May 21, 2017

Total miles: 24 miles 

Start: Hikertown (mile 517.6)

End: mile 541.5

Total elevation gain/loss: 2653.3/826.8ft

When my alarm went off at 3:30 this morning we were ready to go. Michael was feeling better, but tired (surprise, it’s 3:30am!). I was similarly feeling tired since I didn’t sleep very well. I’m not sure if it had something to do with the soft bed, but it felt like I was constantly waking up throughout the night. I guess I’m getting used to sleeping on a sleeping pad!

We were walking by 4:10 a.m. It was cool, but not cold, and the wind from last night had died down. With our headlamps on we set out to walk the LA aqueduct. This section of the trail is notorious for being long, hot, and boring. I was hoping that we’d make good time and get to the bridge (17 miles down trail) as soon as possible.

Our first mile or so was on a trail through a field of some sort (it was dark). Immediately we started to see the area’s nocturnal inhabitants: field mice (or some kind of rat?). They would scurry across the trail as we got near and then, like a deer in headlights (or mice in headlamps in our case) they would freeze in place. I had to slow down at points to avoid stepping on these little guys and to give them a chance to regain their senses and hurry back on.

I swear my camera got a better view of the canal than I did!