Camped at: Mojave River Forks Reservoir Spillway
Hikers I camped with: 1
Total up/down: 1,853 / -3,372
Steps: 40,965
I think I survived the plague.
So today I will reach the 300 marker and get to chill in some hot springs! The hot springs are about 10 miles from camp, I get up and get ready, it's cold and I'm moving slow.
We head out a little late and head down to the little creek crossing. I filter some water and Andrea mentions there is mint growing around the creek. This is why I love hiking with her! She knows her plants and picks edible plants or berries when she can. I have offered up the trail name Flora for her... and a few others, she needs a trail name! Lol
We do all our spring side chores, get water, wash dishes, wash socks ect.. and pick some mint! I didn't pick a lot but am dreaming of mint in my water. While I am hiking I realize that I have lemonade, vodka, and mint. Guess who is going to have a trail mojito at the hot springs?
I am a bit sore today from the 20 miles hiked yesterday. My hips are sore for some reason, my knees hurt when going downhill and the ankle, well it's always a little sore.
A little way into our hike today we hit 300 miles. It felt good. I have so far to go and getting past another milemarker always makes me feel like I'm getting somewhere! We take the usual pictures and head on down the trail. I will not stop today for lunch till the springs. 10 miles, I should get there around 2pm my favorite time to stop and eat. Perfect.
My favorite thing about having a goal spot to hike to is that moment you round a corner and see your goal.
I see people. I see people in swim suits. I see naked people. Did I mention that this is a "clothing optional" hot springs? I walk down the trail to the spring and see Andrea who had also just arrived. We set our packs down in the sand and look around. There are about 30 people here, most are not hikers, just everyday people spending the day at the springs, music is playing, people are drinking, it's a little overwhelming at first.
I hope to spend 2 or 3 hours here, have lunch soak the sore muscles and enjoy a mojito! The first pool I soak in has several people, the water is like a hot bath, maybe 105? I climb in, slimy rocks and all. My friends and family who know my issues with water would be proud of me! No one in this pool is a thru hiker but soon they find out I am one and I'm asked a lot of questions about the trail. For the most part I enjoy sharing what I'm doing with others, and people seem really interested in what we are doing. I try another pool that a bunch of hikers are sitting in, man this one is hot, I only put my feet in!
When I go back to eat lunch I say "I think I want to camp here". I really don't want to leave, but I only hiked 10 miles today and must put in more miles.
For lunch I fried up some spam and put it in a tortilla with some cheese, it was pretty darn good and even shared some of my spam with Charlie, a dog that is hiking the trail with her human. After a few more soaks in the diferent pools it is time to head out. We ended up staying here 5 hours, way too long and we head out knowing there will be night hiking involved. I can do this, I can night hike!
Nope.
No I can't night hike.
It was going so well, then I rolled my ankle!
Why?
Why can't I walk at night without rolling my ankle? It's so frustrating!
I feel bad for Andre because she wants to put in more miles, she knows I don't like camping alone and doesn't want to go ahead because I'm injured, again. I am holding her back and it puts me in an emotional mood. I am able to hike a few more miles when we get to the overflow. It's a big flat area with hard compressed ground. We decided to camp here but I feel bad. I tell Andrea that I'm sorry I held her back tonight, that we need to hike our own hikes and that she shouldn't feel obligated to stay together. It's great having a hiking partner but I'm a little slower than her and I don't want her to feel like she has to stay with me. I go to bed upset, it was such a great day and it had to end with me rolling my ankle again. It's just so damn frustrating.
So today I will reach the 300 marker and get to chill in some hot springs! The hot springs are about 10 miles from camp, I get up and get ready, it's cold and I'm moving slow.
We head out a little late and head down to the little creek crossing. I filter some water and Andrea mentions there is mint growing around the creek. This is why I love hiking with her! She knows her plants and picks edible plants or berries when she can. I have offered up the trail name Flora for her... and a few others, she needs a trail name! Lol
We do all our spring side chores, get water, wash dishes, wash socks ect.. and pick some mint! I didn't pick a lot but am dreaming of mint in my water. While I am hiking I realize that I have lemonade, vodka, and mint. Guess who is going to have a trail mojito at the hot springs?
I am a bit sore today from the 20 miles hiked yesterday. My hips are sore for some reason, my knees hurt when going downhill and the ankle, well it's always a little sore.
A little way into our hike today we hit 300 miles. It felt good. I have so far to go and getting past another milemarker always makes me feel like I'm getting somewhere! We take the usual pictures and head on down the trail. I will not stop today for lunch till the springs. 10 miles, I should get there around 2pm my favorite time to stop and eat. Perfect.
My favorite thing about having a goal spot to hike to is that moment you round a corner and see your goal.
I see people. I see people in swim suits. I see naked people. Did I mention that this is a "clothing optional" hot springs? I walk down the trail to the spring and see Andrea who had also just arrived. We set our packs down in the sand and look around. There are about 30 people here, most are not hikers, just everyday people spending the day at the springs, music is playing, people are drinking, it's a little overwhelming at first.
I hope to spend 2 or 3 hours here, have lunch soak the sore muscles and enjoy a mojito! The first pool I soak in has several people, the water is like a hot bath, maybe 105? I climb in, slimy rocks and all. My friends and family who know my issues with water would be proud of me! No one in this pool is a thru hiker but soon they find out I am one and I'm asked a lot of questions about the trail. For the most part I enjoy sharing what I'm doing with others, and people seem really interested in what we are doing. I try another pool that a bunch of hikers are sitting in, man this one is hot, I only put my feet in!
When I go back to eat lunch I say "I think I want to camp here". I really don't want to leave, but I only hiked 10 miles today and must put in more miles.
For lunch I fried up some spam and put it in a tortilla with some cheese, it was pretty darn good and even shared some of my spam with Charlie, a dog that is hiking the trail with her human. After a few more soaks in the diferent pools it is time to head out. We ended up staying here 5 hours, way too long and we head out knowing there will be night hiking involved. I can do this, I can night hike!
Nope.
No I can't night hike.
It was going so well, then I rolled my ankle!
Why?
Why can't I walk at night without rolling my ankle? It's so frustrating!
I feel bad for Andre because she wants to put in more miles, she knows I don't like camping alone and doesn't want to go ahead because I'm injured, again. I am holding her back and it puts me in an emotional mood. I am able to hike a few more miles when we get to the overflow. It's a big flat area with hard compressed ground. We decided to camp here but I feel bad. I tell Andrea that I'm sorry I held her back tonight, that we need to hike our own hikes and that she shouldn't feel obligated to stay together. It's great having a hiking partner but I'm a little slower than her and I don't want her to feel like she has to stay with me. I go to bed upset, it was such a great day and it had to end with me rolling my ankle again. It's just so damn frustrating.
What a refreshing site that must have been! :)
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