3 Highlights:
• Spotting elk again along the trail
• Coffee and generosity from hunters
• Breakfast at Davila Ranch
Daily Summary:
• Distance hiked: 40 km
• Starting point: Davila Ranch
• Ending point: Aragon Well (~km 4228)
• Weather conditions: Sunny but chilly, max 13°C
Reflections (Challenges, Insights, Musings):
Started the day with more eggs—because three boiled eggs just hit different when you’re at Davila Ranch. Breakfast done, and we hit the trail: me, 70, and Semper Dry. What greeted us? Mud. Sticky, nasty mud. I mean, this stuff clung to my shoes like gum on the subway. Every step felt like I was lifting weights—very frustrating.
Still, we powered through and knocked out 26 km by lunchtime. We found a picnic table, which felt like a throne after trudging through the mud. And just when we thought the day couldn’t get better—hunters showed up. Not only did they offer us water, but also coffee, Coca-Cola, and tequila. You know, just the essentials. One of them was an ultrarunner—of course, because why not?
After lunch, Semper Dry took off at warp speed to reach Reserve for new shoes, leaving 70 and me to cruise to Aragon Well. We decided to call it early and set up camp around 6:30 p.m. 70’s sleeping pad blew out the night before, so I loaned him my foam pad—because I’m basically a trail saint.
I spent most of lunch and dinner worrying about my food supply. I’m not convinced I have enough to last until Wednesday night, and we’re not exactly speeding through these miles.
Anyway, time to sleep. Fingers crossed for a food miracle tomorrow.
Good night.
