We sent out a message in a bottle last night – a southbound hiker agreed to relay a message to Pete’s mom when he gets to Mojave. The early morning has ensconced us in our first fog since Laguna Mountain, giving the trail a mysterious, personal feel. We take our chances drinking unfiltered water from the two springs we pass. The Piutes impress us with their beauty, but the bodies are rebelling against the weight. By the end of the day we have decided to eat all possible extra weight. We go to sleep tired but well fed.