We have many encounters and incidents. Pete takes a fall on a steep snowfield and barely avoids a serious injury. We cross I-80 at Donner Pass, coming into contact with a B&B climbing school, joggers, fishers, mountain bikers, and fellow trail walkers. All these events touch us somehow.

Pete “swaps” the leaky water bottle for a new one, then we lose an old one, leaving us 2.

Some part of me is worried, or agitated. I’m not aware of it, but it’s subtly affecting my actions. My body is also not quite right – during the early hours of the day I limp along the trail with hip pains.