- Daily mileage 20 plus 3 off trail
- Total miles 493
- Hiked from 7:30 pm to 7:00 pm with lots of breaks
What should have been a great day was ruined by bugs.
Had trouble breaking away from Casa de Luna because there was coffee and cinnamon pancakes. Finally did and walked the two miles back to the trail head because I could not get a ride hitching. There was an immediate 1,000 foot climb which went very easily. Then it was an easy cruise down to the next highway crossing. Meanwhile, it was getting hotter. Next up was a 1,200 footer in the heat. It went surprisingly well.
Climbing
Once I got to the top, it should have been an easy cruise to the end of the day. But wait, that is not what happens out here. While we were out in the burn area, it got up to 90F so that was no fun. A bunch of us found a shady spot under some trees when we got out of the burn and waited out the heat for a couple of hours. So, now things should have been perfect, right? Nope. Then the bugs came out. First it was deer flies. Then noseeums. Then mosquitoes. Even had a couple of horse flies later. Man they were out in swarms.
Random mine shaft next to the trail
Hiking in the dry desert heat
Hikers waiting out the heat of the day in the shade. Little did we know that we were about to enter insect purgatory
Made it to a car camping ground where there are a bunch of us PCTers set up. It is a strange campsite in that there are lots of great facilities like picnic tables, crappers and garbage cans, but very little in the way of flat ground to pitch a tent on.
So, here I am, 28 days and over 490 miles into this hike, and today I get my first blisters. Why? Oh well, it is all part of the deal out here.
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