Started: Campsite (86.0)
Ended: Eagle Rock (106.2)
Total: 20.2 miles
Achievements Unlocked: Ten-By-Ten (1), Twenty Mile Day (1), One Hundred Miles, Ride the Eagle

The wind was fierce through most of the night. Sometimes it would blow my sleeping quilt like it was a balloon. The rocks and bush only could do so much to protect me. However, my outer shell kept me reasonably warm. It was easy to fall asleep with the white noise and at some point the wind died.

I woke up before the sun rose, but I chose not to push it as I had expended quite a bit of energy hiking uphill in the wind the night before. The goal today is to stage myself close to Warner Springs so that I can resupply. It is probably too far for me to reach tomorrow, especially when the famed Eagle Rock is there to visit.

Still, I was up while it was cool so the first five miles to a water source were easy. I miscalculated so I was already carrying four liters. That was ten pounds I didn’t need to carry up that hill. I stopped and made breakfast.

I continued on when I reached a small cave. I had hiked ten miles by ten a.m.! That is a small yet important achievement. I need to master the 10-by-10 if I hope to finish this hike by October 1st.

I ran into Fishtank, now hiking with a different group. Without a doctor, he decided to just muddle on. I’m invited to hike with them, but the group consists of two married couples, and I’m concerned that hiking with them will make me miss home more that I already do. Still, we celebrated 100 miles to far.

I can see the difference my training made. Fishtank knee is hurting. His feet are covered in blisters. I on the other hand am moving well. No doubt we’ll hike together again, but for now we part ways.

For now, I’m hiking with Jamie from Wisconsin, Laura from Tennessee, Candace, and Brian from Chicago (Maoi).

There was trail magic at mile 15, and I made it pretty effortlessly. I was handed a Keystone Light. Not my favorite beer, but it was damn good. Jamie and I took a nap for two hours before rejoining the trail.

We set a goal of Eagle Rock. It would be a twenty mile day. Jamie and I had a stare-down with some cows. Because of our Wisconsin heritage, we spoke to them in cow language, but clearly they are not happy cows. They speak California cow. With this heat, their milk is probably sour already. When they took a defensive position, we decided to give them a wide berth. You don’t need to speak cow to know they weren’t looking for a pat on the head.

We hiked another five hours. I didn’t eat enough, so I was dragging, but I made it.

We took pictures and celebrated. I cowboy camped to the most beautiful sunset.

We cowboy camped among the rocks. It was awesome!