June 18 Mileage 30 Mile 1155 to mile 1185 I wake up throughout the night- the gym is dark and creepy and the building makes eerie creaking noises as it settles and shifts. "Do you think this place is haunted?" I whisper to Twinkle, at one point. "No," he says. "Ok." I finally drift off … Continue reading Day 55: Warmth at last, and trail magic lasagna!

June 17 Mileage 30 Mile 1125 to mile 1155 We wake and it's so cold and my sleeping bag is soaked in condensation. Why is it so cold right now? What is even happening? We switchback up onto the cold bright ridge, the fields of yellow mules ears, the empty space and the mountains, rolling … Continue reading Day 54: hailstorms and sleeping in the gym

June 16 Mileage 24 Mile 1101 to mile 1125 We sleep in- I have a dream we're all in prison and I bake Twinkle a birthday cake in a titanium pot, make frosting from hot chocolate and crushed butterfingers like Coughee said he did in prison. When I wake it's Twinkle's birthday (he's 27! What … Continue reading Day 53: cold forest is cold

June 15 Mileage 7 Mile 1094 to mile 1101 I wake way too early, 5:30 a.m., and lay on the floor in my sleeping bag, feeling tired and wishing I was asleep. Ah, town days. After what seems like a long time the others wake up too, or maybe they were always awake. We all … Continue reading Day 52: too much sugar, not enough sleep

June 14 Mileage 20 Mile 1072.5 to mile 1092.5 Twinkle's alarm goes off at 6 a.m. and I feel like death. I don't even want to open my eyes or unzip my sleeping bag. Every cell in my body is screaming from exhaustion and what feels like dehydration- a 40 mile hangover. So that's what … Continue reading Day 51: tahoe on the dregs of fumes

June 13 Mileage 40 (!!!!) Mile 1032.5 to mile 1072.5 I sleep amazing- I have wild dreams- I dream a bear attacks me and drags me away and I can't scream or make any noise. I wake at six a.m.- late! And by the time we hike it's almost 7. But it was worth it- … Continue reading Day 50: full moon/friday the 13th/forty miles

June 12 Mileage 14 Mile 1018.5 to mile 1032.5 I wake when the sun rises and lay in my twin bed, watching the light move through the curtains and listening to the sounds of Bridgeport's main street. People, the jangling of doors, traffic. It's all very different from the sounds in the woods. A room, … Continue reading Day 49: leaving Bridgeport

June 11 Mileage 30 Mile 988.5 to mile 1018.5 I wake up way too early- damn those caffeinated fruit snacks I ate yesterday! I hiked fast, though, so there's that. I lay in my sleeping bag, wishing I was asleep, and before long it's 5:30, time to get up. I should've just gotten up when … Continue reading Day 48: sonora pass of wonder

June 10 Mileage 26 Mile 962.5 to mile 988.5 The mosquitoes are around, but not too bad- neither twinkle or I have bug-proof shelters (the zipper on my hexamid is busted but zpacks is sending me new zipper pulls- thanks zpacks!) so we cowboy camp, pulling our headnets over our faces to sleep. I never … Continue reading Day 47: happy, arduous miles in the land of amazing magic

June 9 Mileage 20.5 Mile 942 to mile 962.5 I bolt upright at 6:30- everyone is up but me. I slept so late! But it was so good. I had wild, violent dreams. I feel awesome. Twig builds a morning fire. Twig makes a fire every morning and every evening- he also carries an external … Continue reading Day 46: the fun goes up when the miles go down