Day 35

Day: 35

Date: 15 Aug 2017 0908PM

Location: Camping near mile 1943

Today's Miles: (alternate route - mileage to come)

Total Miles: 707.1

Caught the sunrise this morning - always nice to see. I'm not sure if a sunrise's beauty stems from how fleeting it is, or perhaps because there's only one per day, but they're always good to observe.

Personally, I prefer sunsets to sunrises, but that probably has much to do with how little enjoyment I get out of daily living and how happy I am to have the day finally be over.

Packed up and continued hiking my alternate route. Just over the ridge I slept at there were a bunch of fantastic lakes and glacier melts, making for quite the beauty. Day hikers and overnighters abounded, looks to be a pretty popular area with the locals.

I didn't know this at the time, but throughout my hiking today as I got closer to the PCT, areas behind me were being closed by the forest service due to the fires. It would appear that I hiked approximately eight miles today through closed areas.

This isn't worrying to me now, or at the time. Mainly because I've been very diligent with tracking any fires near me and knew multiple alternate routes. Additionally, it would appear that the forest service is being extra cautious in regards to closing areas of land, in what we can only believe is due to the upcoming eclipse and the number of people who are currently, and will be in the area.

Regardless, I can't help but think that some of the most pleasant hiking I've had to date was either off the PCT or in an area closed due to the fires springing up. Makes me think that hiking some of America's less-traveled national long distance trails would be more enjoyable.

Stopped in at Elk Lake to grab a hot meal and bumped into a thru hiker I met last year on the Appalachian Trail. I knew he was out here heading north but I never expected to actually run into him! He's near the front of the northbound herd who actually made it thru the Sierras.

Grabbed a burger, fries, and some soda and wolfed them down. Ended up getting a free cider from the bar when the new bartender accidentally poured an extra. As I write this now I realize I'm not supposed to be drinking alcohol on antibiotics - whoops!

Also bumped into a few south bounders, including the triple crowner who I met on my Long Trail hike in Vermont prior to coming out to he Pacific Crest Trail. He's a pretty calm, cool, and collected dude - I definitely enjoy his company.

Hiked out of Elk Lake with a waffle cone of  ice cream and continued on until dark. Found a site, setup the tent, washed the dirt off my legs and crawled in.

Feeling exhausted, probably from the medication. Maybe being so tired will help me get a little more sleep than I typically do.