I am totally embarrassed at how exhausted I am after hiking 8 miles. I feel so darned weak. I am at altitude shortly after surgery, so my red blood cell count is probably a bit low. Which feels a bit like I am trying to make excuses for my poor performance... nothing like calling a spade a spade. The things that I have done in my life, and here I am having my ass royally kicked by an 8 mile day. Is that irony?

I felt great this morning, but when I realized that I had only traveled 3 miles in 2 hours, it was a pretty significant hit to my morale. It was overcast and cool for most of the day... and downright cold tonight. We are camped at just above 8,000 feet at Little Taquitz Creek. Well, creek is what it once was... it is now just a couple of 2 inch deep pools of standing water. Our next water source is 7.8 miles distant. It is so funny to be worried about an 8 mile dry span, because not too long ago, 8 miles without water would have just been a couple of dry hours hiking. Now, it is all day.

I blasted through this section in 2 days while thru hiking in 05. It is really a joy to take a bit longer... to venture off trail a bit to stay in different camp spots. To see what this section of trail has to offer... becoming an afficianado of sorts regarding this portion of trail.

My partners keep talking about pushing on to do bigger miles, so I am continually put in a position to say, I don't think I have it in me. My double surgery (shoulder and knee) was not too long ago. I know that I expect alot of myself, and it is usually too much, but I am so very weary of "not having it in me".

Hopefully a good nights rest will provide me with a much needed attitude adjustment. Thank God, tomorrow is another day!


A Gallery of photographs from the hike can be found here: http://www.pbase.com/splashphoto/san_jacinto