We woke up I the rain and hiked 18 miles up and down four mountains. The iPhone says 55000 steps and 320 flights of stairs. Ouch! When I finally made camp, my carbon tent spine broke and I had a leak in my sleeping pad. Yeesh! I temporarily Jerry rigged the tent and patched the pad. The reason for the force march yesterday was to put us within 14 miles of hot springs for r and r. I think I will spring for the 20 bucks for the hot spring spa.

The privy at this shelter has no door and faces the approach trail. Circumstances dictated last night that I brave this “design flaw”. I only had to wave to two sets of arriving hikers as my business was quite urgent and over fairly quickly. Well, it’s 630 and I hear the screech of bear cables so people are bugging out early for trek into hot springs. Only up and down one mountain and the a long descent into town. My trail leads to spa and beers– happy trails to you.