Really felt the last couple days catching up with me. And to be fair, the elevation and the grade have both been pretty significant as well. Some truly incredible views that feel VERY well earned.
It’s funny how the effects elevation can kind of come and go. I didn’t really feel it at all going over forester pass (the highest point on the PCT) besides typical shortness of breath, but I felt it on my main ascent today. I actually felt so bad – too hot, dizzy, nauseous – that I took a break about a quarter mile from where I had just taken one. I pulled my insulate pad off my pack and just laid down for 15 minutes until I felt almost back to normal. After that, clearing Mather pass wasn’t bad at all.
Coming across a high pass like that does feel really cool. I can almost put myself in my little kid shoes and pretend I’m an explorer. At the top of a ridge… looking back over the mountains I’ve already come up and over…. Looking down into a valley that I’m about to cross carrying everything I need on my back… Lewis and Clark’s feet must have gotten sore like this right?
I’m also camping about 3000 feet lower tonight than last night – about 8k rather than 11k. It’s noticeably warmer down here, and I can breathe easier too now that I think about it.
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