July 20th
Miles: 9
Trail Mile: 366
To Segment 22 Mile 9
Lake City is tiny and cute and just the right amount of rough around the edges. The Raven’s Rest hostel is so well cared for and clean I want to zero but the (lack of) Wi-Fi situation is adding to my usual town anxiety.
So instead of zeroing, I fill up on a breakfast burrito while blogging on the patio of a local coffee shop, acquire some food luxuries (including raw humus I’ve only ever seen at the San Diego farmers market, and now in this teensy mountain natural food store). And we miss the shuttle.
So Steph and I stand at the edge of town, thumbs out as an almost endless parade of Toyota off-road vehicles zoom past, drivers staring. One giant vehicle swerves towards us as a joke. Because running people over is funny. Or because strong lady-hikers threaten his masculinity? Or both?!
A family who had hiked the Appalachian Trail together (!!), rescues us from the toxicity, driving us all the way up to the pass as trail magic.
My pack weighs a million tons. Why do I keep putting food in it? After a while remember how to hike and only weighs half a million tons (actually 25 pounds including 1.5 liters of water and 5 days food). The uphill is gradual but also directs us toward yet more clouds of doom. Lightning quickens my pace as I dash off the last exposed hill and down to the yurt. Yes the yurt, With a propane stove and lantern and wood and bunks with sleeping pads. All above a meadow with a cold spring. Mountain views from the patio.
Let’s stay! I say. Let’s take a first on-trail zero! As we share stories with another hiker all cozy inside, raising our voices to compete with the weather, the howling wind slams rain against the canvas, daring us to leave.
Adventures in Natureculture 