I was right - we didn’t have to do 30 miles today, we only had to do 29.  What a relief.  (Please read that with as much sarcasm as you can.) 

The 29 miles were long and rather grueling. However, I loved it.  It was a constant up and down, which kept things exciting, and it was so beautiful that I took over 150 pictures.  (I’ll let Theresa decide how to incorporate the ones I deem worthy into this post because it’s late and I don’t have the brainpower for such things right now.) Editors Note- “I have the power!!! Hee-hee!”

We decided to meet for lunch at a water cache 13 miles away.  I know you should never count on a water cache, but as the day progressed I really, REALLY hoped it had been maintained recently.  It was a lot hotter today than it has been lately, so the two liters of water I started with weren’t enough.  About a mile before the cache, I drank my last sip of water.  While I know it’s possible to go over a mile without water, it makes me anxious to not have any.  

I was lucky - there was still water at the cache, but not much.  There were about 50-gallon jugs tied together but only 7 had water.  There are so many hikers out here that by the time I left the cache, there were only 2 gallons left!!!!

At the cache, I saw Blink, Master Chef and Fuego, and Info.  Blink gave me his knee brace just in case I needed it today.  Happily, I didn’t.  I’m not sure a knee brace would have helped my issue anyway, as it’s an IT band problem, not a knee problem.  Still, it was a nice gesture.  Of course, it could also have been an elaborate plan to get me to carry his stuff.  :)

I didn’t get a chance to eat lunch with Nick - by the time he got to the cache I was ready to hike on.   Even though I hiked the entire morning without pain (thank you, Vitamin I), I was worried that something would start to pose a problem and slow me down (like yesterday), so I wanted to get going.  Before I left, we discussed our next meeting spot.  The next water was 16 miles away, which meant either hiking all the way there or dry camp somewhere.  We decided to push it to the next water even though that likely meant hiking after dark (with all the ups and downs, the terrain definitely wasn’t easy or fast).  

I took 3 liters from the cache and still ran out of water before I got to the spring (I’m definitely dehydrated).  Towards the end of the day, I bumped into Master Chef and Fuego and walked with them a bit.  I’m glad I was with them because Fuego was the one who noticed the rattler on the side of the trail.  If I hadn’t been with them, I most likely would have had my headphones in and wouldn’t have heard it.  We slowly walked around the wary snake and all was well.  I walked with them for a few more miles, but because I kept stopping to take pictures they eventually pulled ahead of me.  Which was fine because I really enjoyed walking alone in the stillness of twilight.

As we predicted, neither of us made it to the spring until after dark.  However, as I said, it was magical hiking at dusk!  I was able to see the sunset AND the moon rise whilst on the top of one of the many mesas we hiked up and over today.  

When I made it to the spring, it was equally magical.  Bats were flying overhead, the stars were bright, and the night was still.  

While I waited for Nick, I set to work purifying water.  I was tired, my feet hurt, I was getting cold, there wasn’t a good place to sit, and my filter was terribly slow; however, I did my best to stay positive and soak up being in such a beautiful place on such a beautiful night.  I also did my best to not freak myself out as I sat there, alone with the bats in the darkness.  

I was relieved when I saw bobbing lights coming down the trail - Nick had made it!  I was looking forward to getting out of my sweaty hiking clothes and into something dry and warm.  Of course, that meant first setting up camp.  I didn’t notice a place to camp by the spring when I walked down; thankfully, Nick had spotted one because I really didn’t want to walk any further.  

While he set up the tent in the darkness, I did my best to boil water for dinner.  It was a bit of a struggle because my Renauds was kicking in, but I managed.  We didn’t eat dinner until after 10pm tonight. Yikes.

It’s very late - almost midnight - so I’m getting myself to bed.  We ‘only’ have to walk 15 miles to town tomorrow so we plan to sleep in - we deserve it.  

Along the trail:

I chose too many photos, I’m drunk with power and they were all so beautiful!!!

Camp: