Day 307

Day 307 (AZT 12): 21 miles

Yesterday sucked cause I was dumb. Today sucked because the trail was dumb. It was a lot of climbing but that’s whatever I can deal with that. But today was soooo rocky and overgrown. I was just dealing with it all day, moving pretty slow, then in the evening my brain finally tuned on and I just had the realization, “THIS FUCKING SUCKS.” After moving slow all day I started to really consider how rough the terrain was. It was just as rocky (and we’re talking the perfect ankle rollingsize rocks) as the worst parts of the AT and Washington. I couldn’t get a comfortable solid step in all day. Everything had to be controlled and slow to try to protect my feet, which were already killing me. I started the day with a swollen and stiff ankle, I’m not sure what from cause I didn’t roll it or anything.

In addition to walking in rolling rocks all day (of which I’d rather be drinking) the trail was also overgrown. I was getting cut up all day. I think there was a big fire here semi recently which can cause undergrowth of undesirable plants to grow back pretty fast. Trail maintainers must not have been to this area in a bit. At least I’m here later in the year and the path wasn’t too hard to find since it was blazed by others. That can be a problem in this area from what I hear.

I felt like Chris Farley for a it today. At one water source there were “BEES! BEES EVERYWHERE!” I’m glad I’m not allergic, something I never really have to worry about.

I met a hiker today that said she heard me singing as I hiked past her tent last night. From what I remember around the area she described I kept replaying bulls on parade to psych me up and distract me from my dehydration so I hope she wasn’t scared about some guy walking by talking about rallying round the family with a pocket full of shells lmao

Regardless of how harsh the trail was, the area was beautiful today. At least the pain was rewarded. The best part about days like today is that tomorrow can only be better, because it has to be.

Song of the day: I wish you were here-incubus