Miles Hiked: 28.3
AZT Progress: 313.6 miles
Rain water collector to Rogers Trough Trailhead Road
I wasn’t able to fall asleep until 3am last night, I think because I was so cold. I woke up around 5:30 to the sunrise feeling incredibly exhausted but too tired to fall back asleep. I quietly packed up my things and made a biscuit and gravy breakfast as everyone else slept just a little longer. I was still the first person out of camp despite taking twice as long as normal to leave camp. Within the first 0.1 miles I realized that I forgot my sunglasses so I turned around to grab them. I’m glad I didn’t make that mistake any worse. The morning was humid and sticky as I mostly descended through rolling green meadows. I have never experienced a desert with this much humidity. Despite being really cute and durable I would say that my sun hoodie isn’t breathable at all so it felt wet and heavy against my skin all day. My goal for the day was just to hike as far as I could before sunset but also take plenty of breaks. I wanted to set myself up to possibly get into Roosevelt Lake tomorrow for sure but maybe even around noon. I planned to take my first break at picket post trailhead. I read that it was a really large parking lot with picnic tables and restrooms. Sometimes I feel really stupid for taking breaks at listed waypoints and human built places rather than somewhere really pretty on the trail but often it just makes sense.
About a mile from the picket post trailhead I passed and elderly couple day hiking and asked how their day was. They said “Great! We just saw a Gila monster”. I was so excited for them. They pointed behind me where they saw it and I almost turned around to go find it because I’ve been looking so hard for one but decided against it. Five steps later there was the mythical monster in the middle of the trail. He was slowly taking big steps with his two pound body and headed up the hill next to the trail as soon as he saw me. I got a good video that I posted on my Instagram. I was on cloud nine about it for the rest of the day. I considered just quitting the trail right there since all my trail goals were accomplished. Nearing the trailhead I saw a blue tent set up. I wished so much that it would be trail magic but told myself that it wasn’t so I couldn’t be disappointed. I wanted an orange so bad. I signed the trail log and a man sitting at the tent called me over. He offered me an orange and a place to sit. What a perfect time. I sat and chatted with Tim for about an hour while other hikers came thru and had trail magic as well. All I wanted were two cold oranges and cold water. Thanks Tim!
I hiked out of the trail magic with Roo and Kazoo they were really fun to chat and hike with for a few miles. First we had to navigate around a rattle snake holding up a group of hikers. When we got to a flowing creek six miles from picket post trailhead I instantly stopped for a break. It was a hot day and I needed to cool off plus the trail would start climbing soon. After the break I hiked alone yesterday crossing a stream many times right before the steep part of the climb began. I got cell service right at the top and learned from my friend Jenga that yet another storm system was gonna blow in over us tomorrow. I was so annoyed the forecast said sunny everyday for a week! And here we are with more rain and snow up high on the way. It was the motivator I needed to get to Roosevelt early tomorrow. I camped near the top of the climb on a dirt road near a couple named chia and donkey. Luckily there was water running down the road in a little stream.
Happy Trails!
-Early Bird
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