Woke up this morning feeling good. Made breakfast using the picnic table and enjoyed listening to some music I’d downloaded, a bit of Ben Howard and some other chilled tunes.
Set off over a huge pile of washed up logs, filled both water bottles up in the stream before rejoining the Penguin to Cradle trail and climbing Black Bluff. The ascent like most mountains starts calm enough before gradually getting steeper and steeper.
After and hour or so I'm taking a break and am caught by a group hiking the Bluff. They're training for more hiking adventures. It's at this point I welcome them as it's getting steeper and the weight of my rucksack is waning on me. I walk with them, 3rd out of us 4 and then drop behind, keeping them in eyesight and earshot and use them as motivation, I just tell myself to keep up with them, that's all.
As we approach the final phase I'm getting low on water and notice the most stunning of fresh water lakes in the as the French call it "the Velo" or valley before the final ascent.
I fill up and guzzle a load of water, hike some more before leaving my bags behind where the path diverts and head for the final push I'm feeling dizzy and tired at this point, just no energy and feeling sick. A mixture of the previous day's exertions and some altitude. I fumble step by step, leaning on my knees after every 50 metres or so. Walking with one of the women, before taking the lead and pushing on, slow and steady. I couldn't do anymore, I pause and take in the lake once more, then make for the top, a final few hundred metres, and I drop down and take a knee and give myself a 10 count before going again up and over the final few steps.
Once at the top I muster the energy to take some pictures then stretch out and lay down catching my breath, having a conversation with my 3 hiking companions. Sipping water, they offer me a banana and some sweets, I accept but struggle to eat them as my stomach is in bits.
We talk at the top take in the beautiful views before walking down and talking some more. A final farewell and we depart ways.
One of the women leaves me a stack of fruit and snacks on my bag. Once they disappear past the lake I sit and recoup a little before getting going and on the PCT trail to cradle mountain, this time though over the hilltops.
It's not long before the idealistic hilltop walk turns into bush bashing through thick scrub and avoiding the small stream that has formed on large parts of the track that I’m hiking. I fill up at a stream and drink another litre of water.
After an hour I have to stop on a large risen rock before slumping over and vomiting a couple of times, shaking and feeling the pang in my belly.
I rest a few more minutes and heave the backpack onto my shoulders before puking twice more. I'm calm though. I know it will pass. It's at this point I know I won't be pushing for 5 more hours of hiking. So begin looking for somewhere to sleep.
The hills are littered with rocks and wild shrubs very high and I'm hiking and feeling weary and yet nowhere to lay my tent.
Everywhere is too wet, far too windy or nowhere near flat. I spot what looks like grass about 2km in the distance yet when I reach it, it's more prickly grass akin to spear grass half a metre high.
Eventually, I walk and walk some more and some more before stopping at the edge of some dense shrubs that goes on for a while, hiking off the path I find some moss type ground that will do.
Set up the tent and get in, it's only 5:30pm but I make the decision as I need my strength for the rest of the trip.
Laying in the tent the rain begins to pour down.
Eventually a few hours later I swipe on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast and listen to the Muay Thai fighters Kevin Ross and Gaston Bolanos, this helps focus my mind in a positive manner.
I try a few spoonful’s of salty oily pesto and work up to some chicken noodle soup, then try to fall asleep to the rain and the wind.
I'm happy though, I actually made ok progress and sticking my head out the tent I'm met with such an amazing view of the rolling hills and night sky.
My muscles are cramping and I'm sore but I'm gaining in strength and I know my mental ability will overcome these early hurdles.
Cheers - TazMania