Day 34

Bouquet canyon rd to Lake Hughes Rd - 20 miles

Total - 485.6 miles

Woke up this morning to a fine layer of water all over all my gear. I have been sleeping with my rain fly off pretty much the entire week as it’s basically cowboy camping with a bug net. So basically just a tent lol idk why I tried to make that sound cooler than it actually is. I can see the stars which is awesome. It wasn’t too bad though so I packed up. I loved the place we camped except we were close to a road and some people did not know how to properly dig a cat hole. The technique for those who don’t know is to dig a 6 inch deep hole and do your business and then cover. The key is to pack everything out besides the shit. People just be poopin and haittin everywhere, no hole, just a rock covering there shit with their toilet paper whipping in the wind. Truly aweful. It ain’t that hard. Luckily it hasn’t been a big issue and most people get it but there has been a couple places where I’m like come on folks! Got on the road and went up, up, up! It wasn’t hard up but it definitely slows ya down. I tend to doubt myself on the uphill when I see a steep incline but I need to stop doubting as I’ve done almost 500 miles of elevation. I just hate uphill. I hate downhill as well. Not enough flat. If they could just build one straight line from Mexico to Canada all flat, through mountains with water fountains every mile or so leaking out of the canyon walls that would be amazing. With AC of course and a couple of Walmarts along the way for resupply. Anyways, I fell today and broke my sunglasses so that was a HUGE inconvenience. I also had so many rocks in my shoe but I didn’t want to have to untie my shoes and then re-tie them (I had Salomon’s before I switched to topos which did not have laces but a pulley system thingy if that makes sense (probably doesn’t)). God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers aka laces and broken glasses. I felt kinda slow today but I was literally going 3mph so now I have no concept of pacing. I also have no smell it feels like, no idea if I smell bad (I do) or if I don’t (definetly do). Feels like I can’t smell good smells either. They have to be really strong for me to smell them so I’ve definitely burned a few nostril hairs with my own stink. We got to lunch and had a short siesta while lounging by the picnic table and shade. The entire morning was so green which surprised me bc I thought we would be getting into the true desert finally for a bit of time but I think that starts at the LA aqueduct. After we headed out, I got a 10 minute starts on Caleb and it was a race to the top of the final climb. He didn’t know we were racing but we were and I won. Ignore that I got a head start. It wasn’t that huge. I was dripping sweat and needing a downhill section which I got but then my feet started hurting so that sucked. Caleb and I then hiked the rest of the way with a swim spot on our minds as EVERYONE in the FarOut comments said the river was flowing. We apparently didn’t pick up the sarcasm as that river was a measly stream that I technically could sit in and only get half my legs and ass wet. I quickly realized the stream had tons of tiny leaches on the rocks hanging on for dear life. If you know anything about me is I HATE ticks, and leaches. So I was not going in one bit. I informed Caleb hallway through his full body rinse off and he quickly got out. When they are that small tho, it ain’t that bad but still nasty as hell. We lounged around for the rest of the day chatting it up and discussing plans. We have two weeks to do 244 miles to Kennedy meadows which I think is still doable but we might have to push a little more than we thought. It’s officially getting hella hot too as next week in ridge crest which is probably 100 miles out it’s supposed to reach 99 degrees at an elevation of 2200 ft which sounds absolutely miserable. Long siestas will have to be incorporated now which we haven’t really done whatsoever. After all the discussing I wanted to go to bed which meant chores and eating. Nothing too exciting. In bed by 6:30 which I am estatic about.

On the other note while Caleb and I were hiking I told him my plan to run a marathon after the pct with only the pct as my training and within the week I finish. He doubted me so now I am fueled with hate and spite. He isn’t the only one who doubted me so now I gotta prove everyone wrong. We made a bet for $20 and I am not about to lose so I will be cashing in in 5 months after I complete that goal. Plus now I am writing it on here which forces me to complete it as well as all of you know. Cant fail at something when everyone knows or it’s just embarrassing.

We also ran into mosey! We last saw her around little bear hostel. No idea what mike marker and too lazy to check but it was awhile ago. It’s nice to see old faces! Super sweet woman and an absolute badass.

Saw these prickly cucumber lookin things on vines and took a photo of them. No idea what they are but they were everywhere. Photos are giving me trouble again which is extremely unfortunate.