CDT - Day 76 - Burn Scars
For the first time in a while, I woke up warm. It made getting out of my quilt and onto the trail much easier. I started the day feeling optimistic that it would be fast, easy hiking. There weren't any major climbs, but I still ended up gaining 4,134 feet over 18.5 miles. There were a few short, steep sections, but nothing especially strenuous. The real challenge was the heat. The sun was out for most of the day, and there was little to no shade along the trail. It's amazing how quickly hiking in full sun drains my energy. I drank much more water than usual, which wasn't ideal because water sources have become increasingly scarce. At one point, I completely ran out of water and had to hike another two miles before reaching a tiny stream. Tomorrow I'll be carrying extra water, knowing the next reliable source is at least five miles away. I set up camp a little earlier than usual at a site I had picked out on FarOut. It has a nearby stream, so I can collect as much water as I need without worrying about rationing it. After a hot day of hiking, it's nice to be able to drink as much as I want. When I arrived, a couple of other CDT hikers were already camped there. We introduced ourselves and spent some time talking about the water situation and the nearby wildfires. Speaking of wildfires, there's one burning near Steamboat Springs. I first noticed the smoke earlier in the day, and by the time I reached camp, the fire had already doubled in size. I'm just hoping I can make it into town tomorrow before it becomes an issue.
For most of today's hike, I listened to The Feeling of Life Itself by Christof Koch.