The Wonderland Journal

Miles hiked: 27.2 Mile marker: 1788.3 Total ascent: 3100 ft Total descent: 2500 ft I’m late getting going. I’m so exhausted and just want to sleep. At least I slept well last night! My feet and ankles are tight as I begin the hike in the dark blue morning.  After…

Miles hiked: 29.5 Mile marker: 1761.2 Total ascent: 4500 ft Total descent: 4600 ft I woke up last night at 11:30 pm. Then I rolled around and around. We cowboy camped because there was supposed to be a meteor shower. I fell asleep before it was even dark and awoke…

The morning begins slowly. I make some eggs and sausage for breakfast and grab a latte from the local coffee shop that only serves americanos, lattes, and muffins.  Before I know it, I’m hurrying to get my 10 day resupply organized. We head on over to the post office, where…

Miles hiked: 9.4 Mile marker: 1719.2 Total ascent: 700 ft Total descent: 2800 ft It’s dark as I pack my bag. I’m on concrete floor next to a stone wall, groping around for my headlamp as I try to be quiet as to not wake the two other hikers who…

Miles hiked: 29.4 Mile marker: 1709.8 Total ascent: 5200 ft Total descent: 4800 ft An opaque sun beam shines through the mountains over the trees before the sun is actually up. It’s an almost-cool sort of day. That’s a nice change from the heat we’ve been experiencing! I walk through…

Miles hiked: 26.1 Mile marker: 1662.1 Total ascent: 3500 ft Total descent: 6100 ft The deer were here last night.  “They were gnawing on my hip belt!” Rafiki says as we begin the hike in a double sky — cotton candy on the west and sherbet in the east.  It’s…

Miles hiked: 27.3 Mile marker: 1636 Total ascent: 5,000 ft Total descent: 5,000 ft The morning comes too soon, after a restless night of sleep where I woke every couple of hours. The dusty dark blue mountains bleed into burgundy to blood orange to tangerine.  It’s a still and warm…

Miles hiked: 21.3 Mile marker: 1608.8 Total ascent: 3400 ft Total descent: 4000 ft I wake up to a glowing orange sunrise and pack up my things.  How’d I sleep? So kind of you to ask.  I woke for what felt like every hour. The sky was beautifully lit with…

Miles hiked: 27.7 Mile marker: 1587.6 Total ascent: 5400 ft Total descent: 4250 ft I am tired. I do not want to get up. But it’s 5:00 AM and my alarm is going off. I roll around in bed for a bit then finally get up.  My coffee is always…

Miles hiked: 29.2 Mile marker: 1559.9 Total ascent: 2000 ft Total descent: 2850 ft 5:00 AM, we’re up. By 6 o’clock and we’re off.  3.2-3.7 miles an hour. The goal is three miles an hour. We need to get to Seiad Valley by Saturday about noon for the post office. …

Miles hiked: 18 miles Mile marker: 1530.7 Total ascent: 4600 ft Total descent: 1200 ft The next morning begins pretty late as Rafiki and I start the ascent with the sun appearing to say “Good morning!” We walk along a dirt path with a lot of bright green shrubs. We…