Start: 0700 - near Little Jamison Creek 213.5
End: 1900 - PCT mile 1237
Miles (today): 23.5
Miles (cumulative): 1277 (1129 PCT, 91.5 alternate, 56.5 off)

A few interesting things happened today.

1.    I met Phantom.  We leapfrogged a few times today and I can see how he got his name -  he appears out of nowhere.  Seriously, he had been ahead of me so when I stopped for a break I was surprised to see him walk up.  In the late afternoon we both ended up at the Alder Spring junction - he was getting ready to make dinner and I was waiting for Nick so I could get more water (only two more days until I have my own filter!). Phantom was wearing a marathon shirt, so of course I asked him about it; this led to a wonderful discussion about distance running. It turns out that Phantom also ran the Boston Marathon this past April!  Too cool!  A section hiker overheard our conversation and joined in - he runs a lot of marathons and ultras, too.  The three of us talked for almost an hour about running and it was so nice.  I miss Running, I really hope we get back together in the fall.  (Interesting coincidence: Earlier today I took off my white hiking shirt and put on my running tank top and not too long after that I met two other runners.. I should wear my running tank more often.)

2.    We bumped into Sunny, Killer, and Sunny's brother, JennyMan (obviously his trail name) while getting water at a stream. JennyMan is hiking with Sunny for a few days and his very first day hiked 25 miles with no problem.  When I told him I was impressed, he told me he will be doing his third Ironman in a few weeks - so of course we talked about that for a while.  :) (Consequently, his trail name had just been Jenny until I found out he did a few Ironman races - I helped convince him to modify his name to JennyMan)
3.    While making my way down to get water at Alder spring, I was passed by Baloo.  He was practically running down the trail while I, who had been sitting and chatting with Phantom for an hour, was still getting the kinks out of my legs.  When I finally made it to the spring, I got my first real look at Baloo.  He looked like he had stayed up all night long and then drank too much caffeine to compensate - he had that exhausted yet wired look about him.  He told me that he was on mile 40 of a planned 50 mile day.  Holy crap, that's impressive!  I'm hoping Nick and I will start to do 30 mile days soon, but 50? 
4.    We hiked past mile 1234.5 today.  Both Phantom and I were happy to see that we weren't the only ones who were excited for it- there was already a rock marker there.  However, Phantom and I both agreed it would be cooler if it said 1234.56, so Phantom drew one on the trail with his hiking pole. (We were too lazy to make a rock marker).

5.    Nick is sick.  It hit him when he got to our planned campsite- he has the chills, couldn't eat dinner, and vomited pretty violently shortly after going to bed (thankfully he made it out of the tent first).  Poor guy.  :( I hope he feels better tomorrow!!

Along the trail: