The Wonderland Journal

Miles hiked: 27.7

Mile marker: 1587.6

Total ascent: 5400 ft

Total descent: 4250 ft

I am tired. I do not want to get up. But it’s 5:00 AM and my alarm is going off. I roll around in bed for a bit then finally get up. 

My coffee is always a good start to the day. Not even three miles in and we come to a parking lot. A guy named Sea Gypsy — tall, skinny, and has a long gray pony tail — gives us trail magic! Gatorade and fruit! 

“I own a sailboat in New Zealand. I’m fine wood craftsman. It’s a good business for boats, since I can make furniture for them.”

He also shares how the present is the moment to live in. It’s these ten seconds that matters. 

“There’re a million different avenues your life can go in the future. It’s these ten seconds that matter.”

I walk off and look at the tall trees. It’s so quiet out here. Peaceful. Sometimes when I force myself to be quiet in nature, I’m reminded of my smallness. How big other things in life are. 

My mind often goes to my friend who lost her baby. If I’m feeling overwhelmed or upset, the thought of that baby floats into my mind, a little boy who should be here with us on earth, but isn’t. 

Life goes on whether we’re happy or sad. That’s the truth I knew when my friend’s baby didn’t make it. Being in nature is where time stands still. And when time stands still, I think of baby Jesse. 

We hike on. I’m pushing the pace. We circle round some mountains all day. It’s a lot of uphill and it’s getting hot. 

We pass a cool spring that has a plant shoot operating as a pipe. Resourceful!

We don’t lunch until 2:00. By this point, Rafiki is nauseous from the heat. He lays down with a wet bandana over his brow and one on his core. 

I’m make a hamburger helper lasagna. Oh no! My pot falls over and my stove looks like a blow torch with fire shooting out of it!

Rafiki gives me a ramen, and now my lasagna-ramen is ready. 

Wow. This is disgusting. This is going to the birds. 

Meanwhile, Dad messages me that he is in Oregon today! 142 miles ahead!

We hike on a bit longer. I sit in a rushing river before continuing on the hike. 

A ton of uphill, some very steep, and I’m leading the way now since Rafiki’s still not feeling good. We grab more water from a pipe spring and head on up the hill. 

Cowboy camping tonight! The sky is pink and orange as we settle down. We head into Etna tomorrow. Another long day ahead!

Is that a mosquito in my ear?

I smack my face and feel a damp mushy pebble. 

Darn mozzies.