I ate breakfast at the Cowboy Cafe at 7:00, then walked to Black Bear Inn where I immediately got a ride from Glenn the trail weasel.  I’d read about Glen in Guthooks.  He is an 80 year old guy who gives hikers rides and then charges them more than they agreed upon. Sure enough, he did it to me.  We agreed on $10 and when I got out he says “How about $15?”  I was ready for it and gave him $20. Poor old guy is harmless enough and it’s a 26 mile drive one way and I was the only one in the car. It’s worth $20, especially since I was on the trail by 9:00.  

I felt pretty good today and hope I’m finally over the hives incident.  No bugs today, temp was in high 70’s, with partial clouds and a pleasant breeze – great hiking weather!  The first 10 miles were on dirt roads but then changed to abandoned logging roads and trails.  It was a quite confusing hodgepodge and I had to keep referring to Guthooks. This area feels remote.  Eventually the trail climbed to a ridge at 10,000 feet and I followed it for several miles.  

I finally stopped after 25 miles and set up camp on a flat spot above the trail a ways. The uneven ground is full of gopher holes and dirt piles and large clumps of grass, but it will do. The trail runs along the steep slopes of Leeds Creek here and flat spots are very difficult to find here.  I feel very alone and isolated here. A pack of coyotes is nearby and just started howling which isn’t helping with the feelings of loneliness, although I always enjoy hearing them.

I’m sleeping with my food in the tent and hope this is not a bad decision. I have everything triple bagged and covered with my smelly socks, so…
Camp is at 9,500 feet and I’m already shivering. Time for bed.  Night.