The trail intersects highway US-50 near South Lake Tahoe. Within 20 minutes I caught a hitch to town with another hiker. The two guys that gave us a ride were from Germany of all places. Practically just off the plane and on their way to Lake Tahoe in a rented Kia, the Germans really saved the day. I was hungry.
After 150 trail miles, channeling the memory of the Tuolumne general store, my last resupply, felt like reaching back across another lifetime.
The morning of the hitch to South Lake Tahoe I was down to half of two crumbled Pop Tart pastries and three Clif bars, that’s it. Alone this was enough to walk the 12 miles I had left on a full enough stomach.
When I said “hungry” in the opening paragraph, the hunger I’m refferring to is a compounded hunger. Week long stretches in the wilderness stacked in series takes a toll on your body in many ways, including shrinking your stomach.
Shortly after arriving in South Lake Tahoe, I was quickly regretting the Taco Bell I inhaled. My physical stomach just wasn’t big enough for my appetite. After a gutwrenching hour I was throwing up in the motel room toilet.
I don’t say this to scare you. I say this to keep an account of the journey. A day later I feel better. I’ve eaten more than the day before (some great barbeque in town at Sonney’s). And I’ll be back on trail tommorrow.
But none the less, hiker hunger is in full effect. As a guy who walked on the trail at 165lbs, I might honestly be crossing the scale below 150lbs right now.
PCT Mile 1,090.7.
Laundry trip
