Fueled by Sugar
Today started pretty well. It took me a while to get ready but I was going by 8 which is decent. I can definitely tell that with the sierras and their impending snow quickly inching closer I am dragging my feet literally and figuratively. I know I have nothing to worry about going into that section with all the experience that I am surrounded with (DB, AH, and P pretty much know what they are doing and won’t let me die) but I am still nervous about the cold. Being cold is not my friend. I become a very grouchy Izzy when I get cold. Or wet for that matter. Especially if I don’t have an idea of when I will be dry.
During the last 3-4 days I challenged myself to not plug myself into my phone and play music while I was walking so I could really think about the next couple weeks. I went back and forth with myself about whether I should attempt going through the sierras or if I should just turn around and hike back to the Mexico border. On one hand the sierras scare the living daylights out of me but on the other hand I know I need to push myself if I ever want to grow and learn. Also, the fact that I already know I am physically capable of doing these first 700-ish miles from Mexico to Kennedy Meadows (though I am not quiet there yet I’m pretty sure I can make it) is comforting but it would also be the easy way out. I want to grow. That was the while point of this. At the moment I am still planning on heading into the snow. I will, however, evaluate myself and my situation continuously so if there is any moment I don’t feel I can handle something, even with the three guys with me, I will safely figure out a plan b.
Back to the present. I saw two south bound hikers early in the day and it always boosts my moral to see new people.
Right before a three mile climb there was a water cache but there was also a cooler filled with a bunch of different snack items, Nutella packets, peanut butter packets, tortillas, pop tarts, and granola bars. I stopped there for lunch and ate a lot. A total of 6 pop tarts to be exact. In hindsight that was not a good decision. I never want to look at a pop tart again. Ever.
The three mile climb wasn’t as bad as it looked. The pop tarts definitely did not help. At the top I stop for a few minutes because I had service but then continued to hike for 5 more miles. I could feel the crash from the sugar and it was not helped by the wind continuously beating at my legs and face.
I finally got to the designated meeting place where DB and I ate dinner. Not entirely sure where AH and P had gone we decided to hike the remaining 7.5 miles to the campsite by the road where we were going to hitch into town. We ended up hiking 27-ish miles that day. And I didn’t feel like dying. Yay!
Today ended with two slightly sore feet but an ultimately happy and content Izzy.