Tears

Mile: 342-361.7

Preface: please read this post with the most monotone voice you can muster. As I write this I have zero emotions to spare as my eyes are sore and my nose is runny from crying for most of the 19 miles I hiked today.

My mumsy was able to drive K and I to the trailhead and even walked with us a little. After we said goodbye was when the waterworks started (and as I write they are starting again). It was really hard to say goodbye. Especially because I knew that what I was about to hike was gross and it was hot and 5000 vertical feet of elevation gain in one day is not something I reeeaaaally wanted to do. Multiple times I wanted to turn around and run back to the hotel and curl up on the bed and sleep for another day but I knew that I would have to get passed this mountain at some point (some people are hitchhiking around but I don’t think I could live with myself if I did that).

It didn’t really help that I was able to see the interstate that my mother was driving away on ALL DAY. I was not a happy hiker.

The trail went through multiple tunnels before beginning to climb.

I ate my carrots and hummus after seven miles around 1. It was a nice break after what seemed like forever of getting nowhere. I was pleasantly surprised when K said there was only 7 miles to the next tent site.

I saw a baby rattlesnake. Yay. It only took 350 miles.

All the smoke from the 150 acre fire that occurred a few hours after I hiked passed that area has created a lot of smoke that is sitting in the air.

I finally got to the campsite and set up my tent and cleaned my gross feet of as much dirt as I could. I was going to read a little from the book I am now carrying (The Circle) but since it is one of those rare moments I have service I probably won’t get around to that tonight.