I got back on the trail three days ago at Etna, mile 1,597. My mileage for these days has been 7, 18, 24 (today). My body feels like it could do 6 more miles today, but my feet do not. After my two week break, my soles have softened and start aching at 20 miles. Before all this I was hiking marathons with ease. I predict I'll be in the low-mid 20s for at least a week, and hopefully consistent 30s by the time I finish Oregon. The Oregon Challenge (crossing the whole state in 14 days) is out the window though.
My knee has the slightest twinge of pain at the left edge of the patella. When I left Bishop it was extremely faint and I figured it'd be gone by the time I'd start hiking three days later (two days to get to Etna via bus and train, one rest day in Etna). Can't really tell if the pain is different now. Not good that it's still there, on the other hand it hasn't flared up after a 19 mile downhill. Will just have to hike and see.
So, about the trail. NorCal is really hot. It's not as drab as I expected, but it's about as hot as the desert was. There's more water though. The views haven't entirely ended, and today I passed by the Marble Mountains, which are these lumpy peaks of white marble. I've realized that the second half of the PCT somewhat mirrors the first. This time it's an 800 mile gauntlet to Cascade Locks, at which the trail enters the Washington Cascades.
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