Days 1 & 2: Echo Summit to Lost Lake

There are two schools of thought in preparing physically for long distance hiking: beforehand and on the trail.

Those who prescribe to the first school do weekend trips, trail running, treadmill, and stairmaster. The later eschew all physical activity and suffer mightily in the trail, the objects of ridicule of those who spent months training.

Of course, while they were training, we were watching them run by from the warm confines of Starbucks, Americano and chocolate croissant in hand. While they were training we were drinking wine and binge watching Cobra Kai. While they were training we were hitting the snooze button promising to start training tomorrow.

So, I am in the suffering stage, but the benefit of traveling south is that I need not share my ignominy with the tanned bodies and toned legs that have already trekked 1000 miles in the northbound bubble. These folks are regularly doing 25 miles a day.

Today, I did 14 miles and feel fine.

I camped at Lost Lake. Serene, small, windy. I made camp and Coyote arrived to set up camp at about 7:30, so there was no washing of underwear and bathing. Note to self: lakes make beautiful camp sites but are too windy at night.