Day 9, Melancholy

3/25/20, mile: 83.1

Quick note here, it looks like my blog got mentioned in the LA Times. Imagine that?

Firsts: first hitch (didn’t even try)

I didn’t sleep well. I don’t know why. I didn’t like my breakfast (food I bought yesterday to make nachos, but now sounds blah). I walked to the post office, which was further than anticipated, then stopped at the store to buy too much food to carry. The shiny spot in all of this was the bag of oatmeal raisin cookies Sarah added to the box with my new shoes. After packing up and letting the other guys know I was on the way to the Lodge, a woman stopped me on the street and asked if I needed a ride to Scissors Crossing. Well I’ll be damned. This is easier than I thought. I texted Disco and Lowlander (formerly Calzone) that I had a ride and that I’d see them on trail.

Around noon, I met Kingsley (sp?) from Dallas under the bridge. Sounds like she was alone for the past day or two and was looking to recoup in Julian…and then decide whether to continue our not. I hope you’re happy with whatever decision you make.

About two miles up the trail, I realized I f-ed up big time. I had two liters of water. And it was a 14 mile carry to the next potential water source (a water cache). Uh oh. From where I stood, I could see the bridge where water was stashed for hikers….waaaay down there….back on the trail I just came up. Nope. Thank Dog it’s not a “normal” year with high temps and lots of sun (this is a very exposed section). Onward.

The mountain range we’re on is the eastern ridge above the valley where Scissors Crossing is. The western one is where Julian is hidden somewhere. The views are big, the flowers amazing. And we are definitely in the desert now. Now we’re surrounded by cactii and lots of dry washes. Almost no shade for some sections, depending on the time of day. For us, it’s windy as all get-out and cold.

I stopped at 3-ish, bound and determined to not push too hard, too late in the day and get a mediocre spot. More rain and lots of wind coming in the night. I could see the clouds rolling over the western mountains, looking like a breaking wave ready to was me out to somewhere. Instead of writing this stuff (my mind and heart weren’t in it), I pulled out my Kindle and started The Martian around 5. I woke up at 7. Looked outside and determined the world was still there, read some more and went to sleep. HARD. Yes, the wind and rain woke me up here and there, but I pitched the tent pretty well and didn’t have a collapse or get wet. I spent 13 straight hours in my sleeping bag (kinda dehydrated I guess). I stayed there until the rain stopped and the sun hit the tent. Best morning in a while in the tent.

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