Day 98: ⛺@ mile 1'288.0 - ⛺@ mile 1'323.85

Date: 14.07.2018

Miles hiked today: 25.8 miles / 41.52 km

Total Mileage: Mile 1'323.8

I was the first one to get up this morning. But I want to climb the last 2.5 miles in the early and cool morning and also break for my cereal. We want to hike to the halfway marker today! I'm so excited! The uphill is not too bad, about 300 meters to climb. And when I reach the top the sun just comes out too and I decide to make an early breakfast stop. I sit there for nearly an hour when Ruth passes and just when I get ready too Flash hikes past me too. We hike together for a while. The miles just won't pass this morning and I'm more than happy when I reach our lunch spot! I'm the first one there too so I can relax for a while! There is also a water source here. But it's an about 500 feet descend and then back up. I still have some water left so I try to avoid this extra climb! The next and last water source for today is in 3 miles and I will have to go there for sure. As Flash has to go down there anyway he carries some extra water for us and I can take some too. Thank you so much!

The 3 miles to the water source passes by very quickly. We finally leave the forest and get some nice views and hike on volcanic ground, which is pretty cool. Also this water source is about 0.5 miles and a steep downhill off trail. That sucks. Why can't there by water just on the trail? This is worse than in the desert! I have to fill up all my bottles, my capacity is currently at 2.7 liters which is just fine for today and the night. But I'm definitely planning to enlarge my water carrying capacity by 1 liter in Chester! There is one steep and long climb before we reach the halfway marker. I'm excited, will I feel special when I reach it or do I not really realize it or will I rather be down cause I'm on the trail so many days already and only hiked half the way? I'm excited but the marker is rather simple and nothing special. I'm also tired and as dirty as I've never been on trail so far (I'm carrying the same clothes without washing for 2 weeks now! I had one cold shower and one swim in the river only in these two weeks too). But it's still a great feeling! I know now that I can make it to Canada, it doesn't seem too far away anymore, it's finally reachable. I also know that my legs are much stronger now and I can hike bigger mileage days. But I also must walk more and faster and do less 0 days in order to reach Canada I time!

Happy, tired and dirty we set up camp. Tomorrow morning we are in Chester, shower and washing clothes is top on our to do list!