Sulphur Springs Campground to Messenger Flats Campground – 5-30

Today was hot. It took a long time to treat 4L of water from Sulphur Springs, but it was worth the trouble.

We got some long views down to the dry areas below.

Aside from that, it was an uneventful, hot, dry morning. Hot and dry enough that people could get in trouble.

We filled up on water at a remote fire station, and stopped for lunch at adjacent picnic tables. I discovered that a bag of tuna, with a few mayonnaise packets, inside a couple tortillas, alongside some string cheese, tastes amazing.

The trail after the fire station took us through another burn area, where poodle dog truly flourished. There was an alternate to avoid the poodle dog, but we didn’t think it would be bad enough for that.

Unfortunately, it was pretty bad. It reached out into the trail frequently. Worse, other plants were also growing into the trail, so the poodle dog was often hidden by other bushes. I certainly brushed against it a few times, we’ll see if I start getting a rash in 12-48 hours.

Our campground for the night, Messenger Flats Campground, was closed. But, many PCT hikers were pitched there. The outhouses and garbage seemed to still be maintained, so we set up there, reasoning that the campground was probably closed because of the poodle dog growing on its outskirts.

We ate dinner, and I realized I hadn’t packed enough food. I ate a total of 3 tuna packets today, because that’s what was left. Tomorrow’s lunch would have to be meager. And that’s assuming we get to town in time for dinner.

We had a campfire with the other hikers. This campsite seemed to be entirely 10 mile per day hikers – people with no plan to finish the trail. The fire was short and smoky, though, so we soon went to bed.