The Wonderland Journal

Miles hiked: 10.1

Mile marker: 1512.8

Total ascent: 2400 ft

Total descent: 1000 ft

I wake up slowly in a dark room. It’s nice to just lay in bed!

We do some laundry and head to Black Bear Diner for a free meal! Dad loves this place. I visited him last summer and we went to bother location of it. It was good! He first ate here on trail. 

Rafiki, Bumper and I go to the gear shop, then to the coffee shop where my order is messed up, bear claw forgotten, only to be told they’re out of bear claws. 

This is really sad. I love bear claws. 

But it’s not as bad as Voyager’s wild experience for her job stuff, so I can’t complain. I mean, her bus got canceled to Redding for some screening appointments then her driver who took her there got arrested. 

Rafiki and I wait around for a bit because Crouton is going to take us to the store for a resupply.

We hurriedly throw random things into our carts once we’re at Dollar General — cosmic brownies, fruity pebbles bars, Welch’s drink mixes. 

Back at the house now, Rafiki and I rush to get our bags packed. 

Luxy is here now but will not be continuing the trail with us. She’ll be skipping ahead to Oregon so she can finish the trail in time for her parents to visit from the Czech Republic and go on a vacation!

I’m flying around the bedroom, stuffing my bag full of cereal bars and cosmic brownies. I sweep the fake wooden floors and run around like a frantic squirrel until our ride is here.

I hug Luxy goodbye and head out. Crouton is taking us to the trailhead. We throw our packs into his pickup truck.

Ten minutes later, we’re at the trailhead! The sun is hot even though it’s the late afternoon. We begin a slow and steady hike uphill. 

I chat with a few people on the way since I have service. Mom is kind enough to order some things to Seiad Valley for me, but it’s a pain getting that order placed since Amazon didn’t accept the original address I provided. 

I’m sitting on the curve of a dirt wall trying to coordinate this as the others get water. 

Mom figures out the issue! We place the order and I head off to trail. 

It’s getting dark and we’re searching for a tent site. There are so many people here! At least ten people are scattered throughout the thick woods. 

We finally find a space, a bit spread out from one another, and head to bed. 

We’ve got another week of hiking to do!