It seems hard to believe it has only been ten days since I was waking up at home. It seems hard to believe it has only been ten days since I was in a city. It seems like half a lifetime.

It was the most beautiful day by far today. Dyl’s leg was in good enough condition to tromp twenty miles up and over five peaks. An elevation of 9000 ft was reached, our high point as of yet. It is really invigorating to get out of the desert and into this beautiful mountain high country. Tomorrow, unfortunately, we will descend twenty five miles and 8000 feet back down to the desert. Descents, as I have learned already, are much more painstaking & hard on the body than ascents. All day of it. The desert stretch only lasts a day this time. From there three days in the San Bernadino mountains to Big Bear City. Right now I’m laying on my stomach, on my sleeping bag, on pine needles. My head lamp is the only light save the stars and the moon, which are actually quite bright.