Day 54

9.25 miles hiked

Today I debated between hiking 12.4 miles to the top of the mountain or get to the bottom to the next water source and hike 17.5 miles. 
I opted for the 12.4 because I am really tired today. Which means dry camping, but not too bad because the next day I’ll only have 4 miles till the water source. 
 
I attempted to wake up at 5am to be hiking by 6, but I couldn’t get up till 7:30 so I was hiking by 9am. One of these days I’ll be back to my usual 6:30-7am I’m up and hiking routine I’m sure.  
 
I realized today I only have 3 more days of the desert including today. Wow. I can’t believe it. Yes I’ll come back to finish the miles I missed before the end of my trek but for now. The desert is almost done.

5.7 miles into today’s hike I took a nap for about an hour and a bit. I was struggling a lot today up the small mountain of the day so I needed a snooze before I tackled the big mountain of the day. 

About 5.6 miles away from camp I decided that I am not strong enough today to make it so I opted to hike to the closest campsite which was only 1.8 away. 

Those 1.8 miles took me almost 2.5 hours to hike. 

Made it to camp by 5:15. Early, but I know I can’t hike anymore miles today. 

I quickly set up my tent and put my gear inside and then started to make some dinner. 

I realize now because I am camping earlier then I planned that I now don’t have enough water to get to the next source. 
Crap. 
But I need to eat because I feel so weak.
I made the food that required the least amount of water for most amount of calories. 3 cheese sausage lasagna. Yummy.

By 6:45 I’m in my tent and writing this while watching “treasure planet” which is a movie I totally forgot about and it used to be my favourite. Some comfort for me tonight after a hard day of hiking.

2 more days till Kennedy meadows. 2 more days till the desert is done for the time being. 
It’s a bittersweet goodbye. The desert has been the hardest hiking I’ve ever done and I would like to think that it’s made me stronger as a hiker and a human being. 

Goodnight desert. A beautiful sunset to end my hard day of hiking.