The Wonderland Journal

Miles hiked: 29.2

Mile marker: 1559.9

Total ascent: 2000 ft

Total descent: 2850 ft

5:00 AM, we’re up. By 6 o’clock and we’re off. 

3.2-3.7 miles an hour. The goal is three miles an hour. We need to get to Seiad Valley by Saturday about noon for the post office. 

The sky shines pink above the mountains. It’s still and beautiful. Chipmunks scatter as we walk and birds fly about. 

A little bird hops off the edge of the trail as Rafiki and I sit nearby for a snack. A chipmunk runs straight up to the little bird!

The sun grows hotter as we walk along the dirt trail. It’s rocky, too, but the terrain is pretty easy. Not too much ascent today. 

We lay out our tarps under a tree for lunch. A hiker I’ve seen a couple of times — a guy from Seattle — sits with us. His name is Summit and he’s very friendly. Easygoing, good at conversation, and super smart. 

He leaves and I eat the last of my Tex Mex Mac n cheese for dinner. 

Thank goodness that was my last one. I don’t know what I was thinking to buy three of those, but that flavor was so underwhelming and disappointing. It tastes like the offest brand of store bought queso for chips anyone could buy. 

And my gummies? Those are off brand too. They have the aftertaste of an odor that falls somewhere in between “Seasoned Woman Perfume” and a Sears department store. 

The hike goes on. And on. I’m pushing pace all day. Our terrain turns to rocks. I finish my audiobook and begin the next one. Listen to three sermons. The sky is bright blue and tall skinny trees surround the lake off in the distance. 

We finally reach camp, slightly short of where we wanted to go. I thought there wouldn’t be any campsites according to the comments on FarOut, so we set up camp and settle down. 

I’m still hobbling on a foot with a sandal and a barefoot. 

I miss my other sandal.