Another meaningful day today with the crossing of the border and reaching the PNT! Navigation-wise it is pretty easy from here … just follow the line in the FarOut app (an app that has all the big US and international trails listed). I’m also hoping for fellow hikers to share with!
Had a leisurely morning getting work done, charging devices and organizing the pack, then headed out with Rob from his house towards the border. The pack is definitely heavier now with a 6-day food supply. No ramen for this stretch but plenty of PB 😁
The Ursack (bear proof bag) is fuller but not stretched to the limit. I don’t have a scale so no idea what the pack weighs. My guess is 22lbs or so …
Rob was going to get gas in the US so after a surprisingly friendly chat with the border agent, he was able to drop me right at the trailhead. Not sure if the agent was impressed with my idea of walking to Winthrop (I was convincing!) but he even missed a few standard questions!
From the trailhead at 1880ft I climbed steadily. It was a warm day and felt humid. Some stretches were steep! There is only one water source, a spring at 5 miles, from the bottom all the way to 19 miles in (if pressed you can climb down to some lakes on tomorrow’s stretch but who wants to do extra distance!).
At the spring I ran into my first fellow PNT hiker, Mo from Upstate New York. She did the PNT before but skipped many sections and was back to do it all this time (age estimated 35-40). We had a good chat and I filled all available water containers. That made for a very heavy pack going uphill!
A youth group of 10 was also scattered in the area (their last night of a 6 day trip and they were supposed to camp “alone” ). I chatted with their leader for a bit, great guys.
The climb continued, fully loaded down with water to make it to tomorrow’s camp without another water source. The first listed campspot on this uphill looked anything but comfy (very bumpy) so I walked another mile to the next one which I couldn’t even really find.
So I’m camped in the woods where I found a flat area. Mo must have walked on because she said she might camp here but obviously wasn’t impressed either.
I enjoyed the sunset and look forward to a quiet night! Tomorrow there is no rush as I only need to hike 12 miles. That last lake is the preferred spot to stay and then start the famous bushwhack the following morning (supposed to take 5-6 hrs). With the heat wave coming an early start for this is recommended.
Update: At 9:30pm I saw a flashlight and Jared, another hiker, was looking for a flat spot to camp. We chatted for a bit and then each went to bed (he was at least 50m away). Good to have company!
Hiked 8 miles. From 1880ft to 6310ft elevation.
You’ve met as many hikers on your first day on the PNT as I did on the entire 1200 mile trail!
Really? Today was the most social yet. Can’t even keep track of the people we met …But you did meet Keyla and I!!! 😍