This was going to be a long day, over 14 miles of water carry. I drink about a liter of water for every five miles so that’s three liters to start off. Actually decided on four liters to be safe, that’s about nine pounds of water. Doesn’t sound like much but when your at elevation, climbing, and carrying the weight for eight to ten hours, it’s a lot.
A mixture of jeep roads and trail, lots of up and downs, lots of wildflowers that pictures I take can’t even get close to replicating. The highlight of this day, a bear! I saw my first bear in the wild. I was hiking on one of the road sections, head down. Glanced up just as the bear was doing the the same. Totally shock, both of us! The bear was faster though, he took off like a rocket, wanted nothing to do with me. What a beautiful creature! I spent next few hours looking behind me and shouting “hey bear” every so often.
Got to the water source after 17 miles, one of my longest days ever. Only one other tent when I arrived, some really nice bike packers. Found a spot and setup. It was a popular spot, by the time night fell there were at least ten people in camp. All ages and we had a good time chatting around a campfire that constantly needed tending, it was a rainy misty day and evening. First evening this time with people around, it was nice.
