miles: 19
Last night we were hiking into the dark. Headlamps flipped on, ankles began to roll, and stumbling became a serious hazard. We had no choice but to make it to Golden Oaks Spring, for we were low on water.
In the desert, your miles per day are dictated by water sources. It becomes a little bit like a treasure hunt. A life or death treasure hunt. Must find the water, must camp near the water, must make it there.
The night hiking had been pleasant up up until the last few miles (it's always those last few miles!) where I began to regularly roll my ankle. The last few miles of every day are the longest miles, let me tell you.
Today we were to make it to Robin Bird Spring by nightfall, nineteen miles away. My mood was slightly elevated and I woke up motivated. Golden Oaks Spring was a mere trickle, at probably .25 liters per minute. About 15 hikers were camped there and everyone waited in line for their turn to fill up their water bottles and bladders. I was thankful for the trickle, though. I prefer not to have to filter water from a stagnant trough (which is what this water source will be in a few weeks).
My camera and phone died at some point today so I did not get a lot of photos, however, it wasn't very remarkable scenery so it's not that much of a bummer. We motored along in the heat, stopping in the shade several times. Also, there were more trees today, so it wasn't as exposed and hot as usual, which we were grateful for.
Last night we were hiking into the dark. Headlamps flipped on, ankles began to roll, and stumbling became a serious hazard. We had no choice but to make it to Golden Oaks Spring, for we were low on water.
In the desert, your miles per day are dictated by water sources. It becomes a little bit like a treasure hunt. A life or death treasure hunt. Must find the water, must camp near the water, must make it there.
The night hiking had been pleasant up up until the last few miles (it's always those last few miles!) where I began to regularly roll my ankle. The last few miles of every day are the longest miles, let me tell you.
Today we were to make it to Robin Bird Spring by nightfall, nineteen miles away. My mood was slightly elevated and I woke up motivated. Golden Oaks Spring was a mere trickle, at probably .25 liters per minute. About 15 hikers were camped there and everyone waited in line for their turn to fill up their water bottles and bladders. I was thankful for the trickle, though. I prefer not to have to filter water from a stagnant trough (which is what this water source will be in a few weeks).
My camera and phone died at some point today so I did not get a lot of photos, however, it wasn't very remarkable scenery so it's not that much of a bummer. We motored along in the heat, stopping in the shade several times. Also, there were more trees today, so it wasn't as exposed and hot as usual, which we were grateful for.
Casa de Oso.
This photo: Everyone gathering in a circle for din. The trail has gotten seemingly more populated the past few days, which actually has been nice. I love seeing familiar faces at the end of a hard day and recounting our experiences. Starfox, Happy Hour and Squeaks are featured above.
I would like to call this the day of cows. Cows strewn about everywhere along the trail, staring at you from distant (and near) fields, eyeing you from the trail itself (not budging) and constant cow pies on the trail. We made it to Robin Bird Spring at 5pm (early!) and were pleased to find ourselves in a position to set up camp early, wash our bodies, organize our things, and stretch leisurely. The spring itself was heaven - crisp, cold, flowing at a great rate and close to the trail. It is surrounded by barbed wire and wooden fencing to keep the cows out (minimizes the cow contamination).
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| Ben Cooking Dinner. |
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| What our hands look like. |
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| Lunchbox with his box wine he packed out. |
I would like to call this the day of cows. Cows strewn about everywhere along the trail, staring at you from distant (and near) fields, eyeing you from the trail itself (not budging) and constant cow pies on the trail. We made it to Robin Bird Spring at 5pm (early!) and were pleased to find ourselves in a position to set up camp early, wash our bodies, organize our things, and stretch leisurely. The spring itself was heaven - crisp, cold, flowing at a great rate and close to the trail. It is surrounded by barbed wire and wooden fencing to keep the cows out (minimizes the cow contamination).
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| Cow Poop. By our water. |
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