Day 37 (ODT 5)

Day 37: (ODT 5): 25 miles

This was the only tree I passed all day after the first mile and had to climb a butte to get to it. The shade was glorious

I had about 2.5 miles of walking on dirt roads and then 12ish miles of cross country. How far I actually walked, I have no idea, but that’s just a straight line estimate, which is impossible to walk with all the desert brush. Sometimes it’s sparse and easy to weave through, others, it’s like doing switchbacks on flat ground to make my way through rare openings.

I reached the highway to go into Christmas Valley, the first town. Since I still have more than enough to get to the next town, I kept trucking. A truck pulled a U turn and asked if I needed a ride into town. It turned out there was an ODT hiker in their and he asked if they could turn around and pick me up. That was super nice considering it was a 30 minute car ride and I’m guessing a tough hitchhike, but with this much food, I respectfully declined. I hope I see him again though. I really didn’t expect to see another thru hiker out here.

After the highway it was cruisy walking on dirt roads. It felt like the moving walkways at the airport after moving so tediously while bushwhacking. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses though. Well it was a lot of sunshine. It was pretty warm and the sun was brutal today. I used my sun umbrella for the first time (literally all day from start to end) and it turned out to be pretty handy…as long as it wasn’t windy.

Since I didn’t go into town and didn’t cache water, I knew I would have to fill up at a questionable source after the highway. It filtered clear and tasted okay, what more can you ask for. I wasted 45 minutes filtering 3 liters of water. I’m gonna have to start using aqua tabs soon cause it’s taking so much time to filter. I took a little less than 4 liters for the 22 mile stretch to the next water. It’s a little less than I normally would cause I’m cautious out here but it was just taking too damn long.

Coyotes howling nearby at camp. The sun is setting over a dreary sky void of vibrant color except blue. It truly feels like nobody else is around. This place feels wild