Today was tough. Filled with ups and downs – in more ways than one! We made our way to the monument with Scout. He has the best stories! Unfortunately I can’t share them – we made a pinky swear.
I felt strange in the car – like it was all happening to someone else. It didn’t seem like it was real until I reached mile 8 which was when I thought to myself… What. The fuck. Am. I. Doing???
The first 8 miles were great, I was walking with 2 other girls and it was nice to not be starting on your own. Eventually we got separated, one behind me, one in front. Here I was, all alone. I liked it. Until I started to feel weird. I felt nauseous and had no energy at all. Onset of heat stroke? Luckily I am very sensible and managed it by finding some shade, putting something cool on my neck, drinking and eating. I sat for a while and aired my feet and listened – hardly a sound.
The trail is great, good terrain, not that demanding really – but the heat, the heat is something else! It zaps all of your energy. I expected it to be windy, but it’s really windy. I expected it to go up and down, but this is all up and down!
I found Kat waiting for me around mile 10 and tending to her feet. I hiked on and I found a second wind, I whizzed down the next 6 miles. I felt good. I met a hiker – John – and we walked together for an hour or so. Past the prisoners in their orange jumpsuits helping maintain the trail I think.
Chilled out at Hauser Creek for half an hour with a couple of other hikers.
There is a big climb out of Hauser Creek to lake Morena. 4 miles took me 3 hours!! The sun was baking still and in the first hour of the climb I felt like I was going to pass out again – 3 times! Once I reach what I thought was the crest I was in the shade and after a melted malteaster bunny I was able to pick up the pace again.
The last bit took forever. Just when you think you’re on the way down you climb again. If I was giving some advice to future thru hikers I would say stop at Hauser Canyon for the night!
Got to camp and I was so glad to see people I knew! Everyone is so friendly, I had help with my tent, I had my feet looked at by a foot doctor (not a single blister today! Apparent it’s because my feet are leathery – lovely!) and I didn’t have to cook anything, I ate people’s left overs! Suits me.
My iPhone tells me I took 80,000 steps today. That’s a lot of steps. I am debating what tomorrow holds…another 20 mile day or two shorter days? I will decide in the morning – now I am in my tent (which looks like a bomb site!) listening to the contented snores of other hikers.
Although today has been tough, it’s never crossed my mind to quit and I haven’t doubted my choice to do this. The challenge is what I’ve been missing.
(So I’m sat in a laundry room, in my knickers and gilet, in a campsite in the desert trying to update my blog. Photos are taking too long to load. Visit Instagram @masonalexandra for photos!)
(I have a better signal on the side of a mountain than the laundry room. So added some photos)
If you liked that, then you might like this...
Adventure with purpose.
785 million people globally don't have access to clean water. That's 1 in 10 people. In 2020 this is not ok.
I fundraise for Just a Drop in the hope that if I walk thousands of miles for clean water then the people who need to won’t have to. Find out more
Yey Alex! Loving the Blog, I’m reading from Queens Road and willing you on. Thought about you today and wondered where you were and what you were doing. Stay safe and much love from Tedders. XXX
A year plus later. Fun reading your first day now. It helps me remember mine. I did not keep a blog but did log my miles via Mapmyhike App, and took regular photos along the way to help me remember each day. Now I am piggy backing my memory recreation on your written words. Thanks for having the discipline to do this. BTW, I started 3 days behind you on the evening of the 16th. Fortunately for me, it wasn’t as hot as it seems it was for you.
For a different perspective of the start point, here is a reminder of what miniature Trump wall on the Mexico border will look like stretching out to the east over the desolate landscape. Thing of beauty, eh?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/10jaakejpeb1be7/20150415_142855-1.jpg?dl=0