June 10: Day 3 – I am the Lorax and I speak for the trees!

After a rough end to yesterday’s hike, we were hoping for a slightly shorter, easier day. After all, it’s what we planned for.

We got up and were on the trail by just before 9am and started on the last 6ish miles on segment 2. As we traveled through the last covered area before getting back into the burnout zone we encountered some loggers. Naturally, I stood on a stump and proclaimed “I am the Lorax and I speak for the trees!” (Dad got a picture, don’t worry.)

From there we proceeded to the next water source, a spigot at the North Fork Volunteer Fire Station. After a short break and some snacks we wandered up to the Little Scraggy Trailhead (the beginning of segment 3). We took another short break to air out our feet and eat a proper lunch. While we were there we called my mom since we didn’t know when we would have service again.

Our original plan for segment 3 was to stop 5.1 miles in at Tramway Creek and camp there for the night. It was marked in the data book as a year-round reliable water source. That couldn’t have been further from reality. All we could see was a stagnant puddle. So, we decided to check out the next water source less than half a mile away. It was barely trickling by. So, yet again, we decided to move on to the next one. It, too, was stagnant.

By this point I was so tired and frustrated that I sat down on a log while we decided on our next move. When I stood up there was all kinds of tree sap all over my butt. Yet another thing to be frustrated by. I’m not sure if it was the exhaustion, dehydration, or if I was just plain hangry, but I wanted to throw my poles on the ground and cry. We needed to move on, so I brushed off what I could and we trekked onwards.

We finally made it to Buffalo Creek, a real water source, and made camp. It was only 3 miles further than we were expecting but we were in a rush to get set up for the night before losing the sun altogether. We’re both tired, sore, sunburnt, and have blisters on our feet (for the first time this trip) and we’re contemplating taking the day off tomorrow. I’ve been dealing with some kind of ovarian cyst-like pain all day, so I’m not thrilled with the prospect of walking between 5 and 7 miles to our next water source tomorrow. Hopefully we’re in a safe enough place for the night.