PCT Field Notes

Leaky Luck My air mattress has gotten a leak, so I pretty much slept on the forest duff. It turned out to be quite comfortable and had some of the best sleep in a while. Whether it’s the result of some strange masochism is something I decide not to explore. I still need to fix it though, there will undoubtedly be increasingly uncomfortable surfaces that not even my possible subconscious masochism wants to test. I quickly find a pond where I can submerge my pad after inflating, spotting where a surge of bubbles may come from. I quickly find it. A wear spot right next to the valve. More of a design flaw in my opinion. I try to dry the yellow pad, but my towel can only do so much. I ignore that I should wait until later in the day to try and use the glue patch, as the pad would be more dry, and the instructions call for it to be “completely dry”. “Bahumbug, I can fix it now”, I think to myself. I curse while I struggle to get the patch to stay, all the while an otter dips up and down in t...

Jefferson I wake early and with energy, I have full confidence today will be a good day. Some of the other guys have already packed up and left, which is what I expected. I pass by Poppins’ tent as I leave, not a stir. I feel a little concerned, but not enough to do anything. There is a strong smoke on the east side of the land, likely from the fires. From here I can no longer see Mt Washington, yet the skies to the west are blue, unblemished by any cloud. It’s a mix of burn scar and forest, and going through a transition in the early morning, a hummingbird launches the most aggressive attack on me yet. “Holy shit!”, I yell as I wave my hands crazily in front of me trying to fend off the super sonic bird. And it’s off. My guts don’t feel too great this morning, and I don’t believe it from the hummingbird scare, but some kombucha I had the day before. Hopefully not another ailment brewing in my body. For the first time in months, an overcast sky rolls in. It’s mixed with smoke, which pr...

Ill Turn There were some odd noises in the night, then in the early morning the wood ducks were making a ruckus. I turn over in my sleeping my and I’m shocked at the extreme pain in my knee. I try to bend it and the pain is sharp, right above the knee cap. I’m slow to get out, Mother Teresa and Mayor have already headed out, around 6 am. The night before ill, like I may puke if I lay on the wrong side, and I feel tired from the restless sleep. I really did enjoy Charlton Lake, and it was interesting how the burn scar coming up stopped right next to the campsite. Further along the trail I see some elk tracks. I take some time to warm up my knee, but using it is difficult, as it also feels incredibly weak. I wonder if I tweaked it in some mid-slumber cramp. I decide the best way to address pain and the feeling of residual illness is to approach it the same way I approach a slow water filter, flush. I guzzle water throughout the day, having to pee nearly every half hour. I feel betrayed b...