Today just didn’t feel like my day getting started. For whatever reason I just couldn’t get all my things back in my pack. I started some rice in a cold soak prior to leaving camp and hoped that by the time I found some sunshine I’d be able to unpack my bag and eat all in one stop. Not so much. I was able to repack but it still wasn’t really to my liking. I felt like my pack was against me all morning for some reason. I asked Kel to bring out my Hyperlite pack as it’s a lot simpler to maneuver.
We broke camp pretty early today. I didn’t really sleep much last night, not sure why. Could be all the body aches. I stayed plenty warm even on the ridge we were at and with the clouds that hovered over us most of the night. We (The girls) and Sam and Dahlia were all gone by 730. We whispered goodbye to Justin who was still wrestling in his tent.
We knew we had 5 miles to hike before finding our next water source at “Mikes Place.” Just from the water of water, it was a perfect stop. I can’t speak from personal experience but I’m just glad we didn’t venture in for anything more. That’s all about that. We filtered what we needed, ate a snack and went about our way. We did finally run into Justin again but didn’t see him the rest of the day.
Our plan for today was at least 15 miles. We ended up pulling 19 miles though and honestly I feel like my legs might fall off right now. During the day you just keep pressing on. When you stop for the night you can barely move. Emily and her speedy legs found a sweet camping spot at mile 138.8 for this evening. Laura and I trailed behind and I went at my normal “I don’t hike fast pace” and Laura slowed down as her ankle pains came back today. She may take a few days off in Idyllwild depending on how she feels tomorrow. We are roughly 12 miles from where highway 74 crosses, where we planned to have lunch at the Paradise Cafe.
The terrain today was still lots of hot desert. Still pretty in its own fashion, but man some of these days just feel like we’re torturing ourselves. It’s hot, water resources are slim and carrying water for “dry camping” really takes it out of you when the sun is blazing all day. I’ve been carrying 4 1/2 liters of water once we fill up and have to dry camp. That seems to be the magic if you fill up, have miles to go to a campsite, cook dinner–just add water of course–and water to get you going for the mornings next few miles. I’ll start tomorrow with 2 1/2 liters which I will ration for those 12 miles on trail. Just getting started early helps the water consumption. And we sure do guzzle it up when we get a chance.
One more lizard for my brother Glen. Lots of these guys out today. This one was small though. And I thought I heard a rattlesnake today but I didn’t linger long enough to find out. I was having to dodge a bush on the left side of me which pushed me into a bush on the right, which is where I thought said snake could have been. It all happened so fast…. but I survived.
KLubs on a Long Dusty Walk 