June 16th: Todays miles = 21. It was HOT today! I didn't get started hiking until 6:30 despite my efforts to be hiking by 5:15. I was under the impression that today was going to be a rather difficult day of hiking and I wanted to get a head start on the day. Turns out it wasn't too bad. The only part that was really challenging was the 2,000ft climb in the last few miles of the day. Normally a climb like that isn't too bad but starting it after having already hiked 18 miles makes it significantly more difficult.
The water situation has still been pretty rough. For the past 3 or 4 days the water has been 20 miles apart. I was determined not to run out today so I carried 4 1/2 liters from the camp spot this morning to the next water. Then 5 liters of water from there to my camp spot for tonight. Both those water sources were water cashes. Trail angels occasionally leave cashes of water in stretches where there would otherwise be none. Without those last few cashes hikers would NOT make it through this section of desert. I didn't want to count on them but no matter the amount of water I could have taken it would not have been enough. I drank 9 liters of water today (thats 2.38 gallons) and I peed twice. Your body sucks the water up so quickly. I've been thirsty for days. Never has my thirst been quenched since I left the last town.
The first 5 or so miles this morning were really pretty. There was random Joshua trees scattered along the trail and it made for a good sunrise! Even though the trail was ALL sand again today I actually found a way to enjoy the hike. Its refreshing when hiking feels like a hobby again and not a job.
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