110 miles in 4.5 days

This has already been the biggest challenge of my life. I'm almost completely fine physically, aside from some minor blisters, but mentally it's a different story.

I've thought about quitting 100 times a day already. I think it's really because I've been hiking alone for about 87 of the first 90 miles so far. I had only seen 4 people in four days, until now. 

I've never been completely alone for so long, and I've found it to be incredibly taxing. This combined with the heat, and an incessant wind hasn't helped. I have also never felt homesickness like this before, and I've found myself thinking of excuses to come home. Luckily, I discovered two thru-hikers  taking a siesta under a tarp today and happily joined them. This has completely changed my mindset.

I think the only way I will make it through the desert is by hiking in the morning/evening, then resting in the shade during the hottest hours. I was told it hit 104℉ at a spot I traveled through yesterday. I'm glad I passed it at 6:30 am and not noon.

I am finally not concerning myself about whether or not I can make it to Canada. It's WAY too overwhelming to think about it like that. I am taking this journey one day at a time, mile by mile.

The desert doesn't seem to want people in it. Actually, it's a miracle that anything lives here. I have only passed one flowing creek, all other water I've either gotten from spigots or horse troughs. There are also numerous water caches which help make huge "water-less" stretches less scary. The longest was 33 miles. Thank you trail angels!

It's amazing the variation of vegetation and landscape I've walked through already. I've seen tons of lizards and snakes, some birds of prey, squirrels that are actually scared of humans, hummingbirds, butterflies, huge stink bugs, and a jackrabbit.

There have been very few trees, but at one point we passed some Coulter Pines which have the largest (and heaviest) pine cones in the world. A lot of things are in bloom right now, which really lifts my mood, like lupine, larkspur, yarrow, prickly pear, choya, yucca, agave, and tons of others I'm not familiar with.

Thanks so much to my family who sent me a bunch of cards!!!! It really lifts my spirit! Next stop Big Bear!