July 19th

So my initial plan was to complete segment 1 in two days, easing into the hike and not pushing myself in the heat. Ha! Segment 2 of the CT is notorious for a long water carry (10 miles) and long exposed stretches (burn areas from fires years ago). I thought the first day was brutal, this was beyond brutal. This totally kicked my ass.

It was going to be another very hot day, though slightly cooler than yesterday. We are talking 36 degrees instead of 38, so cooler is maybe not the right word. It was a bad day to be doing this segment. I knew this, but knowing and experiencing are two different things as I was about to find out.

I got an early start, stocked up on water and camelled* up as much as I could. Then I got going before the sun was fully up. The trail climbed up from the river to a ridge and I made good progress.There were some beautiful views once on top of the ridge, and quite a few great campsites as well. I met a couple from Texas at one of the campsites and we talked about the trail. Like me they were worried about the altitude, not so much the heat. “We’re used to the heat” They were a little confused as to why I was struggling with it, being from Australia. “Ah, the thing is, when its nearly 100f do you know what we don’t do? We don’t bloody go hiking!”

Not long after that the sun came out and I was cooked.

There are two large areas of this segment that were burned years back, so there is no shade. And there is no water. It’s essentially a desert. I hit the first of those sections as the sun starting powering up for the day. It was already getting hot and I was already smashing my water. It was at this point I began to realise I might not have enough water. I tried to ration it, but I was beyond thirsty. The heat demanded I drink. It got to the point where I considered turning around and heading back to the river. The main issue with that, was there was no easy way from that trailhead to a town. It would mean miles and miles of road walking.

Luckily for me, I met another hiker, Annie, who was gracious enough to give me a litre, right when I was contemplating going back. Unlike me she was sensible and carried out tons of water. I had 3 litres but probably needed 5 or 6.

I bumped into Jennifer and Liam again later that afternoon and they shared 1/2 litre. As it was I was very nearly out of water for the last 3 miles. I rested under their tarp for an hour, which provided some relief from the heat.

Then it back on the trail and after a few hours of slow, painful hiking, I met a couple of bike-packers heading the other way. I stepped aside to let them pass and they stopped said hello and, glory of glories, pulled out 3 Gatorades for me! There was trail magic at the end of this segment and they had sent this back for me. It was such a lifesaver.

I don’t think I’ve tasted anything this good. Ever. But even with the Gatorades the last 3 miles were hot, exposed and very tough.

Amazingly the trail magic was still there when I arrived after 5pm. Jennifer, Liam and Annie were there, and they had prompted Kent (the trail Angel) to send the Gatorades with the bikers. Absolute bloody legends.

I got more Gatorade, coke, sprite and some oranges, and Annie filled up my water bottles at the fire station a few hundred meters down the road. It was a very kind offer, must have looked a right mess.

Kent also gave me a lift a mile down the road to the campground. I truly got spoiled by the trail magic today, and I hope to pay it forward as soon as I can.

If it wasn’t for Annie, Jennifer, Liam, Kent and his lovely wife (I didn’t get her name) I would have been in real trouble. I mean I would have made it eventually, but I would have suffered a whole lot more without their help.

I made some dumb mistakes with water, thankfully the trail provided, but I feel like such an idiot that I had to rely in that. Never again.

At camp I felt a whole lot better after rehydrating, and even managed to eat some dinner, which I had not had the stomach for last night.

It was a lot cooler tonight, so sleep was not as hard to come by. But I did begin to contemplate that this trail might be too much for me, I was already struggling and I hadn’t really hit any real elevation yet.

And altitude was waiting to take up the slack when the heat dissipated.