Day 311

Day 311 (AZT 16): 33 miles

I started the day with getting my new socks and felt like a kid on Christmas. I really don’t care about how any article of clothing feels other than my socks. There’s nothing like a new clean pair, especially in the desert.

It was pretty easy hiking today, just some rolling hills with scenic yellow grass. Maybe it’s just cause I’m from such a green area but I absolutely love rolling hills of tall yellow grass. Maybe subconsciously it reminds me of Elysium in gladiator.

I passed the 500 mile marker today. I’m not sure if it’s because I already completed the calendar year triple crown or just cause this is a shorter trail but seeing these numbers really has no emotional effect on me. The mileages on the CDT never really mattered cause they’d always be wrong but 1,000 miles on the AT was huge and some others on the PCT. But with seeing 500 on here, there was no catharsis, no more barriers to cross.

At the end of the day I got down to the Gila River. I was on the Gila River back in March on an alternate on the CDT and it was one of my favorite places all year. I don’t think it’s gonna be the same this time but we’ll see in the daylight tomorrow. At least it won’t get down to 20 tonight and i won’t have to ford the river 10 times in the morning when it’s still below freezing.

Song of the day: please don’t stop the music-Rihanna