The weather was on our side yet again today - it was mostly overcast and relatively cool (for being in the basin, anyway). This morning we enjoyed a nice sunrise, watched a horse strut his stuff, and chatted with Little Bit again (she was waiting for Arrow at a road crossing a few miles from where we camped).
Today was all road walking - sand and dirt - and there were a few tricky junctions where, if you weren’t paying attention, you could easily go off-trail. Of course this happened to us - we were a whole mile off-trail before I realized the mistake. Rather than go back the entire mile (when have we ever done that?) we bushwhacked across the sagebrush. It wasn’t the worst thing that’s happened, and I even found a cattle trail to follow for a bit, which made it a little easier. Still, it was annoying.
We stopped at two water sources, both of which were decent. The first was a small spring, the second was a cattle pond (thankfully, the water didn’t taste like cow shit). We took breaks at both places, just the two of us. While I enjoy the company of other hikers, I love it when it’s just Nick and me - we have a comfortable rhythm that makes me happy.
After our lunch break at the cattle pond, The Wind really picked up; this was great in that it kept the temperature down but it made hiking more difficult, particularly since it was blowing primarily from the front and side. While there was no danger of me being blown off a mountain, it was still very intense. Rather than try to listen to music or a podcast, I let The Wind do all the talking. It was just me and The Wind for 12.5 straight miles. I considered stopping for a break, but it was so windy that I wanted to wait until I found a spot with decent protection before doing so. I finally found a such a spot, but at that point I only had a few miles to go so I pushed on. (I was in a trancelike zone at that point and stopping would have made starting up again very difficult.)
With less then a mile to go to the water cache at which we planned to stop, I passed Little Bit again - I assumed she was just getting ready to car camp and not wanting to host any hikers, so I walked on after telling her that Arrow is lucky to have her for mom. I had been worried about water being at the cache, but Little Bit informed me it was just refilled today. I was extremely relieved to hear this - the last report I read on the FarOut app said there were only 6 gallons left as of yesterday morning, and relying on water caches is always risky.
the storm is getting closer
At the cache I refilled my bottles, ate a sucker I found along with the water, stretched, and even lay down with my feet up on one of the cache boxes while I waited for Nick. It was wonderful.
water and dum dums - awesomeness
When Nick got to the cache he told me that Spice had caught up to him (Spice was still at Little Bit’s car - apparently she WAS doing trail magic! Oops!). I also met another new hiker, Shuttle, who got to the cache just as I was headed to our tent. I suppose we’re back to hiking with a bunch of people again. I suppose I’ll survive. :)
Hopefully, I’m able to sleep better tonight than I did last night. Last night I was up late writing, then my muscles needed some attention, and then Nick started snoring very loudly. And THEN, probably around midnight, I realized I left my hiking poles by the spring. While I could have retrieved them in the morning, I couldn’t rest until I had them with me. Besides, I figured my legs could use the little walk. The moon was completely covered by clouds so I had to use my headlamp (which I don’t like to use if I can help it as I feel it draws too much attention to myself). The way there was ok and I simply walked until I heard the running water. However, on the way back I got a little lost (the sagebrush all looks the same). It turns out Nick’s incredibly loud snoring is good for something after all- all I had to do was follow his snores back to the tent. Just as I crawled inside I could hear coyotes - they were VERY close, like at the spring I was just at close. Yikes.
———The rain I saw in the distance on the way to the cache finally got to us as we were eating dinner. Of course, I realized I had to pee just as it started. The rain just stopped so, when I went outside to take care of business, I got to see the storm in the distance. I attempted to video the lightning but of course, it refused to appear while I was recording. Then it started to rain again, so I’m back in the tent. It’s for the best, I suppose- I really am exhausted.
Along the trail:
Camp:
