Day 96: ⛺@ mile 1253.0 - ⛺ @ mile 1'281.0

Date: 12.07.2019 Miles hiked today: 28 miles / 45.06 km Total Mileage: Mile 1'281.0 Gain/loss in Elevation: +1'700m/ -830m I set my alarm for 5am so I can hike the 7 miles uphill in the early morning. While it has been light at 5am, it's still pretty dark now. But I camped also down the valley in the forest, where the sun not reaches early morning. I couldnt move my ass, it's too dark. But a little later I made it and u was on trail just at 6am. That should still be fine. I'm really not looking forward to this 7 miles and 2'700 feet /830 m uphill climb but there is no way around it! It turns out that the trail is not too bad, there is one section which is pretty steep but otherwise it's a gentle uphill climb. I did my 3 miles am hour and reached the lookout shortly after 8am. The view is nice up here, overlooking all the green hills and I stopped for breakfast. It's about 9 miles to where i want to stopp for lunch. And part of it is downhill. It's also only 9am (I breaked longer than expected!). But my feet hurt. My shoes I bought in Lone Pine did a good job, but they are all wripped and broken now, I urgently need new shoes. I have ordered a new pair to Chester, which is not too far away anymore. But because these shoes are full of wholes, they don't fit perfectly anymore. And also the inner part of the shoe has wholes, as if some mice had dinner! Due to this I got two blisters on my right ankle and one new one is coming on my left ankle. Every step I take i can feel them, not in a nice way! Also i keep having little stones and sand in them now. I break many times for a minute or two and finally reach the water source for lunch at 12:30. The last 1.5 miles was uphill again. And as I hiked all day in the forest I thought this will continue. But this uphill, which is going on for 4 more miles, is all exposed to the sun. It's incredibly hot and I was sweating terribly. The little stream however is nice with cold water. I take of me shoes and t-shirt and start to wash the sweat and dirt off, standing bare feet in the cold water. Such a nice treat! I sit in the shade of a tree and enjoy my lunch. I have not seen many people so far. But I know that some hikers hitch to Quincy, a little town near by, others walk to Bucks Resort and there must be some hikers walking on like me. And see there, within minute two older hikers come by. I don't know how they hike in this heat! I still hang out here till 2pm and then slowly start hiking again. My feet are in pain and I remember the times where I had so many blisters. Seems like long, long ago. Suddendly my phone starts to ring. Oh, I must have service here! Normally I put it on airplane mode to save battery but today not. It's my god son's 5th birthday and I was hoping to get service so I can send a message. Time to do so now, perfect! I hike or better humble along my way. I'm not yet sure where to set camp. There are few spots coming soon. I for sure need to get water. But whenever u stop for water I'm covered with flies! They are all over my body, it's disgusting! I don't know whether I prefer moskitos over flies or not! Both are horrible. So I get water and run away with my filter and filter the water while hiking. I stop 5 times to fill up all my bottles as I've decided to hike on for 3 more miles, out of the forest and the flies, but there is no water close by that camp. I finally reach the camp spot, it's beautiful but very, very windy. And it seems as if I'm the only one! Oh no, I hope my tent survives the night and the wind. I still hope that the wind dies during the evening or night. But see there some other hikers come along. They also camp here. Buff, I'm relieved! I couldnt walk any more single mile today! And as I start cooking more and more hikers arrive. So Flash, Parmesan and Thomas hike in! Now i feel very good again! Its only 6 miles to get to belden and I hope there is a music festival on! Let's see.