The wet cold is bone chilling. It’s hard to convince myself to transition from my nice, warm sleeping back into my freezing hiking clothing (shorts, wind pants, shirt, rain jacket) in 35 degree weather, but I know it has to happen. Then it takes about 1/2 mile of hiking to generate enough body heat to start to feel warm again. But we had motivation this morning since Hot Springs lay 26 miles ahead. After fighting off my hunger for 2 hours. I got up with the crew at 6am and was hiking by 7.

We went into the snow, dropped below the snow line, ascended above again and dropped below it once more, climbing and descending about 7,000 feet today. And we finally hiked a 20-mile day! My right heel is slightly blistered and my left leg has grown jealous of my right leg’s shin splints so has decided to join it. On the other hand the instigator of the whole revolt, my left knee, was pretty happy today!

Max Patch was awesome—great views of the mountains bright sun and 40+ mph winds whipping the snow into drifts. The rime ice was 8” long in places!

Tomorrow, I hike 6 miles into town and get to eat a ton, relax, shower, do laundry, call loved ones, have a beer for the first time in 3 weeks, then take Monday off! A zero day! Wheeeeeee!