Stats

Start: Florence Road – Mile 239
End: Kearny – Mile 258
Elevation Max: ?? (No watch)
Elevation Min: ??
Elevation Change: ?? up & ?? down
Average Heart Rate: ??
Walking Time: ??

The Walk

The final push to Kearny. My dead watch has a new home in my Fanny pack. I remembered to apply sunscreen early, so my watch line should be okay.

4:30 came early. I woke up to another cold and tried morning. My right heel was tender and a bit swollen when I woke up. Rough vibes to start the day.

Last night a 20 mph wind kicked up until 11 pm. It was loud against my tent and kept me up. At one point a corner tent stake blew out and the corner tent folded in. I had to go outside and find a rock to knock it back in. Thank god it wasn’t raining! I fell asleep and woke up to at midnight to silence. It finally stopped.

I broke down camp in record time. I wasn’t even interested in hot breakfast. Time walking > warm meal. Plus it’s faster to warm up by hiking. I wasn’t feeling great, but a hotel room was only 19 miles away.

The first few morning miles after a 30 miler were part hobble part walk as the legs warmed up. It’s where you find out if any soreness turns into pain or other problems. I loosened up and got into a hiking groove.

The morning is my favorite time on trail. The world is waking up and I am there to see it. The sky was filled with more stars that I could count. But the desert was already alive. 4 cottontail rabbits, 4 Jack rabbits, and lots of birds. I suprised one bird as I walked by in the night. It flew out of a cactus by trail in a flurry of feathers and noises. I even saw a few chipmunks scurry past. As the sun crested the mountains and warmed me up I took off my gloves. The muscles were warm and it was time to hike.

An hour later I looked down at my jacket pocket and noticed my left glove was halfway out of my pocket. I grabbed it and zipped it safely into the pocket. Thanks God! I looked at my right pocket to secure the right glove was gone. I looked over my shoulder at the 100 yard stretch of visible trail and didn’t see a glove. Shoot. Backtracking the last 3 miles to search wasn’t an option. So I pressed forward. Hopefully someone will throw away the glove.

After a few more miles my right heel hurt and left foot also had some pain. That plus losing my glove and the grind of miles we were on sapped the joy out of walking. There were pretty mountain views but I didn’t care to look. I was focused on getting to Kearny and finishing the day. I listened to some audio books and started a new one, Wool. A fiction about a community living in an underground silo in a post apocalyptic world. It was a welcome distraction and passed the time.

We stopped for a quick break at a water cache. I looked at my heel and it wasn’t swollen at all. That boosted my mood and helped me relax. I started to notice the beautiful landscape around and the next miles flew by.

With only 9 miles to Kearny Salsa and I buckled down. The trail was smooth and we were in shape. We walked by a few horse riders and day hikers from Michigan.

I took my last 5 minute break 2 miles outside of town. A lonely tuna packet was in my food bag so I decided to wait for real food at town. As we hopped back on trail, we passed a hiker box left and I found a bag a Swedish fish! It was the perfect sugar rush to finish the hike.

Once we got to the road we hiked another half mile to the highway. It was 1pm. We had plenty of time to hitch to the post office. Six more miles to Kearny and I wasn’t about to walk. Salsa and I stuck out our thumbs and waited. A huge white dialog pickup truck drove 100 feet past then slowed down and stopped. If you can fit in here I guess you can ride they said. So we jumped on top of cattle rancher gear in the back seat and rode into Kearny with a smile.

The three people and a dog were cattle ranchers. Cowboy hats, boots with spurs and everything. They laughed at our bull story from last night. Then they dropped us at the post office. Salsa finally got his shoes and I can charge my watch.

The priories were pizza, hotel shower and town chores. I saw Chris when I went to check my laundry. She had a room two doors down from us. And another thru hiker was next door. Chris held up a glove and asked if it was mine. I let out a whoop and she tossed it at me! I couldn’t believe it. The day really had turned around. Not only to get the glove back, but so I didn’t leave anything out there. Leave No Trace is important.

We all went out to a local diner for burgers, fries and ice cream. Backpacking stories and gear lists were the topic of conversation. I didn’t expect to ever see them again. And it’s interesting to hear what brings people out to trail.

I went back to the room. It was time for an epson salt feet soak and a crappy movie. Tomorrow we were either leaving at noon or taking a zero day (no hiking). I’d decide in the morning. Either way the thought of sleeping in and a warm relaxing breakfast put a smile on my face.