Miles I hiked: 11.2
Camped at mile: 52.7
Hikers I camped with: 8
Ending elevation: 5259'
Today I just wasn't feeling it... I guess it's because I am in town but I'm also upset that I wasn't able to get my electronics fully charged. The plug for my charger is basically useless. It charges at half the rate as a normal one. It took me forever to get moving in the morning, it's cold and I'm a baby.
I left the camp and walked to the outfitters one more time to check for a plug, then I bought other stuff and forgot to look for a plug. It then took me another hour or so of doing real world stuff (like paying bills) before I actually set foot on the trail. It was about 11 am now!
Today's goal was to hike to the horse troth, but a couple of miles or so before that was a picnic area that might have a water cache.
I set out on the trail, my friends way ahead of me. About a mile or so into my hike a group of trail runners passed me by, about 10 or so. Later I caught up to them as they were taking a break and told them I felt like the tortoise. They noticed the can of pringles I was carrying in a side pocket of my pack, so I offered them to them. What was I thinking anyways about carrying them? I liked the idea of carrying potato chips, but was carrying a lot of water so I was happy to be rid of them.
The trail slowly came out of the wooded environment it had been and turned into the exact opposite. Just a desert trail with no trees, nothing to shade me from the sun. Much of the trail for the rest of the day was through a burn area. It was so stunning. The burnt remains of what had been, surrounded by new growth and wild flowers, I found the contrast beautiful. At one point we could climb up this little hill to a Vista and for the first time you could see the real California desert. Just dry sandy mountains for as far as you can see. A hiker was standing up there and was amazed by the view! He had never seen anything like that in America and comment on how it looked like the middle east. I am really thankful for the rain a couple weeks ago because the desert I have walked through so far has just been so full of life and is picture perfect.
Today I felt much stronger and as the day grew older I started hiking a fast determined pace. I came to an overlook where people would stop and enjoy the view, I could get off there and walk a mile to a campground for water or continue on and hope for water at the picnic area. I decided to keep just head for the picnic area, but first I would sit under the shade of the outlook deck and eat my lunch. While I was eating 2 different people offered me water. The first was the father of a hiker who was slack packing (hiking with a day pack while his gear was with his father) and the second was a man who was hiking the trail southbound in sections and was checking out the water situation in the area. I 2as thankful for the water and headed up the trail knowing i didnt have to worry about water for awhile. I had about 2 miles left to hike when I poked my head into the picnic area to see if I knew anyone and there was Justin sitting at a picnic table. I may have been able to make it to my destination but seeing a familiar face made me just want to put my pack down.
Camped at mile: 52.7
Hikers I camped with: 8
Ending elevation: 5259'
Today I just wasn't feeling it... I guess it's because I am in town but I'm also upset that I wasn't able to get my electronics fully charged. The plug for my charger is basically useless. It charges at half the rate as a normal one. It took me forever to get moving in the morning, it's cold and I'm a baby.
I left the camp and walked to the outfitters one more time to check for a plug, then I bought other stuff and forgot to look for a plug. It then took me another hour or so of doing real world stuff (like paying bills) before I actually set foot on the trail. It was about 11 am now!
Today's goal was to hike to the horse troth, but a couple of miles or so before that was a picnic area that might have a water cache.
I set out on the trail, my friends way ahead of me. About a mile or so into my hike a group of trail runners passed me by, about 10 or so. Later I caught up to them as they were taking a break and told them I felt like the tortoise. They noticed the can of pringles I was carrying in a side pocket of my pack, so I offered them to them. What was I thinking anyways about carrying them? I liked the idea of carrying potato chips, but was carrying a lot of water so I was happy to be rid of them.
The trail slowly came out of the wooded environment it had been and turned into the exact opposite. Just a desert trail with no trees, nothing to shade me from the sun. Much of the trail for the rest of the day was through a burn area. It was so stunning. The burnt remains of what had been, surrounded by new growth and wild flowers, I found the contrast beautiful. At one point we could climb up this little hill to a Vista and for the first time you could see the real California desert. Just dry sandy mountains for as far as you can see. A hiker was standing up there and was amazed by the view! He had never seen anything like that in America and comment on how it looked like the middle east. I am really thankful for the rain a couple weeks ago because the desert I have walked through so far has just been so full of life and is picture perfect.
Today I felt much stronger and as the day grew older I started hiking a fast determined pace. I came to an overlook where people would stop and enjoy the view, I could get off there and walk a mile to a campground for water or continue on and hope for water at the picnic area. I decided to keep just head for the picnic area, but first I would sit under the shade of the outlook deck and eat my lunch. While I was eating 2 different people offered me water. The first was the father of a hiker who was slack packing (hiking with a day pack while his gear was with his father) and the second was a man who was hiking the trail southbound in sections and was checking out the water situation in the area. I 2as thankful for the water and headed up the trail knowing i didnt have to worry about water for awhile. I had about 2 miles left to hike when I poked my head into the picnic area to see if I knew anyone and there was Justin sitting at a picnic table. I may have been able to make it to my destination but seeing a familiar face made me just want to put my pack down.
Nice people that offered you water. :)
ReplyDeleteQuestion? In the pic of your feet on top of your shoes? What are those things wrapped around your calves? Just curious.... :)
Those are my dirty girl gators. They attach your your shoes and keep the nasty blister causing stuff out of your shoes. Pretty much everyone wears them and almost all are by dirty girl, she makes them in all different patterns it's one way we can show our individuality.
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