Day 155: mile 656.9-674.1
The wind must’ve been going all night and into the morning, or maybe this area was just windy all the time. Either way the campsite did a great job of blocking it. I packed up and opted to skip my usual oatmeal for breakfast because I was low on water. Who doesn’t like eating a cookie for breakfast anyway right!
The contrast having just come from the green mountains of WA back to the desert was crazy. What a change in scenery. The trail is much different here as well, it winds around the mountain rather than just straight up and over, and being so exposed I could almost always see exactly where the trail was taking me next.
My thirst continued today and I was really low on water as I approached the source that warned of possible uranium contamination. Technically I didn’t drink from the spring that said it was contaminated, but it was right above it, so chances are high. It smelled a little funky, but it’ll have to do the trick, I’ll run out before the next water source and it’s just too hot to risk it. It tasted just fine at least.
The next water source was glorious! Clear, stink-free, cold, and even came with a lovely spot in the shade for me to take a break! It was 2:45 in the afternoon and I was finally eating my oatmeal. Brunch on the trail. Now all I need is a mimosa!
I spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying my views until the wind picked up so much it was nearly blowing me off the trail. It was gusting hard enough to knock me a few feet in either direction, so I decided I’d stop for the day. I found a site that looked like a decent wind block and began to set up. Unfortunately it was not quite as good as it looked and my tent was on the verge of blowing over. Frustrating doesn’t quite cover it. The wind doesn’t seem to be letting up, in fact it might be getting worse. Between that and the dropping temps with the sun going down I am freezing cold. I know I need to eat my dinner, but I’m shivering, so all I want to do is just get under my quilt and hide from the cold. I ate about half, put my hiking pants on as an additional layer and am attempting to get some sleep in this madness. Welcome back to SoCal huh?
Goodnight!
XOXO Green Light