Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - Day 13 April 20th
Day 13:Saturday 20th April
Cedar Springs – Saddle above Apple Canyon
The sky was clear by the morning, but there was still snow on the ground. It was
chilly and certainly time for breakfast in bed. I find it more difficult to make an early
start when camped with others and I got away rather late, but in this weather there is
much less need for the early start to avoid the heat of the day. It was sunny but with a
cool breeze as I climbed back to the PCT through melting snow. I was carrying a full
load of water, as I didn’t expect to find any water today.
I started with a 1500ft climb to Apache Peak, through terrain that was still
recovering from a massive fire in 1980. By lunchtime my Achilles tendon was hurting
again so I stopped at a snow patch to apply an ice pack to my left heel. Ice treatment,
“Deep Heat” and Ibuprofen tablets enabled me to reach a saddle above Apple Canyon,
without too much discomfort. Ibuprofen, being an anti-inflammatory drug, is very
effective at dealing with the minor aches and pains that are inevitable on a trip such as
this and some of the thru-hikers take a dose at the start of every day, but I am
reluctant to take more drugs than necessary because of any long term side effects.
I camped early to rest my heel and because it looked as if campsites might be in
short supply over the next part of the route. After the gentle hills of the first couple of
weeks it was good to be getting into more mountainous terrain of the San Jacinto
Mountains.
Day 13: 9.1 miles 5.21 hours Camp: Apple Canyon Saddle
Cedar Springs – Saddle above Apple Canyon
The sky was clear by the morning, but there was still snow on the ground. It was
chilly and certainly time for breakfast in bed. I find it more difficult to make an early
start when camped with others and I got away rather late, but in this weather there is
much less need for the early start to avoid the heat of the day. It was sunny but with a
cool breeze as I climbed back to the PCT through melting snow. I was carrying a full
load of water, as I didn’t expect to find any water today.
I started with a 1500ft climb to Apache Peak, through terrain that was still
recovering from a massive fire in 1980. By lunchtime my Achilles tendon was hurting
again so I stopped at a snow patch to apply an ice pack to my left heel. Ice treatment,
“Deep Heat” and Ibuprofen tablets enabled me to reach a saddle above Apple Canyon,
without too much discomfort. Ibuprofen, being an anti-inflammatory drug, is very
effective at dealing with the minor aches and pains that are inevitable on a trip such as
this and some of the thru-hikers take a dose at the start of every day, but I am
reluctant to take more drugs than necessary because of any long term side effects.
I camped early to rest my heel and because it looked as if campsites might be in
short supply over the next part of the route. After the gentle hills of the first couple of
weeks it was good to be getting into more mountainous terrain of the San Jacinto
Mountains.
Day 13: 9.1 miles 5.21 hours Camp: Apple Canyon Saddle
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Apache Peak
1980 fire damage
on Apache Peak
on Apache Peak
Camp above
Apple Canyon
Apple Canyon