Tue May 29, 2018 @ 19:45

Only a few hours into camp, but I feel these are some of my lowest hours yet. Even including the 30 degree night in which I was soaked to the bone and slept under a picnic table. Including all the nights of soreness, bugs, and loneliness. For I have all of those today, with a splash of dehydration caused by a long hard day that even 6 or 7 litres of water can't do the job completely. Its been 50 days or so since I've seen a friend from home, 40 days or so since I've seen family which makes all the physical issues above seem less tolerable than ever, and such physical issues make the loneliness less tolerable than ever. The memory of nights like this surely must push one to be more empathetic.

I am 100 miles from the Sierra. Its not like quitting is even a remote possibility, but like all bad circumstances on the trail, you just have to hope they'll resolve themselves soon. The mental weather is just bad tonight is all. What is surprising is how quick the mental storm came, without warning or dark clouds to herald its arrival.

I must endure this bug killing vigil until full darkness when such creatures are less inclined toward home invasion, but I hope sweet precious sleep comes immediately with that darkness.

From the lowest mental elevation yet, Pilgrim