Bushwacking

It was another 20 degree morning.  So again it took two hours to break camp.  We didn't want to get out of our sleeping bags.  We finished up the road walk and were excited to have beautiful trail to follow.  Our excitement was short lived.  The trail ended and it became an unmarked cross country scramble around and over downed trees, rocks, and uneven ground.  All day it was bushwacking interrupted by bits of trail.  Pounce is an expert navigator as she does a lot of hiking at her home in Vermont where there is no trail.  I'm very happy to have her along.

 The trail descended steeply through a burned out area only to climb again.  It was up and down.  At one point we were at 9,000 feet!  

It was definately a slow day with all of the obstacles and the late start.  We are feeling this long stretch.  Smiles and her partner caught up to us again and it was great to see them.  They are tired too.  We are all dealing with blisters and assorted aches and pains.  But our spirits are good.  Little things like the sky being a rich blue, views of the mountains and desert all make this worth it.  And today we've been walking right on the divide.  Cool.  Here's a picture of a water source.