Day 75

Creek in stubblefield cyn campsite to campsite - 18.8 miles

Total - 1002.1 miles

Good sleep last night. Started packing up and as I got out of my tent, the deer that had been circling us all evening yesterday, were still there, just hanging around. I had another guest at my poop site, the deer just like to watch I guess. We had one big up in the morning and one big down and after it was a cruisey uphill for the next 10+ miles. Basically flat. The uphill got me sweating in the morning but the mosquitos weren’t bad. I got to the top of the hill after passing three people, when my strap holding my bear can steady broke. The strap had come loose from the buckle so I had to sit there while being attacked by mosquitos. Fixed it quickly and got moving. It’s when I descend is when real hell broke loose. Lake after lake new swarms of mosquitos would attack. I had my head net on but if I didn’t I would be choking on 5 mosquitos all at once. It was brutal. I couldn’t stop or I would be engulfed in a grey swarm. There was a stream crossing where I could possibly take time to look around for some rocks to hop across but the mosquitos said otherwise so through the river I went shoes and all. My feet probably needed it after yesterdays smell. The views were gorgeous, open fields, mountains as usual, green on green on green, and of course mosquitos. Everytime I would lift my bug net, it felt like a crisp National Geographic picture. It really made you appreciate your eyes when you don’t have a net making the view fuzzy. I eventually had to filter water. I was dreading it. I found a stream hoping since it was openish that there would be less mosquitos but just like yesterday, they came in the hundreds. Luckily I had rain gear out and bug net on that it wasn’t the worst thing but I did filter two liters just so I wouldn’t have to stop again. At one point I was easily going 3.5 mph, maybe even more as I couldn’t outrun the bugs. My shoulders look like mine fields and my elbows are incredibly itchy. I have some bug bites also in the tramp stamp area which adds a nice touch. I eventually caught up to Marc. Apparently he had to take a shit and I don’t even want to know how that went with that many mosquitos. We were both so tired as we hadn’t taken a break in 10 miles. And we still had 8 more to go. Marc stopped for maybe three minutes and then had to get moving again as it got too bad. We plugged away and just kept going. We eventually made it to the top of the pass hoping there was wind to get the mosquitos away and somehow there were way more at the top wirh a little bit of wind. I decided to just push onto camp and then eat. I ate two Justin’s packets of chocolate hazelnut and got moving once again. We did find a nice spot to sit when the wind got going again but that only lasted 5 minutes. We trudged into camp and got straight to setting up and drying off my wet ass socks and shoes (smelled better). Marc grabbed water for us, and I chugged a liter wirh electrolytes as I know I’m dehydrated. I then took a nap and a half while listening to my audiobook morning star from the red rising series, sweating my ass off as the sun hit the inside of my tent. There went my electrolytes. I eventually woke up around 4:30ish, sweating and delusional, and contemplated my life choices for a lil bit. I cleaned up by cutting my nails, giving my feet a wet wipe bath, and filtering some water. Ben caught up! Super exciting especially since he’s been hurting wirh his knee. We all need a double zero. Around 5:30 I made my pesto chicken pasta which was so fucking good. Omg best meal on trail so far. I could’ve eaten two of them. Grabbed more water while the mosquitos swamped me and now I’m in my tent. Probably not going to leave anytime soon.

HOLY SHIT 1000 MILES. The only reason I am able to make it this far is because of the people on trail and most importantly the people back home, mom and dad. Biggest supporters and I love them so so so so so much. Thank you for coming out, sending me packages, and encouraging me. Also thank you for anyone who has followed my journey so far or has commented or have talked to my parents. All your kind words have gotten back to me either through friends or my parents. I love you all🫶. Not even half way but after July 4th in South Lake Tahoe we will be picking up the miles and pushing.

My next rant: My tent is so fucking dirty, it’s pissing me off. Everything is dirty. I empty it out, but then mosquitos get in it. It’s never ending and I’m tired of sleeping in FILTH. My pad is also always deflating, and it’s always so dirty. I’m tired of dirt. Idk how I haven’t gotten sick yet because I’m constantly washing my face in non sterile water, my fingers haven’t been clean since April 12th no matter how much I scrub them, and my feet, well yall know how bad those are from yesterday. Normally this wouldn’t bother me but now that I’m spending so much time in my tent because of the GODDAMN MOSQUITOS, it’s bothering me a lot.

I hope you enjoy my feet pic FOR FREE, people would pay good money for that thang but I’m being generous.

*not pictured is the MILLION FUCKING MOSQUITOS