Highlights:
1. Meeting German hikers—Danke, guys!
2. Epic grand views, reminiscent of Kleden but with that American flair.
3. Fresh water—a true luxury out here.
Daily Summary:
• Distance hiked: 44 km
• Starting point: km 3264
• Ending point: Stony Pass, 3318
• Weather conditions: Sunny
Daily reflections:
So there I was, freezing my ass off in the San Juans—like, seriously, when did I sign up for this Siberian expedition? Last night, I couldn’t catch a wink. The cold was like that annoying ex who just won’t leave you alone—always there, making life miserable. It was a horrible night, again, and I was pretty close to throwing in the towel and booking a flight to Hawaii.
But then, salvation in the form of cell service! Hallelujah! Reconnected with the outside world, and suddenly, my mood went from “I hate everything” to “Okay, maybe I’ll keep hiking.” Didn’t even do my usual routines because, well, sleep deprivation turned me into a zombie. A zombie with great views, though—grand views that took me back to my days on Kungsleden. Mountains, sky, and all that postcard-perfect stuff.
Then, I stumbled upon this group of German hikers, Finn and Florian. And let me tell you, when they saw me, I must’ve looked like I just crawled out of an igloo. But man, they were all “Whoa, you look strong!” Yeah, thanks, guys—feeling weak but pretending like I’m Hulk over here. Anyway, still managed to knock out 44 km, so I guess I’m not as dead as I feel.
Side note: asked the Germans if they had sleeping pills. I was desperate. They suggested, “TBH, try marijuana—but, like, don’t smoke it. Achieve it.” (Their words, not mine.) So now, here I am chewing on this stuff, and—you know what?—it worked. I actually slept for a handful of hours, had some trippy dreams, and for the first time in what felt like ages, my body relaxed. Thank you, Germany. You may have just saved my sanity.
