Colleen hikes the PCT: Day 16 omg the heat.

Miles hiked: 14.74 + .25 (OT)

Camped at: Paradise Valley Cafe - deck

Hikers I camped with: 10

Total up/down: 2,981' / - 1,637'

Steps: 47,141

Today started out so great.

I woke up right on schedule, 6am, and began breaking camp. I filled my water from the spring and started down the trail. The 19 yr old kid I had camped with that night was also heading out. He had something seriously wrong with his feet and shuffled as he walked. He hoped to make it 8 miles, then to the cafe the next day. I'm not sure if he will be able to continue after that but he sure is determined! Most people had camped the 1/4 mile uphill from the spring and were coming down for water as I was heading out.

The trail wasn't that bad today it's just the weather! It is so hot and there is very little shade. We are pretty close to the town of Anza, walking just on the other side of the hill from it. About mid-day the town came into sight. It was interesting that a lot of the homes on the outskirts were on flattened out tops of hills with a water tank and a mobile home or camper on it. The 1st one I saw I thought was trail magic and got all excited, then I realized it was just someone's home. One mile after that was a water cache, I didn't really need any water but never pass up an opportunity, so I grabbed about 1 liter. This was a cache I had seen in videos so like everything else it was cool to see in real life.

For the next several hrs I hiked along the side of the mountain overlooking the town of anza. The temperature reached 100 and it was miserable hiking. I had plenty of water but kept worrying about electrolytes so I kept eating snacks, which made me sick or was it lack of electrolytes making me sick. I was so hot I worried that I wasn't thinking straight in the heat so I kept pushing the electrolytes, better to be on the safe side. At one point I found some shade under some brush and sat down. I took of my shirt off and just sat there with my head on my pack, I was miserable but the breeze was amazing. I did all I could to keep myself from throwing up. I thought, if I just throw up I'll feel better, but I actually refused to throw up because I had so much in my stomach I didn't want to lose. Is that crazy or what? This sure takes you to places mentally and physically you never imagined. I was passed by 5 20 something yr old hikers and I felt even worse. How the hell are they hiking in this? Why can't I? Today sucks.

I had about 8 miles to hike if I wanted to get to the cafe. Most people were pushing hard to get there but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Not long after they passed me I saw a sign that said "emergency water and hiker box, 50 feet" I didn't need water but thought I would check it out. There was a picnic table and coolers and a bin full of stuff. I opened the cooler and saw sodas, I almost cried. I grabbed one and sat down near the hiker box in the shade. There were lots of items, poptarts, hot chocolate mix, lemonade mix, boxes of zip locks, a first aid kit, and other things.. all day I had been nursing the bottoms of me feet that both had hot spots on the pads under your toes. Nothing I had seemed to be working so I grabbed some of their duct tape and some bandades. I felt so much better. I can't describe how much this trail magic meant to me, it came along at just the right time!

I decided to push for the paradise cafe. One thing was clear, I did end up getting at least one blister, but there is nothing I can do now, I just need to hike. Achilles messaged me that she was at the cafe and was hitching to hurkey campground. I hiked with so much determination. The cafe closed at 8 pm and I just wanted to reward myself for getting through this really tough day. Although I wasn't really sure what I would do after the cafe. I don't hitch alone so hopefully there will be a hiker there that would go to the campground with me! Around 7:15 pm I reached the road, the cafe is one mile north. How fast can you hike colleen? How badly do you want that meal? Haha. Oh look, pretty flowers..

At 7:45 I reached the paradise cafe. And what a sight to behold, about 15 hikers were sitting out on the patio, I could have cried... again. As I walked up a waitress walked up to me with a glass of ice water. They know our struggles well! I asked everyone what they were doing for the night and they all said "we are sleeping here". The cafe let's hikers sleep on the deck. All they ask is that we are all up and have our stuff packed up by the time they open at 8 am. Um no problem! We always wake up around 6.. always.

I ordered a grilled ham and cheese with tomato and coleslaw, and a coke. It was amazing. And so is this cafe! I left a hefty tip and the waitress even asked if I was sure about that.. oh yes I was! After sitting around we all started claiming our spots around the tables and headed to bed. Around 10 pm I heard a hiker walk up. I said "come on the patio" but she looked around then walked around not sure of what to do. Then a bunch of us said, you can sleep here, much louder and you could see the relief as she realized we were all sleeping just out of sight. When she got closer I realized it andrea, the girl that shaved her head the night before we started! It was so nice to see her again!

I settled back into my sleeping bad and put this day behind me.