Got to spend some time in the pit toilet before leaving. That was some luxury. It does not even smell bad anymore. Either they are cleaner in Northern Cal or I’m dirtier.

My toes hurt. Damn shoes. They have gone from awesome to a foot compactor.

The trail picked up just outside the camp site, which was a nice change. The climb was rough going up, but after hitting some plateau it was an easier ascent.

Arrived at this river crossing

I almost gave up and walked through it, but fortunately scouted around and found this log.

<Pic Log>

After that it was some crossing through marshes like this.

And relatively nice trail

Next to miles of marsh land. With the marsh comes mosquitoes. Hoards of mosquitoes. I dial up the pace but these damn things are still landing on me. When I stopped and pulled out the earbuds, I realize just how bad it is. They are all over me. Bastards. I threw my pack on the ground and was dancing around while trying to fish out my deet. That got sprayed on everything. Me, my hat, my pack. It seemed to help a little, so I packed up and jammed out of there.

Around 11ish I left the Marsh and stopped for a little brunch.

Jackalope shows up and tells me that Soho is coming up behind him. When he shows up we hike together for a while and run into Ricky Bobby at the first lake.

Somehow I get in the lead of our little group and get a burst of energy. The trail is exposed because of a recent burn, but flat, straight, and soft. I turned up the music and hammered out a total of 12 miles, only stopping to say hi to Jackalope and Canada Joe while I passed. Ricky Bobby kept up for a while, but eventually fell back.

We have passed mount Doom without the eye of Mordor spotting us.

I made it to Hat creek at 3. Did ~20 miles in 8 hours. Soho showed up 30 minutes later while I was having lunch. Ricky Bobby turned up, hung out, then pressed on. Later in the evening Canada Joe, Papa Bear, his niece Chatter showed up. I was already in my tent half asleep by 7. Sometime during the night Sonny turned up as well.

Tomorrow it is breakfast at JJ’s in Old Station. I can get used to this.