The day started out well.  We met Mary for breakfast at the restaurant attached to the hotel around 7am and enjoyed the food and her company.  I was even able to get chocolate chip pancakes for dessert again, which made me happy.

The ride back to South Pass City was relatively fast, and before I knew it we were back on the trail again.  Even though we have 5.5 days of food AND the Ursacks AND the bear spray, it didn’t feel too heavy (thankfully we didn’t have to carry too much water). 

Being well rested and well fed helped make the hike feel easy, at first at least.  The only thing that was different was the hiking together part, which felt strange.  At first, we seemed to be doing ok with it.  We went off trail a few times but it wasn’t too big of a deal and we were able to make our way back to the trail without adding too many unnecessary steps.  

After stopping for lunch, the sky darkened and it started to thunder.  The storm didn’t get too close so I enjoyed the sound of thunder all afternoon.  It rained on us a few times, but it was a light, pleasant rain and neither of us felt the need to put on a rain jacket.   The best part of the rain is that it brings out the sent of the sagebrush, which is wonderful.

We managed to stay together most of the day, although I do not know how people hike  together all the time.  I love Nick and we get along great, so you’d think it would be easy for us.  It wasn’t.  Our hiking styles are so different that this hiking together for safety business is going to take some getting used to.  We both really enjoy the feeling of being alone in the wilderness and having someone always ahead or behind you ALL DAY takes that feeling away.  It was very difficult for me to get lost in my own thoughts when I was paying attention to where Nick was.  I know I’ll get used to this new normal and will probably come to like it.   It IS nice knowing I won’t have to worry about him when he doesn’t show up at a planned meeting spot when I think he should.  Still, alone time is important to me.  Maybe I can just pretend he’s not there.  I’ll work on it.  

Towards the end of the day, I really struggled mentally.  Physically I was mostly fine, although my leg issue still feels suspect (Nick started referring to my leg as Patrick Duffy - from a South Park episode-  which makes me laugh).  Mentally, however, the miles seemed to come way too slowly.  In my head I’d be certain we had hiked at least 3 miles when we barely made it 1.  The last two miles were brutal as whatever mental fortitude I had evaporated.  We were half a mile from where we planned to camp when I just plopped down on a rock and said, “I don’t think I can go on.”  Which was ridiculous, of course I could go on.  I ate a snack and that helped somewhat.   Still, I can’t quite figure out what my issue was other than it seemed to take way too long to get where we were going.  Also, I didn’t get any alone time, so maybe that has something to do with it, too.  

Regardless, we made it to the trailhead campsite just fine.  We had to cross the Sweetwater River to get here, though.  Nick was able to cross via the log without getting too wet, but I decided to take off my shoes and socks because I knew the cold water would feel good on my ankle and on my feet.  It did.  

We have a picnic table at our campsite, which is a great luxury.  We were responsible hikers and didn’t eat in the tent, even though technically we shouldn’t have even eaten at the picnic table (we need to get used to eating dinner and then hiking on). We even hung our food in the bathroom for practice and to keep rodents out of our precious food (it’s clean in there, don’t worry) .  We laughed a lot at all our mishaps - it’s a learning experience for sure.

Now I get to sleep to the sound of the flowing river, which is nice.  

Along the way:

Camp: