Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - September 18th
Day 148: Wednesday 18th September Pear lake – Reflection Pond
It was a cold morning with banks of clouds rolling around the ridges. I was last away
from camp, but I wasn’t in a hurry. The walking was almost entirely on open mountain
ridges, so it was a little disappointing that the weather wasn’t better. The only people I
met on today’s walk were Cathy and Mary, a mother and daughter from Pennsylvania
on the Kodak Peak. They were novice backpackers on a one-week trip and had sensibly
taken their time to climb up to the PCT. I was the first person they had seen since they
had started walking at the weekend.
I camped at Reflection Pond at 5.15pm in swirling mist. Once I had settled in Beth
and Carl joined me at the pond. They were on a 7-day southbound hike along the PCT
and had met 22 thru-hikers in the last few days. Beth had been one of the USA’s top
canoeists. In her younger days she had concentrated on slalom and whitewater canoeing,
but now spent more time sea-kayaking and canoe-touring. She was a writer for the
Canoe and Kayak Magazine. She gave me surplus food, which was much appreciated by
now, as was a good quantity of whisky. Unfortunately the return of the rain drove us to
our tents early. The zip on the flysheet of my tent had broken a few days ago and I had
been having problems with the inner tent zip for some time. This is the most vulnerable
point on quality lightweight tents and possibly they should put in heavier zips. However,
since the manufacturers replaced the tent free of charge when I got home I haven’t any
reason to complain.
Day 148: 16.8 miles 8.18 hours Camp: Reflection Pond
It was a cold morning with banks of clouds rolling around the ridges. I was last away
from camp, but I wasn’t in a hurry. The walking was almost entirely on open mountain
ridges, so it was a little disappointing that the weather wasn’t better. The only people I
met on today’s walk were Cathy and Mary, a mother and daughter from Pennsylvania
on the Kodak Peak. They were novice backpackers on a one-week trip and had sensibly
taken their time to climb up to the PCT. I was the first person they had seen since they
had started walking at the weekend.
I camped at Reflection Pond at 5.15pm in swirling mist. Once I had settled in Beth
and Carl joined me at the pond. They were on a 7-day southbound hike along the PCT
and had met 22 thru-hikers in the last few days. Beth had been one of the USA’s top
canoeists. In her younger days she had concentrated on slalom and whitewater canoeing,
but now spent more time sea-kayaking and canoe-touring. She was a writer for the
Canoe and Kayak Magazine. She gave me surplus food, which was much appreciated by
now, as was a good quantity of whisky. Unfortunately the return of the rain drove us to
our tents early. The zip on the flysheet of my tent had broken a few days ago and I had
been having problems with the inner tent zip for some time. This is the most vulnerable
point on quality lightweight tents and possibly they should put in heavier zips. However,
since the manufacturers replaced the tent free of charge when I got home I haven’t any
reason to complain.
Day 148: 16.8 miles 8.18 hours Camp: Reflection Pond
Breakfast in bed
for Ancient Brit
for Ancient Brit
Cathy and Mary
Ancient Brit
 |  |
| |