Day 2-"Trail Magic"

Anyone familiar with the PCT is familiar with the term "trail magic". It's pretty self explanatory, times on the trail when things that seem miraculous occur. People kept telling us about "trail magic" or sayings like "the trail provides", but it wasn't until day 2 that we came to know trail magic like the hikers before us.

A little background to our first of three "trail magic" experiences on day 2. So when we went and bought food for the PCT, I was the only one who didn't buy peanut butter, I realized the error of my ways the first night. (We will do a separate post on the ways hikers try to down 6,000+ calories a day, just to not lose too much weight) before I went to bed I said to everyone, "I wish I had bought peanut butter, I will have to figure something out before we get to the next town." The next morning, while sitting in a grove after our first few miles of hiking, a fireman walks by and offers us a few items including a jar of peanut butter! Trail magic in the flesh.

Then right after this, we climbed a mountain in 100 degree weather. We burned through our water supply, as we hiked right through the hottest hours of the day, and right when Cameron wants to take a break he said, "I wish we had some more water", and we came upon a water cache with cold waters and beers provided by anonymous trail angels. It was incredible.

After we came down from the mountain, we arrived at where the PCT kickoff is being held, and our greeted by dozens of unknown hikers and trail angels who clap for us as we finish the first twenty miles. We are offered cold sodas, water, and treats. It is an incredible feeling to be loved so freely, by so many strangers. This is a taste of Zion to me.

During our hike in the desert heat Curtis told us about a sweet straw hat he saw some random guy wearing that Curtis would love to have for the trail. Once we rolled into camp we meet "Chili". A 14 year old who has already completed the PCT and the AT (Appellation Trail), and just biked from the south east tip of America to the southwest tip for the kickoff. Next year he is planning to get his triple crown (people who complete the PCT, AT, and CDT(Continental divide trail). It turns out Chili's Dad, "Pepper" is the person who was wearing the hat Curtis talked about, and as soon as Curtis told him how much he liked it, his Dad gave it to him. We had Trail magic in spades day 2.

After hanging out with "Chili", we met another awesome trail angel named "Jackelope" who had a energetic 5 year old named Julian after one of the trail towns. Julian chased all four of us around, wearing us out one by one, with his pet spider named "fang".

Then for dinner that night, a trail angel couple, the Anderson's, made everyone dinner. It was 3 giant pots of some of the best chili I've ever tasted. So we ate till we were sick then left everyone at the kickoff site for a night hike through the desert.

Quick disclaimer: I can't reply to comments from my phone, so it will have to wait for town days, but we are all grateful for your comments.