Blistering heat and Blistering Feet

A smile and wave from Julian, CA!

The PCT adventure has begun and with 4 days and 78 miles behind us, Mark and I took a much needed "zero" (referring to the number of miles we hiked) day in our first resupply stop - Julian. After delicious (and free for PCT hikers!) lunch at Mom's Pies (www.momspiesjulian.com) we hit the local grocery store, stocking up on Amy's mac'n'cheese, Wheat Thins, and peanut butter and jelly supplies - some of our staple trail meals.

At the southern terminus in my infamous dress and heels

Our past few days started at the border and the Southern Terminus and continued on through the beautiful Anza Borrego desert from the pine covered higher mountains to the hot and dry sandy stretches - temperatures peaking at 95 degrees F. After the first 21 mile day, I wrote in my notebook that I "have never been more physically or mentally exhausted," and that pattern seemed to continue. Unfortunately, problem after problem hit us (and me in particular) - involving dehydration, knee and hip pain, sunburn and blisters.
 

 

My brave man caught me a Gopher snake



A view of what we were hiking down

Most noteworthy are my lovely blister covered feet, remedied only with Duct Tape, Bandaids and will power. After a shaky diagnosis (they could be caused by a number of things), we decided it was best to order new shoes and pray to the hiker Gods that my feet like them better than my current lightweight Merrell trail shoes (that apparently are short of breath). There is an ongoing debate over whether good ole running shoes are better than the fancy hiking boots (no company makes shoes designed for super long distance hiking), so I am trying my luck and just purchased a pair of Women's XR Mission Running Shoes.

 

In other news, our ultralight kitchen set up is working flawlessly, I had my first night of "cowboy camping" under the stars, and we saw our first (and probably not our last) rattler - yay SoCal! Also, Mark lost his sunglasses, and has had no serious issues with his feet or body... yet. We just got news that a fellow hiker picked up his sunglasses 10 miles back and left them by the "if found please return in exchange for a beer" sign we left at the trail head. True hiker spirit.

Off to go hitch a ride to the trail! Chat with all of you in Idyllwild!

Next Stop:
Idyllwild, CA

Wanna write/mail us things? We would love that!
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Amanda Catlett or Mark Lehrbass
C/O General Delivery P.O.
Idyllwild, CA  92549

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Amanda Catlett or Mark Lehrbass
C/O General Delivery P.O.
Big Bear City, CA  92314