Start: 0830 - Old Station (behind the Fill Up) 
End: 1945 - PCT mile 1397.5 (near Hat Creek Rim)
Miles (today): 23 (22.5 PCT, 0.5 off)
Miles (cumulative): 1438.5 (1284 PCT, 93 alternate, 61.5 off)

It was bound to happen sooner or later and, quite frankly, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.  Today, after tripping/stumbling more times than I'd like to admit (in my defense, the trail was pretty rocky in parts), I tripped/stumbled AND fell.  It was epic (well, in my head at least). This is how it went down: I tripped over a rock and lurched ahead to catch myself, per usual. However, instead of landing on solid trail, my other foot hit a rock and sent me sprawling (heck, it could have been the same rock that I initially tripped over and dislodged). I probably wouldn't have been able to recover from this but I sure tried - my legs desperately tried to keep my feet underneath me while my torso was nearly parallel to the ground.  I took about 6 wild, out of control steps and then stumbled over a third rock, which eliminated all hope of regaining my balance.  It felt as if my entire body was floating parallel to the ground and then, suddenly, I landed on the side of the trail in a cloud of dust.  While the dust settled, I took a moment to assess my body for damage and to give myself a chance to accept that I actually fell (I've walked more than 1400 miles so you'd think I'd be better at this by now!).  Thankfully I didn't land on too many rocks and thankfully I didn't trip and fall 1 mile back, where I was hiking next to a steep drop.  My right knee (you know, the one that has been struggling to recover from the incident on Silver Pass) is a bit banged up and there is a huge bruise on it now, but I'm still able to walk and I don't think it's anything too serious so I'll take it.  

Since the day started out with some quiet frustration on my part, the fall seemed appropriate somehow.  We woke up late - 0600 - and, even though we were ready to go at 0700, Nick really wanted to get breakfast from JJ's cafe.  I really just wanted to get hiking, knowing it was going to get hot and that we had a potential 30 mile waterless stretch to get through (although I was banking on Coppertone).  As I predicted yesterday, however, we ended up getting breakfast.  Nick would have skipped breakfast if I had been firm in my desire to get hiking ASAP, but a small part of me wanted some legit breakfast, too.  
Breakfast WAS tasty and we shared a table with Fed Ex, 4 Cheese, Sangria, and Iceman, which was fun... But we didn't get out of there until 0830.  So late!!!  We filled up with water from the Fill Up (they are so hiker friendly!) and then walked the 0.5 miles back to the trail to finally start hiking.

We walked uphill first thing and the entire time I thought about how nice it would have been to get up the hill in the cooler morning hours.  As I walked I continued to stew about it, which isn't good for hiking.  Then I got to the top and fell, which somehow helped jolt me out of my pissy mood.  I realized the heat wasn't unbearable and started to actually enjoy the scenery.  I also focused on my knee, making sure it still worked and that the pain I felt wasn't something serious (I don't think it is).

I walked right past the trail to Lost Creek, which is a place many hikers stop to get water (it's at mile 8 of the waterless stretch).  Getting to the water means going 0.3 miles off-trail and the descent to get there is crazy steep, so I told Nick I was going to count on Coppertone being at Cache 22 (16 miles in) and skip Lost Creek.  It was a bit of a risk, sure, but I was pretty sure Coppertone would still be there.

Ahh, Coppertone!  I hiked like crazy to get there (I did the last 3 miles in 52 minutes, which is good time for me) and just before I got to the road I ran into a man named Chipmunk.  Chipmunk is a trail angel who had just dropped off some water and other things at the cache.  I was so grateful for that - if Coppertone wasn't there, at least I knew there was water.  When I asked if Coppertone was still there and when he said yes, I jumped for joy, gave him a hug, and practically ran the rest of the way to the road.  I ran into Coppertone's rest area, gave him a huge hug, and thanked him profusely for waiting for us.

I sat at Coppertone's for 2.5 hours, eating, rehydrating, and talking with Coppertone, Chipmunk, Dawg Whisperer, and Nick (he showed up a little after I did).  Coppertone did indeed wait for us (he's so awesome).  He also told us about how he waited for us at Buck's Lake - that man actually ran up the trail looking for us before he moved on!  And he didn't just run up the trail, he ran up the trail carrying some mini pies to share with us just in case he found us!  OMG, my heart nearly burst with gratitude when he told me that.  :) 

Chipmunk's trail magic cannot be overlooked, though.  In addition to water, he supplied a rehydrating drink, bananas, and a hiker box full of things like sunglasses and hats and first aid items... It was fantastic!  

Coppertone said he had over 60 hikers visit him yesterday!  I guess we are right behind the herd, which makes me feel a little better... I just really, really want to be able to finish before the snow hits Washington.  We could flip flop and start hiking southbound from Washington, which would guarantee us a finish; however,  Nick and I both agree that it would feel too much like cheating if we did that.  The allure of this trail is that a finish is not guaranteed... So we're taking our chances. 

Along the trail: