Mile 841.1
Elevation 2,713
Miles Hiked 13.8
The shelter from the previous night was full, but everyone cleared out before dawn. They were going to watch the sun rise, and then hit the trail for an early arrival at a brewery just off the trail. I decided not to join them and slept in until 6:00 AM. After breakfast, I was on the way at 7:30 AM.
Today’s hike was to go up several hundred feet to just over 4,000 feet. Then the trail goes down to 900 feet of altitude and back up to almost 4,000 feet. What the guide didn’t say was “rocks” and a lot off them.
The climb consumed about five hours and it was brutal in the afternoon heat. The decent, which was also on rocks was no better. I made it into camp by 5:00 PM. I was going to sleep in the shelter, but there was a large snake hiding in the rafters of the shelter, so I pitched a tent instead. There are many hikers here tonight, but so far no one has challenged the snake by setting up their sleeping bag in the shelter.