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Day 16: mile 216-236.9

I started the day feeling spoiled. Another warm morning and a gift greeted me. My neighbors, Jaime (father) and Gavin (son), offered me an apple, which I happily accepted. Fresh anything is the way to a backpackers heart. I stood there 100% impressed listening to Gavin talk about what was to come on the trail throughout the day. Who needs Guthook (my GPS app) when you have Gavin. He knew the altitude changes, where the water was, and just about anything else that might come up that day. As someone trying to get into outdoor education this was really inspiring to see a young person with such a passion for the outdoors. 

Prepared for a day of up and down I started my hike. I strolled through the wildflower covered hills, and then ran about a mile or so of downhill to get to the riverbed. Yes I ran. I almost always run the long downhills, gravity is basically begging you to. 

Once down to the bottom I was greeted by a sign that reminded me just how far I was from Canada. 😂 It was also pretty toasty down there. 

Then I reached my first river crossing. The first of countless times I would cross over water today. My crossing buddy Wolf and I made it easily. Both feeling happy we can tell the people who worry about us at home we didn’t cross alone. I did a little laundry while we chatted. My shirt was in need of a rinse after all this sweating! 

I cruised through the next section of the trail, climbing until I reached another downhill where I again ran to the bottom to Mission Creek. This is where the day turned into a real adventure! …not before I stepped in poop of course. Ugh, ewwww!! I won’t go into details, but lots of hand sanitizer was used. 😝 

Holy bananas, let the game of ‘Find the Trail’ begin! Creek crossing galore, massive washouts, and bushwhacking ensued for the remainder of the day. It could’ve easily turned into a frustrating situation, but I chose to cheer myself on with verbal high fives when I successfully crossed without taking my shoes off, or found the trail after some serious bushwhacking through pretty unforgiving branches. By the end of the day my crossings got a bit more daring and my leaps got a little longer. After that many crossings you just get it done. 

I set a 20 mile goal for the day, and damn it I was still determined to make it even with the delays all of my obstacles caused. Once through the creek crossings I powered through the last few miles only to find the campsite I planned on was also the campsite everyone planned on. 😂 Onward! Another 1.5 miles later I found an awesome spot to call home for the night. Dinner made, this girl is headed to sleep. Phew, what an awesome and exhausting day! 

Goodnight! 

XOXO Becks