The Wonderland Journal

Miles hiked: 25.8

Mile marker: 1225.5

Total ascent: 4,500 feet

Total descent: 4,300 feet

Rain patters gently on the tent. Lightening flashes, lighting up my little home for a split second. Thirty seconds pass. Thunder crashes in the distance. 

The sky is cool blue and moody. The dark blue clouds billow over one another in the pale sky. Lucy, Rafiki and I hike up a ridge. Every time I turn my head over my shoulder, I find a pink set of clouds. 

We hike up the rocky terrain for a while. This sky is my favorite. It’s one that reminds me of waking to a sleepy house in the early morning, when I can enjoy a cup of coffee with my mom and a cat on my lap. 

These blue mornings are dramatic and cozy. 

We teach the top and find Bumper waiting for us. And there’s trail magic! I grab an orange crush and Cheetos and we keep moving. 

“Guys, if you head a thump, please look back. I feel lightheaded,” Luxy says. 

We stop in shady area to let her rest. Everyone agrees on a lunch spot twelve miles away. It’s a bit far fetched that we’ll make it, but that’s okay. 

It’s getting hot now. We hike for a long time. Bumper went ahead. We soon follow suit. 

We decide to stop early for lunch. I eat too much food and almost fall asleep. We keep going up, stopping only for water. 

I don’t feel well. I’m lethargic and sleepy and overly full on food. I’m dragging and feel like I’m floating or deleterious. And I’m out of water as the sun beats down in me.  

It’s a slow nine miles, but after a long, long walk and some water, we finally reach our campsite. I’ve seen countless deer today, so I better make sure they don’t my pack!