everyone had ordered a pizza. Â To be clear we all ordered our own individual pizzas – mostly larges (although I ordered a Medium).
My first official 20 mile day on the PCT. Â Yay!
From Left to Right: Sunshine, Bottom, Halfway, Katrine, Niels, Taco, Elise, Sevie
From Left to Right: MacGyver, Cougar Bait, Hot Coffee
PCT 2017 Stats
PCT Day 29 – Friday May 12
Deep Creek Hot Springs Mile 307.9 to Cleghorn Picnic Area Mile 328.1
PCT Miles Hiked Today: 20.2
Feet Ascended Today: 2457
Feet Descended Today: 2574
Current Elevation: 3365
Steps: 56407
For more on my experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, visit my Pacific Crest Trail 2017 page:
Hi Katy, I’ve been enjoying your blogs. When you come across one of the stores, maybe you should get some meat tenderizer. If you make a paste of it, it will dissolve bee/wasp stingers and also draw the venom out. Also, maybe get some benadryl in case of a reaction. Good hiking to you!!
Thanks John! I definitely have Benadryl in my first aid kit in case I or someone else gets stung. Hadn’t thought of tenderizer though!
As someone who got a lot of stings growing up, a little baking soda and water works as well to counter the acidic poison of the stings.