While I knew there wouldn’t be anything there, I still walked down to the lobby this morning to see if they had any food - I really didn’t want to eat my on-trail breakfast this morning.  

It was like a ghost town in the lobby, so I walked dejectedly back to our room and ate the protein bar and nuts I usually eat on-trail.  

At least there was coffee in the room.  And at least the shower was still amazing (you bet I took another one!)

As we walked the 1.5 miles uphill to get back to the trail, I didn’t have the same energy I usually have after a day off - I’m pretty sure this is because we didn’t get a chance to eat as much as we needed to.  

A guy in a truck started up the gravel road not too long after we did and I hoped he’d stop to ask if we wanted a ride to the trail.  He slowed down and even rolled down his window, but that’s it - he didn’t even give me a chance to ask for a ride.  Oh well.

Once back on the trail, I was annoyed beyond belief to find myself back on the gravel road after just 1.5 miles.  I thought I was losing my mind when, after hiking up for a while, I found myself hiking down without going over a ridge.  We basically hiked up switchbacks and then down switchbacks, only to arrive 0.5 miles further down the road than when we left it.  I was convinced Nick had stayed on the road and felt very silly.  I really need to start paying closer attention to the maps.

The Wind periodically made itself known today - at one point I had to stop to put my gaiter over my hat to keep it from blowing off.  The good part about it being so windy was that I didn’t sweat at all (in fact, at times I was quite cold).  Oh Wind, we have such a complicated relationship.  

There was one thru-hiker ahead of me, but I never caught up to him so I’m not sure who it was.  Other than Nick, the mysterious hiker was the only other thru-hiker I saw today.  I did see some day hikers, but that’s it.  It’s so crazy how some days there are hikers everywhere and other days it feels like we are the only ones out here.

Despite stopping several times for mini bathroom emergencies (my body seems to be rejecting the food we ate at the lodge, most specifically the microwaved cheeseburger), I waited for Nick at our planned lunch spot for over an hour.  Since I thought he had stayed on the road (saving himself a mile of hiking), I figured he was ahead of me.  Worried that I had somehow gotten the meeting spot wrong, I satellite texted him.  I pressed send on the text just as he walked up.  Oh well.  (He didn’t notice the trail led back to the road, either, which made me feel better.)

The trail after lunch was much better than the trail this morning.  The trail this morning was mostly in a green tunnel whereas the trail this afternoon went up and over several ridges - it was exciting to see what view I’d have next.

We ended our day a little early only because we have a huge climb ahead of us that we knew we wouldn’t finish before dark, and we doubt there is any good campsites on the way up.  I’m ok with stopping early - like I said, I don’t feel as rejuvenated as I usually do after some time off and the extra sleep can’t hurt. 

Also, we’re back to dealing with snow again - so far the traverses haven’t been terrible, but they definitely slow us down.  And the mud and water from the melting snow slows us down, too.  I told Nick we should try to get an early start tomorrow, which shouldn’t be too much of an issue since we stopped so early today.  Stay tuned.  

Along the trail:

Camp:

look at all the insects flying in the air!