Start: 0815 - Elk Lake Resort
End: 1930 - near Mini Scott Spring (just past Obsidian)
Miles (today): 24.5 (22.5 PCT, 1.5 alternate, 0.5 off)
Miles (cumulative): 2011.5 (1811 PCT, 129.5 alternate, 71 off)
No drugs were consumed during the course of today's hike! My back is much better and my feet, although still a mess, are actually less swollen than they have been this past month. Aquaman, the hitchhiking thru-hiker Candee, Nick, and I picked up on our way to the coast, told me to try spreading my toes at night (like when you get a pedicure). I tried it for the first time last night and woke up with less swollen feet. It could be a coincidence - one night doesn't mean much - so I'll continue with the experiment.
It was tough to get out of my sleeping bag this morning because it was so cold. The good thing about cold nights is that it keeps the bugs at bay (we haven't had any issues with mosquitos even though many people ahead of us reported this section was full of them). Cold nights also mean excellent hiking temperatures during the day. If I could just figure out how to keep my hands from losing all circulation I'd be set.
Since we camped at the resort campground last night, we were surrounded by people in the morning. Nick struck up a conversation with a couple, April and Wes, and happened to mention we didn't get our resupply package (I think he was telling them how we ate couscous for breakfast - thank you Clayton, it tasted great!). As we were packing up, April brought over some protein bars and trail mix for us! It was so unexpected and so awesome! I'm going to eat pretty well these next two days!
April chose the bathtub with ducks
Hiking today was good. Not only is my body feeling better but I thought about all the hiking advice Escalator and Saunter gave me about not worrying about the miles or the time, just enjoy the walk. So I did my very best to do just that - I didn't check my watch and I didn't look at the Halfmile app to see how far I'd gone. I just walked and soaked in all the beauty.
And man, was it beautiful today! We finally emerged from the green tunnel we had been hiking in the past few days and it's as if I can breathe again. The shade from the trees is nice and all, but I love seeing the open sky. I love being able to see all around. I love the mountains. :)
I think this is one of the Sisters..
not sure what mountains these are..
In the afternoon, the clouds rolled in and spoiled my view (and made it chilly). The clouds made for some eerie hiking. At one point, as I walked up a mountain covered in lava rock, the fog and the dead trees and the black rocks made me think I was on Mount Doom. In fact, now the fog is freezing and I can hear it 'raining' down on the tent.
the fog rolling in over lava field - you can see the trail meandering up to the left
Nick had to do dinner - my hands were ice- so I blew up his air mattress in return. What would I do without him? :)
Along the trail:
interesting mushroom
obsidian falls
