Hiking Section H of the PCT: Days 9 & 10

Day 9: Drying Off & Regrouping

• Last night was wet. Soaking wet. Rain started falling in earnest shortly after we crawled into our tents, and continued through the night. 
• This morning we cleaned up the sopping mess and made pleasant conversation with another hiker who had arrived during the "night" - probably 7ish. 
• Dripping wet, we set out, but were happy to see that the rain seemed to have passed and the sun was beating back the clouds. 

• At a view point, we stripped off much of our wet clothes, basked in the sun, and looked out over the view of mist rising from the surrounding forest. 
• After that it was down, down and more down, descending to the Panther river. 

• We ate lunch on the rivers edge, near the bridge we'd just crossed, and planned our last couple of days. (We'd started hiking more miles a day than we originally planned, so we were beginning to realize that we'd probably be ending about a half day early.)
• Feeling we needed a rest, we decided to splurge on a camp site at the nearly empty Panther Creek campground. This allowed us access to fresh water, pit toilets and gave up half a day to rest and -more importantly- dry out all our gear.

• Tomorrow, we set off on our final push: 15 miles. Then 10 and 10 again to get to the border!

Day 10: A Tale of Two Hikes

• Woke up in the morning feeling more human, owing to the campsites pump water, picnic table and pit toilets. 
• Set out with guy in a car following us to trail start, because he was curious where the PCT was.
• Sunny, and initial hiking is across farmland. Across fields, over bridges, rolling hills, country roads. Easy and bucolic. 

• Take lunch on the Wind River, with bridge nearby, nice views and fish swimming. 
• Though Sarah and Ambika angry/grossed out by TP situation in forest nearby. 

• After lunch, path begins uphill.... loooong uphill. Hot and hard work. 

• Take our break on abandoned road. 
• Then it is down... down... down. Fortunately, the terrain turns lush and scenic, as we wind along cliff edges, Mossy trees, deep ravines and lot of green.

• Almost stop on North Fork Rock Creek, but decided to push on to Rock Creek, where we eventually find a campsite wedged between path and river. 
• And Sarah makes tasty pad thai.