Start point

Third Gate, mile 91.2

End point

Barrel Springs, mile 101.1

Miles hiked

Let’s just call it 10

Wilderness area

San Felipe Hills

People I met

The Beast and Sweets

The day on trail

If this hike was a video game, today would have been one of the final tutorials.

Last weeks tutorials for gameplay:

• Slush

• Wet after wet after wet

• Last minute changes for lodging

• Beginner water carries

• Tent setup on ground with cactus

• Exposed hiking with trail missing

Todays tutorial for gameplay:

• Exposed hiking with severe wind

Seriously. It was a drop off of hundreds or thousands of feet and the wind was so bad. I had to brace myself at times as it pushed me around on trail. There were times it almost knocked me forward, all the way to the ground. I was just glad that, most of the time, it was pushing me towards the mountain I was on instead of towards the ledge.

It was also wet! Not drizzly or drenched wet, but consistently misty. The kind of mist that your body evaporates but it eventually soaks your shoes and equipment. I had the sense to get my rain cover on immediately, and I’m glad for that. I was also able to pack up my tent before the environment really started to get wet.

I also set up in the same condition. It was misty but I was able to set up before any pours happened.

It was a beautiful 10 mile hike to these really cool springs.

The views to get here were beautiful, if not underspoken from the rain and mist.

• 

• 

• 

• 

That last one delights me. I love watching where the trail twists and winds. I love seeing where I came from and where I’m going. It’s a fun metaphor for our existence.

I seem to encounter rainbows a lot when I’m shifting my life’s paradigms. I was surrounded by them when I left New Mexico and my ex girlfriend behind. I was again surrounded by rainbows from Minnesota to Arizona for a much needed break and to take care of some logistics remaining from the breakup. And finally there were some when I went back to Washington for my final assignment before starting the trail.

I like rainbows.

I also like caves. Like this little guy here. It looks almost like a misplaced pizza oven.

• 

• 

Here’s the 100 mile marker.

And here’s me with it.

I MADE IT 100 miles!

10 more miles and it’ll be longer than the route I took with the Wonderland Trail! Less elevation gain so far, though!

Oh goodness, approaching Barrel Springs was magical though. There were so many mushrooms!

Hairy curtain crust.

• 

• 

A puffball which explodes in a cloud of rust colored spores.

• 

• 

A blob of witch’s butter.

And one of my favorites, the ever cute elven saddle!

I got to camp around 2:30, set up, and ate. I’m staying dry because tomorrow I’m taking Roberta for her first backpacking trip! I love showing people the ropes of my favorite thing. It reminds me of taking Beth out to Barclay, which is one of my favorite memories.

Tomorrow we’ll hike to Warner Springs, or an area near it. We’ll be stopping by Eagle Rock, a landmark I wanted to see when my ex and I were in Palm Springs and it somehow never happened. But now it will!