August 19.
Got up and had a big breakfast of all my leftover oatmeal packets since I knew tomorrow I had enough bars to get me through the morning. I took off before Taylor but immediately had to use the bathroom so he got ahead of me.
Made it to a little creek and aquaduct where there was water though the aquaduct water looked suspect. I got some water from a little creek but didn’t trust it so I dumped it out. Still had enough water to make it 14 miles to the next water source at lunch.
Caught up to Taylor and had lunch at a reservoir. There was another sobo there named High Route who I hadn’t met before. He took off right after I got there and I didn’t see him for the rest of the day. Took a little caffeine nap next to the trail. While we were sitting there a group of women came by on horseback and tried to cajole the horses over the bridge over the reservoir. The horses weren’t having it until one of the more experienced women and I’m assuming the leader of the group took hers over. The other ones followed suit. It really pissed me off seeing them riding the horses, trying to force them to go where they obviously didn’t want to. It was also a hot day and the horses didn’t look too happy to be carrying them through dry areas.
Anyway, kept hiking after lunch. Hiked with Taylor for a bit but he got ahead after I kept stopping to pee and take pictures and look at my phone. Had sporadic cell service and was able to gram my first view of Ashland beneath all the smoke.
The rest of the hike was mostly hot and exposed and not really memorable to be honest. Climbed up to a exposed ridge and then back down then back up.
The last 8 or so miles were an uphill climb through Green Spring Summit Mountain which contrary to the name was not really green or springy, mostly really dry exposed chaparral with dry grass. Kinda surprised that section hasn’t gone up in fire yet. But glad it hasn’t.
Got to a dirt road with a pit toilet that was rated 5 poop emojis by the guthooks poopreviewer420. It was pretty nice but more like 4 out 5 really.
Made it to camp which did not actually have the supposed faucet but was instead just a little spring. Still, it was easy enough to collect water thanks to a little reed/celery stick someone had placed on the spring. Camped on an abandoned dirt road not far from the spring with some nobos. Seems we’re through most of the nobo bubble as these are some of the late starters.
Easy 10 miles to Ashland tomorrow. Planning on making there by noon and meeting Mup at Callahans then going to Ashland for food and sex and food and more sex. So excited.
Plants Outside 