05/11

Today was a long, 14 miles. We started the morning with optimism as FarOut made the terrain look mostly flat. About three miles in, we were feeling good. Then we found out what “flat” really meant: not valleys or gentle ridgelines, but long, exposed stretches of boulder-strewn mountaintop. So technically flat, if you ignore the jagged rocks and vertical scrambles getting up there.

There were two major bouldering sections, each about three miles long. A full body workout that also felt like a puzzle, figuring out the most painless way through the rocky labyrinth.

There were some beautiful moments. Meadows opened up across the ridgeline, wildflowers waved in the wind, and for a second, it was easy to forget we were being punished by the Earth itself. But mostly, it was a brutal climb followed by another brutal climb.

Water dictated our day, going from one source to the next. At a certain point, we had to keep pushing past our planned destination due to the water source running dry… We ended up hiking from morning till about 6:30 p.m.

By the time we reached camp, we were wrecked, and a bit delirious. I had a Mountain House sweet pork meal, smoked a joint, and listened to ABBA. Out here, it’s really up to you to make your own magic.

That being said, It’s supposed to rain all day tomorrow. My feet are toast. I stink. Like, really stink. But at least we’re done bouldering. For now.