Day 88
26.6 miles
Camping by Butcher Knife Creek
The moon is back to its half position which tells me it has been almost three months since we started the trail. In two days we will pass the 1500 mile mark. Also in two days we will have to take a shuttle north about two hundred trail miles because of trail closures near a wildfire. I am very grateful for the three months of continuous trail which we have been able to hike. It is sad to see how thruhiking is changing and having to miss miles but it is even more sad to see entire communities evacuated and lose homes, livelihoods, and lives. I remember the feeling of being in an evacuation warning area from a wildfire and trying to figure out what to pack, where to go, and what to do. So while we are left trying to figure out rides and where to go, it definitely doesn’t feel as disorienting and terrifying as if we lived in this area and had all my earthly possessions threatened by fire. My heart goes out to the residents here and others affected by wildfires.
Today by lunch time, I felt the full weight of all of these thoughts. My legs felt heavy and as if they did not want to continue. It was hot and humid today which always challenges my good mood. I felt as though skipping miles around a fire closure took away something from the journey even though we came into this hike knowing we would probably have to skip around a fire. We took a nice break for lunch and talked through some plans, our thoughts, feelings, and goals for our hike. We reminded ourselves it is more about the journey and being out here together than anything else. It seems easier to tackle the extra plans and mental load of hiking when Kevin and I know we are in it together.
ashleyisoutside 