Postcards from the Trail

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Location: Planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail desert section
5/17/07
Today’s Miles: 0

I have a drinking problem. Yes, it’s bold and forthright of me to make such a statement, but since we’re all getting to know one another, I love liquids. Lots of liquids – call it fluids, hydration or nectar of the gods, give it to me baby real good. Water (tweaked up with Gatorade) is my every thing while hiking. I bathe my inner self in the elixir to cope with all that exits, and exit is putting it mildly. Ok ok ok, yes, I’m a sweater. There, are you happy? I have a drinking problem and I’m a sweater. (Wow, I feel better for getting that off my chest – thanks everyone)

Anyway, before ever deciding to do this nutty thing called the PCT, its very dry start through the desert pretty much turned my attention elsewhere. But somewhere, some how I got over those frets and decided that far too much fun and joy was being missed by these water frets or lack of water frets as the case may be. (Thanks for the Intervention friends.)

Yesterday on the weather, Palm Springs reportedly hit 100 frickin’ degrees, and its MARCH! (Can I get a “Holy sh t” from the audience please.) What the heck have we done to the environment? So, obviously my frets are not without justification. Heat like that in treeless, shade less areas will whack the mojo out of you (me) and I’m not exactly a creampuff, (maybe a cupcake) but certainly not a creampuff. This is the time when one of you pipes in and says “Oh, but it’s a dry heat, so it’s not so bad.” Excuse me? It’s terrible that so many people were dropped on their head as a baby.

I grew up in Texas and have had my fair share of 100-degree temps. Yes the humidity is low there, but it still feels like you’ve put your head in an OVEN! And let’s not forget we’re schlepping a backpack loaded with a gazillion pounds of water…if we can find it. Of course there are those miracle water caches by the colossal efforts of a few big-hearted souls – what angels they truly are. However, the buzz phrase is the “Don’t count on the water caches for your water.”  What#*?<!?  Oh, I got it – hike with someone else and then each of us can spit into one another’s mouth for fluids…yummy! Since we’re made up of something like 90% water, does our DNA melt into a puddle or do we just turn into raisins? And can another hiker drink from another melted hiker? (I meant that in a nonsexual way)

I’ve got this desert umbrella thingy for the pack I’ve been on the fence about – certainly 100-degree, shade less terrain is sort of tipping the scale in its favor. (Definitely want some smarter opinions on that from one of you.) Hmm, maybe I need a camel and a Lawrence of Arabia outfit? I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t sound very “Pacific” of a trail to me.