Day 2 (5/19) Finding Friends

My first day waking up on the trail! Well it wasn't quite that joyous... Due to my nap in the afternoon yesterday I had a tough time sleeping through the night, which was made worse by the constant call and response of two frogs in the creek. I did manage alright and was up before 7. Took about 40 min to get going partially due to condensation inside my tent. I forgot how cold it would get and didn't put up the inner liner. That won't happen again! It was pretty foggy to start out but I didn't mind as tit keeps the heat in check. Had an 800 ft climb to start the day around Morena Butte and man was that a killer. In a few weeks I'll be able to look back at that one and laugh. It was quite a drastic change between yesterday's terrain; as soon as I crossed the creek the dirt took on a rusty tone and this was mainly shrubs. I dropped down into Lake Morena at the 20 mile mark and 4.6 for the day. I had to get a soon so I walked down to the store and grudgingly bought a cup of ice cream. Cookies & cream. Two scoops, and I mean real scoops. Ya, that was a real hard way to get a spoon haha. Back at the campground I got a hot shower and then got back on the trail. At my first stream crossing I looked on the other side to see three guys just putting their shoes back on. So I quickly looked for a good way across the two foot wide waterway. There were no routes that didn't involve getting my shoes wet, but I was write fortunate that someone had forgotten their sandals the previous day. I grabbed then meaning to give them back if I ever meet the owner, but until then I'll be putting them to good use keeping my shoes dry. On the other side I found out these guys were all friends from vancouver out on the trail for 5 months. Real nice guys and it was god to have company for a change. They started the day before me but took a real easy day 2. I was surprised I had caught them already after seeing their footsteps yesterday but the big difference was that they took a late start today which gave me the time to make up some of the miles.

I definitely find it easier to hold a steady pace in a group and being with them helped me push a bit further than planned. We ended the night at Fred Creek, where we built a fire and I had my first hot meal of the trip. So good after a long 17 miles of hiking. We sat up and chatted for a bit before I had to call it a night and I retired to my tent just after 9pm, which truly does seem to be hiker midnight.