PCT Day 25: The Snake, Creek Talks, and Tent Talkers
First off, it is STORYTELLING SATURDAY – A day just for fun and/or meaningful trail stories I’ve experienced along the way!
Eight miles to myself without seeing a single soul.
I kept a slow but steady pace. It was slightly windy. The kind of wind that keeps you cool from the heat but never quite decides what mood it’s in. I was walking and wondering — was today going to give me anything worth writing about? Anything to share for Storytelling Saturday? It was seeming to be dull.
But turns out, it did.
As I got closer to the creek I planned to camp near, I stumbled across a very large yellow snake. Easily the biggest one I’ve seen out here so far. Most animals I come across usually dart away the second they hear me, but this one? He just looked at me. Locked eyes for a second. Then slowly slithered away, completely unbothered. He didn’t rush, and didn’t flinch. Just moved with a kind of confidence that made me stop and watch. Moving slow enough that I caught a video. I don’t know what it was about that moment, but it felt symbolic. Like the wilderness was reminding me: not everything runs away.
A little while later I met William, a hiker moving the opposite of me. Fast and steady, knocking out close to 30 miles a day. He seemed like the kind of person who had a plan for everything — job lined up, mileage goals set. No games, all business. We chatted for a bit before parting ways. He said “I’ll see you on trail!” And I laughed and reminded him of our mile difference. I said “Remember this chat because you’ll never see me again!”
Then came Ari as I was grabbing water at the creek. He had just gotten back from EDC Las Vegas and brought a whole different kind of energy to the trail. Big stories, big laughs. The opposite of William. I mostly just listened while he talked about the chaos and good times of the festival. It was a short moment, but one of those odd, funny contrasts you don’t expect in the middle of the wilderness.
But the real highlight of the day didn’t come until I got to camp.
I hadn’t expected the creek to be so wide. The water was crystal clear that glittered in the late light. I went for a swim, and one section was deep enough that I couldn’t even touch the bottom. Rainbow trout glistened below the surface, catching bits of sunlight as they darted between rocks. It felt like something out of a dream. Exactly the kind of peace I didn’t know I needed.
I was tired, so I soaked up what sun I could and then tucked into my tent. Classic me. Once I’m in there, you probably won’t see me again unless I absolutely have to get out. Some hikers have tried to give me the trail name “Tent Talker”… not because I talk late at night, but because once my tent is up, that’s where I live. I’ll chat from the door, still bundled in my sleeping bag like a burrito, but stepping out? Rare event. Like seeing big foot is how I explain it
Around 7 p.m., a girl named Gabby showed up. I’d seen plenty of hikers pass me by without a glance, but she actually peeked through my open tent flap and asked if it was okay to camp near me. I mean, technically it’s public land, so she didn’t need permission.. but it was sweet that she asked. Her energy was kind and warm, like someone you instantly feel comfortable around.
We ended up talking a lot… about life, the challenges of trail life, what it’s like to be a solo female hiker out here. At one point, she caught me trying to use the bathroom and gasped like she’d spotted Bigfoot. “Tent Talker out of her tent?! No way!”
We laughed so hard.
It wasn’t a dramatic day. But it was rich. Full of tiny, meaningful moments. A snake that didn’t flinch at me, a deep swim in the creek, and a stranger who felt like a friend. It reminded me that even when I’m out here on my own, I’m never really alone. Not with stories like these to carry with me.
So that’s all for today’s entry. I’ll be writing for Summit Sunday in the next entry tomorrow 5/25. Thank you so much for reading. Much love to you.
-Belle
