Episode 29: Day 47-49

Day 47:

Only 6 miles to water! Did I mention that I LOVE WATER.

Hiking these dry stretches has been quite the humbling experience. 

Met an older hiker by the trail name Martini and we hiked together for the remainder of the day. With a bit of encouragement from him I decided to cowboy camp for the first time.

If you are wondering what cowboy camping is, it’s when you forgo a shelter and simply roll out your sleeping pad and bag and sleep under the stars.

Why have I hesitated to do this until now? Like a kid under his blankly, I feel like the millimeter of nylon that is my tent keeps me safe from monsters and such. 

Then why am I trying it? To explore discomfort, to (hopefully) learn that I’m safer than my imagination leads me to believe, and to live a little danerously. (Plus I have company in case I need rescuing from the monsters.)

18 Miles on the day.

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Day 48:

I SURVIVED THE NIGHT! 

Not even one monster. Success!

Packing up camp was so quick! Mainly because everything but my sleep stuff stayed in my pack due to cowboy camping. I could get used to this.

Martini and I made it to Robin Spring just in time for a mid-day siesta. Officially, my two favorite things in life are water and shade.

Ate a cold dinner at the next water source to conserve fuel, and pushed on to camp at the very well stocked water cache.

Camped with Martini, Andrea, and Jeremy.

And I decided to cowboy camp again! Why not?

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I REACHED THE 600 MILE MARKER TODAY!!

21 miles overall.

Cowboy camp setup:

I wore a net to keep the creepy crawlers out my face during the night:

600 big ones:

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Day 49:

Woke up naturally to the sunrise. What a feeling.

Stocked up on water and hiked out, solo. Company is nice, but I really like to hike by myself. 

Occasionally took refuge under the shade of Joshua trees where I ate, napped, and jammed out on the uke.

Made it to the next water cache where I reunited with Martini. 

BY THE WAY. Without these two water caches, it would have been a 42 mile dry stretch. THANK YOU TRAIL ANGELS!!!

Kept hiking solo until about 9:15pm, and set up camp.

18 miles on the day.

Grateful for the shade:

Enjoying the afternoon cool down:

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Video:

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