I Don't Even Know What Day it Is...

Haven't had service for 40 miles. I think its Tuesday, but I wouldn't put money on it.

That damn sun. It's hot. It's oppressive. I'm very beaten and exhausted. This desert section, with its lack of shade and extremely hot trail has taken its toll. Even I have unexpected blisters after 20 days on the trail without much to speak of. Your feet just cook. And people wonder why I jog downhill....less friction!

I'm in the little town of Superior right now. I hadn't planned to come into town (the trailhead is less than 5 miles away), but I ran out of electrolytes two days ago, and my leg muscles have been seizing all day. Super painful. Probably could get some decent sodium, potassium, and magnesium out of my meals, but yesterday I hiked into the night and fell asleep before eating dinner, too exhausted to move, and this morning was too nauseated to eat more than a Clif Bar.

I tagged along with a few other thru-hikers today to help push me forward. I wanted to sit in the shade...and likely sleep for days...but I knew with only one water source in 22 miles, I needed to push. It would have been dangerous to do otherwise. One girl was pack riding, and she was a positive influence...though I really just wanted to throw my pack and myself on her horse.

The past three days have been hard. I miss my mom. But these days probably would have been very risky for her, too. I know she completed a feat few 61-year-olds could have even dreamed of, but I still wish she was out here with me. I worried all the time, despite her strength and athleticism. I hope she heals perfectly and begins her own journey of pack riding.

I did my first "cowboy camping" last night. I didn't even mean to. There are so many poisonous critters out here, it can be  dangerous to sleep without a barrier. Another thru-hiker, Lucky, found a scorpion on his pack, and a black widow on his hanging socks, all within a matter of minutes. Regardless, I was pushing through last night, trying to get some elevation out of the way before a very hot day, and decided to pull out my pad for a "rest." I was out and didn't wake until 5 am. I woke and packed up to begin hiking again. Some days it's not fun. Some days it's just about moving forward until it IS fun. The sky, at least, was gorgeous, with all the constellation and profiled canyon walls. I worried very little about the fact that it is a heavily populated mountain lion area.

I finally got to FaceTime Wild Man who is doing well in Safford after 232 miles on the trail. The GET is one bushwacking adventure after another. I reached 300 miles today, but never saw a rock sign. Can't believe I'm 21 days into the wilderness. Can't believe I have more than 30 to go!

Had fun with my brother and sister-in-law when they joined us.

I think they were happy to leave early with my mom.

The next day I did my first 26 mile day. The day after that, I followed along the muddy Gila River.

But rarely had access. 😯 It was just a cool, refreshing tease a quarter mile away most of the time. That evening, I saw a pack of a dozen havelinas. They look so weird out here, like they'd be the first bacon sources to disappear, but they are mean, vicious beasts that hold their own.

Nothing else to report, really. It's just one foot in front of the other that has no other purpose than propelling me from one adventure to the next.

Ready for a weekend with my girls! Gotta work hard the next three days to get to Roosevelt by Friday. Can't wait to see their beautiful smiles. 💗