Day 313

Day 313 (AZT 18): 31 miles

The morning started off with following some high buzzing power lines for a little bit on some dirt roads. I took a wrong turn and followed a cow path for a little bit before I realized it was too rough. I bushwhacked (much more pleasantly than in the mazatzals) back to the trail and didn’t waste too much time.

At freeman road trailhead there was a nice water cache that I enjoyed with a little shade. There was a little “shade shelter” but with the angle of the sun it wasn’t too helpful. The sun has just been brutal lately. There’s no shade all day until shortly before sunset then from the right angle you can get a little shade from the 3-4 feet tall brush. In the afternoon today I found a little 2 foot box of shade, laid down for a little break and ended up falling asleep for 20 minutes. With the heat lately (mid 80s) and constant sun, I’ve been more drained at the end of a 30 mile day than usual.

I was on the phone with my parents today and my dad asked if I was tired which I found a little bit funny. I wake up tired. I go to bed exhausted. Everything in the middle is working towards the latter.

I saw my first rattlesnake in Arizona today. He was a pretty big fucker and he was angry. I don’t understand why these goofballs perk up and are ready to strike at my calf when I’m within 10 feet but when I throw a rock and it lands 1 inch from them they don’t flinch. Had about a ten minute standoff before I finally hit him with a rock and he moved.

After dark I had my headlamp on and saw a pool of something up ahead on trail. When I got close I realized what it was. It was a real nice large pool of fresh liquid cow diarrhea. I could’ve gone without that.

Around 9 I came upon a saddle I was gonna camp on. I saw a tent set up and tried to not be a nuisance but it turned out to be Randy, a biker that I’ve been leapfrogging with since before flagstaff. He said he saw a headlamp from his tent and thought “that can only be one person.”

The area I’m camping on is certainly less than ideal. I’m saying a few prayers for my sleeping pad tonight, only popped one so far this year.

Song of the day: domo23-Tyler the creator